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As you're out gathering antlers that dropped off the heads of deer, elk and moose this past winter, please remember to leave one type of antler right where you found it.
"It's not uncommon to find the carcass of an animal that still has antlers attached to its skull," says Casey Mickelsen, a conservation officer for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
"If you find an animal that still has antlers attached to its skull, leave it alone and contact us."
Mickelsen says antlers that fall off an animal's head as part of its natural life cycle are the only antlers Utah law allows you to pickup and take home.
"If you find antlers that are still attached to an animal's skull plate, you'll know one of three things happened: either someone killed the animal illegally, or it was wounded legally by a hunter or died from a natural cause," he says.
I found an animal. What should I do?
If you find a dead animal that still has its antlers attached, please contact the nearest DWR office. Also, don't disturb the carcass or the area around it. And don't remove anything from the carcass or the immediate area.
"We'll need the location of the animal," Mickelsen says. "If you can give us a GPS coordinate, that's great. If not, describe where the animal is the best you can."
The DWR will send one of its officers to investigate. If he or she determines the animal died of natural causes, you can keep the antlers. If the animal didn't die of natural causes, your report could be the first step in solving a poaching case.
"We really appreciate the help shed-antler gatherers give us every year," Mickelsen says. "Without their help, the remains of many animals would never be found."
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