AQ,
lucky for me my state doesn't have that silly rule for deer and elk skulls. if it did i'd do the same thing as you; bring it home. you're no criminal.
i think the idea behind the UT law is to discourage poachers from shooting trophies, stashing them and coming back for them later. i'm sure it happens with or without the law. if someone's going to do something like that, they'll do it regardless of what the rules say, so the law is pointless.
berto