Color Country Outfitters in trouble
30inchbucks
6/23/04 8:57pm
Check this out. It's too bad this kind of garbage is going on. This is what money is doing to our sport we all love so much. The story is on Channel 5news at 10pm tonight and it's also on their website.
Here's the actual story straight from the ksl.com website.
Secret Videotape Raises Ethical Questions In Private Deer Hunt
Jun. 23, 2004
A secretly made videotape of a hunting incident in southern Utah has raised ethical questions and triggered an investigation by wildlife officials. It appears to show deer and elk deliberately trapped by a hunting party which eventually shot a prize buck. John Hollenhorst has just returned from Kane County.
The hunting outfitter vigorously denies allegations of trapping, which would be a third degree felony. He says this videotape, which someone mailed to us anonymously, is misleading. But he admits what happened was bad and should never happen again.
This incident took place in a farming area just outside Alton in Kane County. It's private land where hunters pay up to 11,000 dollars to shoot a trophy deer. Last September, other hunters shot this videotape as a California hunter and two guides went after an especially desirable buck deer. In off-camera conversations, the videotapers are heard accusing the hunting party of cornering deer and elk along an 8-foot-high fence.
VOICES OFF-CAMERA: "THAT'S GOTTA BE TOUGH, TRYING TO GET A SHOT, WITH ALL THOSE ANIMALS STANDING IN THE CORNER OF THAT FENCE. OH YEAH, THAT'S REAL TOUGH."
They claim the natural exit points were deliberately blocked for well over an hour by people, vehicles and temporary gates propped up just before the hunt. But outfitter Wade Heaton says the deer had plenty of running room. The large farm acreage was only partly fenced... but he says some deer mistakenly cornered themselves. He says the incident stretched on... because the first shot only wounded the deer. The rifle malfunctioned and it took time to get another rifle and finish the job.
WADE HEATON, COLOR COUNTRY OUTFITTERS: "AND SO REALLY I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING ILLEGAL THAT WENT ON WITH IT. IT WAS TOO BAD. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT THE WAY PEOPLE LIKE TO HUNT. AND IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE."
The division of Wildlife Resources wrapped up an investigation and turned it over to the Kane County Attorney a couple of days ago. No word yet on whether any charges will be filed. The facts and the legalities are very complex. We'll explain it all to you tonight at 10pm.
Here's the actual story straight from the ksl.com website.
Secret Videotape Raises Ethical Questions In Private Deer Hunt
Jun. 23, 2004
A secretly made videotape of a hunting incident in southern Utah has raised ethical questions and triggered an investigation by wildlife officials. It appears to show deer and elk deliberately trapped by a hunting party which eventually shot a prize buck. John Hollenhorst has just returned from Kane County.
The hunting outfitter vigorously denies allegations of trapping, which would be a third degree felony. He says this videotape, which someone mailed to us anonymously, is misleading. But he admits what happened was bad and should never happen again.
This incident took place in a farming area just outside Alton in Kane County. It's private land where hunters pay up to 11,000 dollars to shoot a trophy deer. Last September, other hunters shot this videotape as a California hunter and two guides went after an especially desirable buck deer. In off-camera conversations, the videotapers are heard accusing the hunting party of cornering deer and elk along an 8-foot-high fence.
VOICES OFF-CAMERA: "THAT'S GOTTA BE TOUGH, TRYING TO GET A SHOT, WITH ALL THOSE ANIMALS STANDING IN THE CORNER OF THAT FENCE. OH YEAH, THAT'S REAL TOUGH."
They claim the natural exit points were deliberately blocked for well over an hour by people, vehicles and temporary gates propped up just before the hunt. But outfitter Wade Heaton says the deer had plenty of running room. The large farm acreage was only partly fenced... but he says some deer mistakenly cornered themselves. He says the incident stretched on... because the first shot only wounded the deer. The rifle malfunctioned and it took time to get another rifle and finish the job.
