Poaching of possible record elk in eastern Utah probed

ROOSEVELT — A Duchesne County man could face federal charges in the poaching of two bull elk, one of which may have been a world-class animal.

The poaching incidents were reported to the state Help Stop Poaching hotline in November. They remain under investigation, said Lt. Torrey Christopherson, with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

But the division is not the lead agency on the case, Christopherson said, because the animals were killed on Ute tribal land by someone who is not a member of the tribe.

"Where (the elk) came off tribal ground, it makes it a tribal case," he said. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is involved because we're dealing with a white guy on tribal ground."

Authorities went to the man's home Nov. 15 to serve a search warrant. The man handed over a massive set of antlers still attached to the skull, Christopherson said. He also turned over a second set of trophy-size antlers from another poached elk, which the lieutenant said were still attached to the skull, as well.

Christopherson said one set of antlers came from an elk that was well-known by hunters and wildlife watchers in Duchesne County. He said three of the tines on the antlers had been broken off, making it difficult to assess whether the elk was a challenger for a world record for elk taken with a muzzleloader.

"You add those three tines in, and who knows," he said. "This is a very large, 450 to 460 class animal, if it would have had those broken tines (intact)."

Prosecutors could seek federal charges against the man for violating the Lacey Act, which protects plants and wildlife through civil and criminal penalties for a variety of violations. A felony violation of the Lacey Act carries a possible prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $20,000.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ute Indian Tribe Fish and Wildlife Department declined to comment on the case.

e-mail: gliesik@desnews.com

TWITTER: GeoffLiesik