Vic Layton, a wildlife conservation officer with the Division of Wildlife Resources, drove to the canyon Sunday after a caller to the Help Stop Poaching Hotline reported six dead animals lying along the main road. He quickly found those deer, then six more as he searched a four-mile stretch of the Utah County canyon road.

"It was a killing spree . . . something done for no reason other than the joy of killing," Layton said. "They were all within easy range from the road. There was no meat taken from any of the animals. It wasn't done by somebody starving to death."

Layton found the dozen dead deer on Sunday and one more Monday. But there could be more.

"Thirteen is the minimum. I've done a pretty good search of the area, but fatally wounded animals could have gone a long way before dying," said Layton.

He believes the animals were shot late Saturday night or early Sunday morning because he patrolled the canyon early Saturday and saw no dead animals. The poached animals included two mature bucks, eight does, two yearling bucks and a yearling doe.

Biologists say the loss will impact deer herds in the area for years to come.

"You can assume that each of the adult does was probably carrying twins," said Craig Clyde, a wildlife biologist for the Springville office of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' (DWR). "There would probably be a minimum impact of 150 deer over the next 10 years. The numbers can really grow in a hurry."

DWR conservation officers generally categorize poachers as thrill seekers, trophy hunters, opportunists and party hunters.

This case ranks among the highest numbers of animals killed in a single incident that law enforcement officials can remember.

Conservation officers sometimes refer to similar cases as a "shoot to watch it die" incident, which typically involves males between the ages of 16 to 26 years, according to DWR reports.

Layton has collected evidence from the scene and is developing leads. DWR officials are offering a $1,000 reward for tips leading to the arrest and/or conviction of people involved in the poaching. Officials asked that anyone with information about the incident call the Help Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-800-662-DEER.

Because of the number of animals involved, the poachers could face felony charges and restitution costs of $400 per deer.

brettp@sltrib.com