WADE HEATON, COLOR COUNTRY OUTFITTERS: "AND SO REALLY I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING ILLEGAL THAT WENT ON WITH IT. IT WAS TOO BAD. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT THE WAY PEOPLE LIKE TO HUNT. AND IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE."
The division of Wildlife Resources wrapped up an investigation and turned it over to the Kane County Attorney a couple of days ago. No word yet on whether any charges will be filed. The facts and the legalities are very complex. We'll explain it all to you tonight at 10pm.
16,828
Seems like you've already made your mind up as to what happended out there. With about 20 years in law enforcment I've learned one thing for sure; take media reporting with a grain of salt, as they usually are NOT the most FACT driven resource available. I'll wait until I see a trial and conviction before I pass judgement. EVERYONE is entilted to that. I'm all for facts, not accustations. I just wish everyone was. Good luck.
BOHNTR )))----------------->
I would be interested in knowing more about this particular incident though because either way, the way it's reported (If it was reported in the same manner that it was posted) it sure doesn't do us hunters any favors.
BOHNTR )))---------------->
I'v herd for ever that there has been things not quite legal over there. I never believed them to be true and the rumors came flying still. The latest was a high fenced hunt and also high fences trapping deer and other animals from "escaping". Well looks like rumors that were flying were partially true. Wheather or not it is all true I do not know. The biggest guides can be the best of guys, yet it takes only one or two of the ugliest of them to screw them all. I am now very intrested in seeing how things fold out with them.
Wildlife Officials Investigate Accusations of Trapping Deer
Jun. 23, 2004
"THAT'S GOTTA BE TOUGH, TRYING TO GET A SHOT WITH ALL THOSE ANIMALS STANDING IN THE CORNER OF THAT FENCE." "OH YEAH, THAT'S REAL TOUGH, HA, HA."
A secretly made videotape of a hunting incident in Southern Utah has raised ethical questions and triggered an investigation by wildlife officials.
It appears to show deer and elk deliberately trapped ... until a prize buck is shot and killed by a California hunter. A hunter, who paid big money for the kill.
John Hollenhorst is here ... to tell us more.
The hunting outfitter vigorously denies allegations of trapping. He says this videotape... which we received anonymously... is misleading.
But he admits what happened was bad. And a top wildlfie official says he finds it very distasetful.
The incident took place just outside Alton in Kane County. It's private farmland where a California hunter paid about 11,000 dollars to shoot a trophy deer.
Last September, other hunters shot this videotape as the Californian and two guides went after an especially desirable buck deer.
OFF-CAMERA VOICES: "THEY GOT HIM TRAPPED, DON'T THEY?
In off-camera conversations, the videotapers are heard accusing the hunting party of cornering deer and elk along an 8-foot-high fence for at least an hour or two.
OFF-CAMERA VOICES: "THAT'S SAD MAN, IT MAKES YOU SICK." "NOT A VERY NOBLE DEATH IS IT?"
Eventually the prize buck of the herd dropped to the ground.
BANG! OFF-CAMERA VOICES: "THEY NICKED HIM, DID THEY? "THEY KILLED HIM."
But outfitter Wade Heaton says the deer had plenty of running room. A vast acreage is contained within a series of fences that are mostly low enough for deer to jump over. A partially completed 8-foot-high fence was only a partial barrier to the trophy buck.
WADE HEATON/COLOR COUNTRY OUTFITTERS: "HE WAS IN NO WAY TRAPPED. THERE WAS LOTS OF GROUND FOR HIM TO COVER. HE JUST PICKED A PARTICULAR CORNER THERE THAT HE COULDN'T GO OUT OF."
He says the incident stretched on because the first shot only wounded the deer. The rifle malfunctioned and it took time to get another rifle and finish the job.
WADE HEATON/COLOR COUNTRY OUTFITTERS: "NO ONE IS PARTICULARLY HAPPY ABOUT IT. IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN AND THANK GOODNESS THAT IT WON'T."
