Provo man faces dual poaching charges

PROVO — A Provo man faces poaching charges in two states, accused of shooting trophy deer and stealing antlers.

Joseph Lynn Chapman, 36, was charged in 4th District Court with wanton destruction of protected wildlife after shooting an 11-point deer in the Traverse Mountain area of Utah County in 2003, said Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officer Jay Topham.

The Utah County Attorney's Office filed charges in January after Chapman was accused of committing a similar crime in Colorado just months ago.

On Thanksgiving morning, near Parachute, Colo., Chapman allegedly shot a 12-point buck with a 38-inch antler span.

Chapman had watched the deer for several months before shooting it, Topham said.

"What a lot of guys do, they find a deer they can't live without and watch them so long they end up shooting them — they can't live without the antlers," Topham said. "It's kind of like a drug."

After the Colorado shooting, Utah officials got a tip that Chapman may have poached a deer there. They talked with Colorado officials who then talked with Chapman.

Chapman confessed to shooting the deer, cutting off its head and ditching the body in some bushes, said Randy Hampton, public information officer with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Chapman also told officers he had antlers in his Utah home, some of which had been taken illegally, Topham said. Several sets had been stolen out of homes in Payson, he said.

The antlers helped Utah officers link Chapman to the Traverse Mountain shooting.

Chapman pleaded guilty Thursday in a Colorado courtroom to a felony charge of willful destruction of wildlife and gave up the bow he used to shoot the 12-point deer as well as several sets of antlers.

Chapman is also considered a restricted person and prohibited from carrying a firearm.

"The complexity of this case is pretty unique," Topham said. "He took a huge deer ... then due to the fact that he's a restricted person, that complicates it. He legally can have the (hunting) tags, he just cannot take a firearm or weapon with him."

Chapman was also charged in Utah with possession of a weapon by a restricted person, unlawful taking of protected wildlife, tampering with a witness and obstruction of justice, according to court documents. He has not yet appeared in a Provo courtroom.

Attempts to contact Chapman for comment have been unsuccessful.

To report poaching in Utah, call the Division's hotline at 1-800-662-DEER.

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