Utah men hid mule deer's body, then returned to scene of crime
JEFF GEARINO Southwest Wyoming bureau | Posted: Friday, November 21, 2008 12:00 am
GREEN RIVER - It was a classic case of the perpetrators returning to the scene of the crime. In this case, however, game wardens were waiting.
Two Utah men who poached a trophy game mule deer buck a year ago, hid the body and then returned later that day to collect it were sentenced this week on multiple wildlife violations, according to Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials.
Game and Fish Department spokesman Mark Gocke said Jeremy Zumwalt and Gregory L. Carter, both from the Salt Lake City area, were convicted recently in Sublette County Circuit Court of taking an antlered deer out of season.
Carter was convicted of taking big game from a vehicle, waste and abandonment and trespassing, in addition to taking an antlered deer during a closed season. Zumwalt was convicted of interference with a peace officer and reckless driving.
Gocke said the Utah pair were traveling from Lander to Pinedale on the morning of Nov. 16, 2007, where they were working as subcontractors, when they came across the large buck. He said the pair shot it, covered it up and left the area.
Later that day, a resident contacted game wardens John Hyde and Brian Nesvik and alerted them to the dead deer located just off a Sublette County road near Big Piney south of Pinedale. The citizen said he also observed a Utah pickup truck in the area.
Gocke said wardens began surveillance on the deer, suspecting the poachers may return - and sure enough, the Utah men returned later that evening to retrieve the deer. Gocke said Zumwalt dropped Carter off and then drove away.
Warden Hyde attempted to stop Zumwalt in his vehicle, but the suspect pulled off the road and fled the scene.
Gocke said the chase ended when Zumwalt rolled the truck several times. Zumwalt and another uninvolved passenger had only minor scrapes and bruises. Carter surrendered to wardens a short time later.
Nesvik said the incident illustrates the importance of citizens notifying the department when they observe suspicious or illegal activity.
"We really appreciate the individual coming forward with the information," Nesvik said. "After years of trying to bring our mule deer numbers back up, any loss is disturbing, but especially when it's a blatant illegal shooting like this."
Circuit Court Judge Curt Haws ordered Carter to pay a $5,400 fine and $2,000 in restitution. Zumwalt was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution.
Both men lost their hunting and fishing privileges for 10 years, and both had a two-year jail sentence suspended. The pair of poachers were placed on two years' probation.
Contact southwest Wyoming bureau reporter Jeff Gearino at (307) 875-5359 or gearino@tribcsp.com