What started as something of a twisted cowboy stunt has since escalated into a felony animal cruelty case, casting light into yet another case of blatant animal cruelty in the state of Wyoming. Three men with ties to the M Arrow Ranch near Evanston have been summoned to court after graphic videos emerged showing them lassoing, mounting, and hauling a weakened cow moose across the terrain. The incidents, captured in May 2021 but only recently uncovered, have ignited fury among wildlife advocates and locals alike, with penalties potentially including prison time and five-figures worth of fines.
In the high sagebrush country of Uinta County, “breaking” a horse is part of the job. “Breaking” a moose, especially one already stumbling and blind in one eye, is apparently where some locals decided the line should be crossed. The abuse unfolded over two dates on private ranch land, targeting a cow moose described by investigators as "visibly unwell”, and likely in distress from natural causes.
According to reports, Kylan W. Platt, then a ranch hand from Malad City, Idaho, first roped the moose around the neck from an all-terrain vehicle. He then dismounted, climbed onto the animal's back, and rode her like a bucking bronco, digging spurs into her sides to "break" her. Justin Martin, 53, the ranch's registered agent and an Evanston resident, filmed the ordeal while egging Platt on with shouts of "Spur him some more!" and "He's just barely getting broke to ride." The video, later described in court documents as "horrific," shows the moose thrashing in panic as she's spurred repeatedly.
Range H. Martin, an Evanston local (and possibly related to Justin), took his turn from horseback. He lassoed the same moose, yanked her off her feet, and dragged her through rough sagebrush while another participant recorded. The animal's injuries from the ordeal remain unclear, but wildlife experts note that such handling could cause severe trauma, including broken bones or internal damage, to an already compromised creature.
Fortunately for investigators, the men preserved the footage as a fond memory in their phone, only for it to become damning evidence years later.
The case traces back to a 2022–2023 Wyoming Game and Fish Department probe into unrelated wildlife violations. During a phone search of Justin Martin's device, officers stumbled upon the moose videos hidden amid ranch life clips. What might have been dismissed as "boys being boys" in some circles was swiftly escalated given that moose are protected big game animals under Wyoming law, and harassing live wildlife without a permit is obviously a no-go.
On the heels of the damning evidence and despicable treatment of the moose, summonses were issued yesterday for all three men to appear in Evanston Circuit Court on January 15, 2026.
The trio of ropers are now up against some serious felony charges stemming from Wyoming’s wildlife and animal-cruelty statutes. Kylan W. Platt and Range H. Martin have each been charged with one count of felony cruelty to animals, one count of wanton destruction of a big game animal, and one count of possession of live wildlife without a permit. Justin Martin, who filmed the May 4 incident and encouraged the rider, is charged as an accessory to both the felony cruelty count and the wanton destruction count. Each felony cruelty charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while the wanton destruction and illegal possession charges can bring additional jail time and fines.
Unfortunately, this isn't Wyoming's first brush with animal abuse scandals; in August, Daniel resident Cody Roberts was indicted for felony animal cruelty after capturing a wild wolf, muzzling the animal and parading it around a bar before killing it.
As for the moose? Her fate is currently unknown, and has likely become a silent casualty in yet another saga that should serve to explain why "thrill-seeking" can't trump compassion. And more importantly, the law.
As the January court date looms, eyes will be on whether justice matches the outrage that is sure to unfold over the coming weeks.
