A pronghorn buck was illegally killed in Beaver County in August, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Conservation officers are seeking information after the animal was “left to waste” when it was killed west of the Sulphurdale area, according to a news release from the DWR. An investigation determined that the pronghorn was shot with a rifle during the opening weekend of Utah’s big game archery hunts Aug. 21. The buck’s horns measured over 14 inches in length, making it a “trophy animal.”
“It is a shame that a buck as spectacular as this one has been taken from law-abiding hunters who were excited to pursue it legally,” DWR Conservation Officer Jeremy Butler said in the release.
Every year, Utah conservation officers conduct “numerous investigations” into these illegal wildlife killings, and in 2020, officers confirmed “over 1,000 illegally killed animals valued over $387,000.”
Anyone with information regarding the killing of this pronghorn or any other wildlife-related crimes in Utah should report it to DWR conservation officers. Rewards are available, and requests for confidentiality are respected, according to the release.
DWR officers can be reached on the UTip Hotline at 800-662-3337, the UTDWR Law Enforcement app, online through the DWR website or by texting 847411. Information about this specific case may also be reported to Butler at 435-310-0238.
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