Two Southern Utah Men Sentenced in Cougar Hunting Crime in Violation of the Lacey Act

Press Release

Big game outfitter cheated, cougar hunts were canned

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - A U.S. District Court Judge sentenced the final defendant today in a crime that involved 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 a crime that defrauded hunters by leading canned hunts for commercial gain, in violation of the Lacey Act.

Wade Lemon, 63, of Holden, Utah, was sentenced July 18, 2024, to two months' imprisonment, ordered by the court to pay a $10,500 fine, and 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 means that a cougar is treed, cornered, held at bay or its ability to escape is otherwise restricted to allow a person who was not a member of the initial hunting party to arrive and take the cougar. The federal Lacey Act prohibits selling in interstate commerce any wildlife taken or sold in violation of state law. The Lacey Act defines the "sale" of wildlife to include providing guiding or outfitting services.

Lemon owns and operates Wade Lemon Hunting based in Holden, Utah. Lemon advertises his business on his website and boasts nearly 100% success rates yearly. However, Lemon has cheated in illegal canned cougar hunts and has defrauded hunters.

Kacey Alan Yardley, 47, of Enoch, Utah, was sentenced July 22, 2024, to six months' bench probation, after he pleaded 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 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, Yardley admitted that during a canned hunt, a cougar was held at bay and its ability to escape was otherwise restricted to allow a hunter who was not a member 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. My office and our law enforcement partners take these crimes seriously because they negatively impact our state and the hunting community."

"The Forest Service issues special use permits to many outfitters and guides who provide a valuable service to the public. This case was important to help ensure the legitimacy of permitted services," 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 of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

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Updated July 22, 2024