GREEN RIVER- Royce Conway of Menifee, Calif. got himself in trouble big-time, three times: killing a deer in the wrong hunt area, killing an antelope without a license and then wasting the antelope. Even worse, he was given the opportunity to turn himself in and didn’t.

A local meat processor in Green River alerted Game and Fish Department Game Warden Duane Kerr Oct. 10 to Conway’s activities leading to the discovery of multiple violations.

"Conway dropped a deer at the processor and at that time was also in possession of an antelope carcass," said Kerr. "When asked if he wanted the antelope processed, too, Conway said he had killed the antelope by mistake. The processor gave the hunter directions to the G&F office in town and advised it would probably be of benefit to him to turn himself in."

The next day, the processor called Kerr to see if the man had turned himself in for killing the antelope and was informed he had not. The processor then told Kerr that Conway was visiting a friend in Green River and was to leave town later in the day.

Kerr located Conway and interviewed him about his hunting trip and the antelope he had killed by mistake.

"Conway said that he had killed his deer in hunt area 158 where he was licensed, but couldn’t remember the name of the town near there where he stayed. He then returned to the Rock Springs area to hunt elk in HA 32," said Kerr. "Conway said that after shooting at an elk, which ran off, he proceeded to check for sign of having hit the animal, and found a dying antelope near where the elk stood."

Realizing he had "accidentally" killed the antelope, Conway gutted the antelope and hauled it to town.

"After dropping off the deer, he thought about possibly being in trouble for the antelope, so rather than contacting the G&F, he took it back out in the hills and dumped it," Kerr added. "He not only lied to make the situation worse, he also tried to hide the carcass instead of owning up to the mistake. He has only himself to blame."

During the interview, Conway also admitted that he had killed his deer in area 102 south of Rock Springs, and had never gone to area 158 near Casper.

Conway, 44, was cited Oct. 11 for taking a deer in an area where he wasn’t licensed, taking antelope without a license, and waste of the antelope. He forfeited $1,230 in bond for the violations. The area where the deer was killed is a very popular area with less than 5 percent drawing odds for nonresident hunters.

To report any game and fish violation, call the Stop Poaching Hotline at (800) 843-8096. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to a conviction.