ROCK SPRINGS - It’s okay to pick up shed antlers in the spring to add to your "bone pile." But it’s pathetic when poachers shoot mule deer in December and cut their head off to get the antlers.

That is just what Rock Springs residents John May, Mike May and Jerry Harris are alleged to have done and thanks to a concerned citizen and superb investigative techniques, they got caught - nearly red-handed.

On Dec. 2, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Game Warden Brad Gibb was patrolling deer winter range near the Big Sandy River. Gibb had seen a pickup and happened to write down the partial license plate number of a vehicle that passed him.

"About four hours later, the occupants of the same truck killed a large buck mule deer," said Gibb. "I saw the vehicle at the site from a distance, but was not aware of the dead deer at the time. The truck left the area before I could approach it and identify the occupants. I returned to the area at daylight Sunday morning and discovered a dead buck deer with the antlers gone. Tire tracks showed that the individuals who killed the deer returned during the night to take the antlers. It was at this point I determined this case needed a quick and big response, so I asked for assistance."

Gibb’s quick thinking led to a cooperative investigation by game wardens from Pinedale, Big Piney, Riverton and Green River.

While that kill site was being investigated, a concerned person alerted wardens to deer in the area with the antlers removed. That site was also located and investigated.

Green River Game Warden Duane Kerr returned from the investigation and decided to follow up on the partial license plate.

"We lucked out when Brad wrote down the license plate," Kerr said. "He had most of the plate correct except for the last letter. The state dispatch center was able to run some plates and finally came back to the pickup truck, which matched the description we were looking for.

"I drove to John May’s residence and was able to match the vehicle description and tire tracks to the vehicle parked in front of the residence. This evidence, along with the evidence recovered from both kill sites, including distinctive tire tracks, bullets recovered from the deer carcasses and other observations made during the investigation, permitted us to get a search warrant."

John D. May, 41, Mike May, 37, and Jerry M. Harris, 30, were interviewed Dec. 5, and all three admitted to being involved in killing the two bucks. Only the antlers were taken and the carcasses left to rot at the kill sites. Officers recovered both sets of antlers: 28-inch-wide 4-by-4 and very heavy 23-inch-wide 6-by-7.

All of the investigating officers concurred that one of the most disturbing aspects of this investigation is that information obtained in this case suggested the subjects went to this remote deer winter range with the intent of killing large bucks, partly because they felt that deer like this aren’t available to hunters during the season.

In addition to Gibb and Kerr, Game and Fish officers Brian Nesvik, Brad Hovinga, Scott Werbelow and Ryan Kenneda were involved in the investigation. The Rock Springs Police Department also provided assistance with serving search warrants. The Sublette County Attorney is studying the information gathered and charges against the three men are pending.

Anyone with information about any wildlife violation should call the local game warden or the "Stop Poaching Hotline" at (800) 442-4331. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for cash reward if the information leads to a conviction.

(contact: Duane Kerr or Lucy Wold (307) 875-3223, Brian Nesvik (307) 367-4353, Brad Gibb (307) 856-9005, Scott Werbelow (307) 367-4347, Brad Hovinga (307) 276-3359)