A former Wyoming resident was found not guilty on all counts by a jury in Fifth District Court on Sept. 20 after being accused of illegally taking a bighorn sheep in Park County a decade earlier. 

Robert Underwood, of Oklahoma, was charged with being an accessory before or after the fact, failing to sign and date a proper coupon and being an accessory before or after the fact: did knowingly take over the limit. 

Alabama resident Russell Vick, Underwood’s hunting partner, was found guilty in July of illegally taking the bighorn sheep.

During the opening statements in district court on Sept. 2, Deputy District Attorney Jack Hatfield said that of the two sheep (referred to as Bighorn 1 and Bighorn 2), Underwood legally shot Bighorn 1 while Vick, with Underwood’s knowledge, illegally shot Bighorn 2. 

“You will be able to see Bighorn 2 sitting right in the courtroom,” Hatfield said.

The state had custody of the mount and presented it as evidence. A motion was filed to return property to Underwood which could possibly be the mount. As of press day a result of the motion and the details of the personal property had not been released. 

Hatfield alleged Underwood misdated Bighorn 1 with the date that Vick shot Bighorn 2.

During his opening statement, Underwood’s attorney Scott Stinson argued to the jury that Underwood followed law and procedure. Stinson said he acknowledged that interstate paperwork was filed in order for Bighorn 1 for taxidermy out of state and some mistakes were made, but maintained Underwood had no knowledge of Vick’s illegal taking of the sheep. Vick had allegedly told Underwood he had found the sheep dead by the road. 

“Mr. Underwood shot that sheep in the right season, in the right area and the right animal,” Stinson said.