A Jackson resident was recently ordered to serve 20 days in jail for antler hunting during a closed season and violating a Game and Fish big game winter closure at the same time. Jeremy Hutchison also lost his hunting and fishing privileges for three years and paid $1,110 in fines. Hutchison had been caught for similar violations on Forest Service lands adjacent to the National Elk Refuge in 2017. At about 2:30 pm on March 31st, South Jackson Game and Fish Warden Kyle Lash caught Hutchison violating the winter range closure and stashing elk antlers at the South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area and elk feedground, approximately five miles south of Jackson. The South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area and the gathering of antlers are both closed until May 1 to protect wintering big game. Another man was caught carrying antlers out of a closed area on the opening morning of antler collection and was fined $435. Jason Heggenstaller of Star Valley Ranch was also relieved of the antlers he had collected.
