by Jamie Belnap

STAFF WRITER

A reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the shooting of nine cows and a week-old calf last week in Skull Valley near Lone Rock was upped to $10,000 Thursday — a sum pledged by the Humane Society of Utah, state and local farm bureaus, the Utah Cattlemen’s Association, and the Tooele County Commission.

“The county is serious about finding the shooters,” Tooele County Commissioner Jerry Hurst said. “We are very upset and want to do what we can to bring them to justice. When ranchers lose one cow it’s devastating, but when you lose 10 it’s unthinkable. Those people who are doing this obviously have no regard for animals.”

The cows were grazing on Bureau of Land Management property leased by cattle owner Martin Anderson, who said six cows and a calf were found dead at the site. Anderson had to put down the other three cows because they were severely wounded. The animals had bullet wounds in their heads, torsos, shoulders and hips, and many were shot multiple times. Of the nine adult cows that were killed, seven had new calves, which now require bottle feeding.

“It’s unfortunate that this type of thing happens here,” said Chief Deputy Duke North in a statement issued by the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office. “Much of Tooele County is very remote and is used for legitimate recreational purposes. However, some people feel like they can come here and do what they want.”

Anderson, a third-generation rancher out of Grantsville, estimates that the killings cost him between $10,000 and $15,000.

“We’ve had cattle shot previously, but not to this magnitude,” Anderson said.

While cattle shooting in Tooele County isn’t a regular occurrence, Utah Farm Bureau Federation President and Stockton rancher Leland Hogan said it’s something he’s heard talked about often in cattlemen’s circles.

“When one cow is shot or two cows are shot, a lot of times it doesn’t get reported. It’s talked about among ranchers, but it doesn’t reach proper authority,” Hogan said. “When you lose a couple cows you might as well have had someone put a gun to your back and take money from your wallet.”

Another 10-cow shooting that occurred back in January 2006 on a Vernon ranch was never solved, Hogan said.

The sheriff’s office is currently investigating the Skull Valley shooting, but said they have yet to identify any suspects.

“This kind of crime is not only a felony offense, it’s a heinous animal cruelty crime because of the suffering the animals endure,” North said. “We intend to do all we can to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to contact Detective Ronnie Johnson or Deputy Wally Wickham at 843-4705.

“The only way to stop these kind of things is to prosecute someone,” Hogan said. “When people can see that something will happen, then maybe these shootings won’t happen anymore.”

jamieb@tooeletranscript.com