In the grand annals of profoundly stupid decisions caught on front-facing cameras, this recent story coming out of Utah deserves an honorable mention. A registered hunting guide, who it seems is no stranger to the law, is now in hot water after he recorded himself slinging arrows at livestock while being under investigation for poaching deer.
According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), officers executed a search warrant on the man’s cellphone during the poaching case and recovered some non-wildlife related footage. In the now publicly-released video, the unnamed suspect is seen firing a compound bow at a herd of cattle. After releasing one arrow, at least one animal reacts sharply, suggesting it may have been struck, though officials noted the condition of the cattle remains unknown.
Naturally, the suspect was already serving a license suspension for a prior wildlife violation when the new investigation and bovine-related incident occurred. With damning video footage in hand, officers were able to nail him on a conviction of attempted destruction of livestock in Garfield County’s 6th District Court. In addition to significant legal fees, he now faces an extended ban from both hunting and guiding activities in the state.
The behavior drew sharp criticism from ethical hunters and ranchers, with many calling the reckless activity “appalling”. Ranchers interviewed echoed the sentiment that this kind of blatant disregard is rare, noting that while isolated cases of cattle harassment occur, most hunters respect property and ask permission.
In an era when anti-hunting voices are quick to generalize, stories of licensed professionals (or those posing as such) behaving recklessly give ammunition to those who would rather see hunting restricted or eliminated.
“As natural resource officers, we remain committed to protecting our natural resources for all who may use them,” Utah DWR’s post read. “We also appreciate our partnerships and relationships with other agencies, in this case, the Department of Agriculture, and are thankful that we were able to offer support to their constituency by holding this individual accountable for his egregious actions.”
