Utah Men Charged With Poaching Trophy Deer
Following Chase and Rollover Accident
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November 19, 2007
Pinedale, Wyoming - A report of possible poaching activity
southeast of Pinedale Nov. 16 led to a high speed chase, a roll-over
accident and two Salt Lake City men being charged for taking a
trophy mule deer out of season.
Mid-morning Nov. 16, a concerned citizen reported suspicious
behavior near the old town site of Big Sandy to Wyoming Game and
Fish Game Warden John Hyde. The citizen helped Hyde search the area
on foot, and they found a mule deer carcass sporting a 5-by-5,
28-inch-wide antler rack laying behind a large rock.
Hyde put the scene under surveillance. At approximately 5 p.m. a
pick-up truck arrived and dropped off an adult male. After the truck
departed, Hyde notified Pinedale Game Warden Brian Nesvik and
reported the man walked to the area of the deer before fleeing on
foot after possibly being detected.
A few minutes later the truck returned to the scene. Hyde approached
in his truck and told the occupants to pull off the road and exit
the vehicle. The driver pulled to the side of the road and then fled
at a high rate of speed. Hyde, the Lovell District game warden who
was working the area for winter range mule deer surveillance,
pursued the suspects westbound on the Eastfork-Big Sandy Road. With
Nesvik close behind, the suspects reached speeds upward of 50 miles
per hour on the winding gravel road and lost the flat bed trailer
they were towing. Approximately 1 mile later, the suspects lost
control of their vehicle at a corner and rolled several times. The
game wardens said it was amazing the two were able to walk away from
the accident with only minor cuts and scrapes. The men received
treatment at the scene and refused to be transported to the
hospital.
Nesvik obtained the cell phone number of the man originally dropped
off near the deer carcass. The officer sent him a text message that
his truck had been wrecked and to walk to the county road. The
suspect complied by walking out to the county road near a residence.
With the help of the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office, the men, who
had been working as subcontractors on commercial construction
projects in the Pinedale and Lander area, were interviewed, arrested
and transported to the Sublette County Jail at approximately 8 p.m.
Gregory L. Carter, 48, was charged with taking an antlered mule deer
out of season, shooting from a vehicle and trespassing. Jeremy S.
Zumwalt, 30, who was driving the pick-up, was charged as an
accessory to the crime and interference with a peace officer. The
officers suspect a .22-250 caliber rifle, a caliber not authorized
for big game hunting in Wyoming, was used in the crime. The
passenger of the vehicle was not charged.
Carter and Zumwalt were released from jail the evening of Nov. 18
after posting bond. Both suspects are scheduled to appear for
arraignment on Dec. 13 in the Sublette County Circuit Court in
Pinedale. The officers remind readers that all suspects are presumed
innocent until convicted in a court of law.
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