4/30/2007

Fine imposed for illegal antler possession

PRICE — On March 27, a Hyrum, Utah man pled guilty to the unlawful possession of antlers and was fined $217. The set of antlers with skull attached came from a trophy mule deer buck, which measured 199 Boone and Crocket points. The antler set was forfeited as a result of the court action.

Under Utah law, a person may only possess shed antlers, except those antlers obtained from lawfully harvested animals. Shed antlers are those that have dropped naturally from a big game animal as part of its annual life cycle. These antlers have a rounded base commonly known as an antler button or burr.

In this case, the antlers were picked up in Colorado. "It's a good idea to know not only Utah law but that of surrounding states as well," stated Lt. Carl Gramlich, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "People just can't pick up anything they see."

This case was successfully prosecuted because of a tip from a concerned citizen. If you see something that appears to be illegal, please call the Help Stop Poaching hotline at: 1-800-662-DEER. Wildlife is our heritage to protect and enjoy. Let's all do our part to protect it from those who fail to abide by the law.