JOHN HOLLENHORST REPORTING: "THE PEOPLE WHO SHOT THE VIDEO REFUSED TO SPEAK TO US ON CAMERA. BUT ONE OF THEM TOLD US IT WAS OBVIOUS THE DEER WERE TRAPPED BY THE FENCE, AND THEIR EXIT POINTS CUT OFF BY PEOPLE AND VEHICLES."
OFF-CAMERA VOICES: "THOSE GATES RIGHT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN THERE ALL SUMMER AND NOW THEY'RE PROPPED UP."
The videotapers claim that exit points were blocked by temporary gates, put up just before the hunt.
WADE HEATON/COLOR COUNTRY OUTFITTERS: "HUUNHHH. YOU KNOW I REALLY, UH, I COULD GIVE YOU MY OPINION ON THAT. BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW. SOME OF THE OTHER HUNTERS IN THE AREA THAT WEREN'T PART OF OUR GROUP, I HEARD THEY WERE DOING THAT AS WELL. BUT I REALLY CAN'T CONFIRM THAT EITHER."
The case is tricky from a legal standpoint: How do you define the difference between trapping in fact... versus trapping in effect.
And it's an ethical quandary too: how different is this from a group of hunters pressuring a herd of deer up a box canyon. A common practice.
The Division of Wildlife has completed an investigation and it's now in the hands of the Kane County Attorney.
However if they or anyone is convicted of a violation according to the law. The consequences will and should follow. If not then the topic should be dropped in my opinion.
As far as the last part of the article posted regarding fencing versus this:
"And it's an ethical quandary too: how different is this from a group of hunters pressuring a herd of deer up a box canyon. A common practice."
I believe there is a big difference.
The people involved are unethical slobs and do not deserve to be called hunters. They embarased all of us and I hope they throw the book a them.
Don
You hit the nail on the head. It is sad that people have to wonder whether or not this situation was unethical or not. It was flat out disgraceful. It is obvious that the outfitter knows it so what is there to debate? I could not shoot the buck of a lifetime if he was penned up against an 8' fence, no matter how he got there. I would feel sick every time I saw him on the wall.
Thanks for having the guts to say what we should all be yelling.
CountingCoo
i think there is alot to be said on both sides of the story there. the TRUE hunter will use the ethic of fair chase but what is fair chase? is a guided hunt fair chase? how bout a fenced hunt? public hunt? what is fair chase? i love the public hunts but does one trophy mule deer stand anymore of a chance with 5 different hunters shootin at him than a cornered mule deer? i personally watched a spike bull elk get shot at by 3 different hunters and than the hunters argued who's elk it was, so does that make thems slobs? my opinion of this whole topic is why ppl have the desire to spend all that money on a guided "hunt", sounds to me its just like fishin at a trout farm lol ur garanteed a fish. i think lawenforcement should send them out into the wild an let the wilderness get its payback on them, maybe they will have alot more respect for nature an be thankfull we have creatures such as the mule deer. jus my two cents worth though
Thanks for your last post, it was very informative and objective. The story was relayed to me the same way 2 days after the incident supposedly occurred last year. IF these allegations are found to be true, then I too would like to see them lose their allotted tags. However, I don't think it will happen and here's why.
I've heard that the Game & Fish Department had this video in their possession loooong before the media gained access to it. Just from experience, this tells me there may not be any LEGAL statutes they can apply that will likely obtain a conviction or they would have pursued the matter BEFORE the media got involved. If this is true, you are left with ETHICAL issues alone. As you know, morals and ethics are VERY difficult to enforce from a law enforcement point of view. I'm not sure how the Utah Game & Fish regulates the issuance of landowner tags in terms of "do's and dont's" but maybe this will change policy so IF things like this occur there are repercussions.
Only time will tell, and we should ALL wait for the facts to surface at the conclusion of the investigation. Meanwhile........anyone been seeing any big deer??????
BOHNTR )))------------------->