5 men arrested in poaching of deer

ST. GEORGE — Five men have been arrested for investigation of poaching after sheriff's deputies and state wildlife officers said they were found with six deer carcasses.

Officers with the state Division of Wildlife Resources received a tip that the men were processing several deer near Leeds, said Washington County sheriff's detective Nate Abbott.

DWR officers called the sheriff's office for assistance, Abbott said, and authorities traveled to the men's camp, where they allegedly discovered six deer in various stages of processing.

The general deer season has ended in southern Utah, the detective said.

Officers also said they discovered the carcass of one cottontail rabbit in the camp. Cottontails are considered upland game, and hunting them is restricted, except during designated seasons and with a small-game license.

The five men — one from St. George, two from California and two from Nevada — were arrested for investigation of felony and misdemeanor wildlife violations. They were booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility.

— Geoff Liesik