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Show Poaching: a growing problem Experts estimate that as many as 50 percent of the deer killed in Utah are killed by poachers. At a recent roadblock on the Wyoming border, officials confiscated a large refrigerated truck nearly full of deer and elk that had been illegally illeg-ally killed. Alan Hash, North Davis Conservation Con-servation Officer said he was aware of one instance where a group of hunters was stopped, and each of them had killed four or five deer. He said that anyone who breaks the law in an attempt to get game is considered a poacher. "Many times there is very little evidence of poaching. The officers offic-ers will find a gut pile and know an animal has been taken, but it is difficult to find the hunter. According to Hash occasionally they will find a large group of deer including does and fawns, that have been shot by someone and left in the canyon, "they just use them for target practice," he said. He pointed out that several new regulations will help cut down on poaching. This year licenses will not be sold after midnight (he day before the hunt. "This will eliminate elimin-ate the hunter who finds a herd of deer, kills several of them and then runs down the canyon to get mom and dad and brother to buy a license so the deer can be tagged," tag-ged," said Hash. It is also unlawful to kill a deer for any other person in the party, with the exception of a blind person. per-son. A new law makes it possible for a certified, legally blind person to buy a hunting license. Their companion hunters will be held responsible for all rules and laws pertaining to the hunt. The blind person will not be allowed to CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE CONTINUED FROM PREV. PAGE attempt to take or to take the game animals at any time during the course of the hunting activity. Hunters may not donate any portion of their animal to another person while they are in the field. The entire deer must be brought out of the canyon by the licensed hunter. Hash said every attempt is being made to stop poaching and to make the hunt, "fair for law abiding citizens." Anyone witnis-sing witnis-sing or aware of poaching is encouraged en-couraged to call Utah wildlife resources re-sources at 1-800-662-DEER. |