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The two park rangers who died in a weekend airplane crash may have been violating Utah wildlife law.
There was no comment from federal officials Sunday about what caused Laurie Axelsen's small plane to crash, killing her and fellow National Park Service Ranger Brent McGinn. Both were rangers at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and lived in Page, Ariz.
The National Park Service has said in a news release that Axelsen and McGinn were "on a scouting trip for an upcoming elk hunt." Utah's bull elk hunt began Saturday.
State laws and regulations prohibit using an aircraft to "locate, or attempt to observe or locate any protected wildlife" from 48 hours prior to a big game hunt to 48 hours after a big game hunt concludes, according to state regulations. The guide also warns flying low and circling or repeatedly flying over an area where protected wildlife is likely to be found can be evidence of violating the ban. Violations are a misdemeanor.
Shannan Marcak, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service, on Sunday said she did not know whether McGinn and Axelsen were flying for the purpose of spotting elk. She said the pair flew to Bryce Canyon Airport on Friday and took a car or truck to look for campsites. Axelsen's Cessna 172 took off from the airport later in the day and crashed some time later about 18 miles northeast of Panguitch. Searchers found the airplane Saturday morning.
No funeral information was announced Sunday.