SLC Times

A U.S. District Court Judge sentenced the final defendant today in a case involving a Utah licensed big game outfitter and his employee/cougar hunting guide in the District of Utah. The two defendants were sentenced separately for their involvement in leading canned hunts for commercial gain, violating the Lacey Act.

Wade Lemon, 63, of Holden, Utah, was sentenced on July 18, 2024, to two months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a $10,500 fine. He also received a one-year commercial ban on federal land. According to court documents and statements made during his change of plea hearing, Lemon admitted to illegally participating in “canned” mountain lion hunts on January 24, 2021, and December 15, 2020, on Federal BLM and National Forest Service land. Utah law prohibits “canned hunts” of mountain lions. A canned hunt involves restricting a cougar's ability to escape to allow another person who was not part of the initial hunting party to arrive and take the cougar. The federal Lacey Act prohibits selling any wildlife taken or sold in violation of state law in interstate commerce.

Lemon owns Wade Lemon Hunting based in Holden, Utah. His business advertises nearly 100% success rates yearly but has been involved in illegal canned cougar hunts defrauding hunters.

Kacey Alan Yardley, 47, of Enoch, Utah, was sentenced on July 22, 2024, to six months’ bench probation after pleading guilty to his involvement in an illegal canned cougar hunt with Lemon. As part of his probationary terms, Yardley is banned from federal land for commercial purposes. According to court documents and statements made at his change of plea hearing, Yardley worked for Lemon as a cougar hunting guide and houndsman. On December 15, 2020 while on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land Yardley admitted that during a canned hunt a cougar was held at bay allowing a hunter who was not part of the initial hunting party to arrive and attempt to take the cougar.

“This is a unique and important case because hunting is an important part of Utah’s culture,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “Canned hunts are illegal because they create an unfair advantage and can lead to inhumane treatment of the animals. It is also unfair to hunters who paid thousands of dollars for a guide and had no idea that they were participating in a canned hunt."

“The Forest Service issues special use permits to many outfitters and guides who provide valuable service,” said Fishlake Forest Supervisor Mike Elson.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service and the Utah Attorney General’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Ruth Hackford-Peer and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ben Willoughby prosecuted the case.