What’s the Difference between Sport Hunting and Poaching? The short answer is, not as much as you might think. We here at C.A.S.H. believe that all hunting is a form of stealing, whether from nature, the animals’ families or the lives of the victims themselves. But the legal definition of poaching has more to do with stealing an opportunity from another hunter. The good thing about reporting a poacher is that it’s the one way we can use the law to punish the killing of wildlife. For the most part, poaching laws were written with the licensed hunters in mind, not necessarily the animals’ welfare. But sometimes “game” laws limit the kill methods, quantity of kills and other factors that might happen to inadvertently benefit the animals themselves as well.Clearly not because of this, but some “sportsmen’s” groups like to support most game regulations to ensure their own good luck for the next time out. Don’t get us wrong, a poacher is often even worse than the average sport hunter, but not just because they don’t dump as much money into the game department’s coffers. In terms of downright disrespect for the animals, they’re oftentimes the leaders of the pack. Yet, whether or not hunters are operating within the laws, the sad end result for countless victims is the same.
While hunters and hunting agencies claim that it is only the “few bad apples” who are killing animals illegally (whether out of season, in numbers greater than the allowed kill limits, during hours when hunting is not allowed, in areas where hunting is prohibited, etc.), C.A.S.H. and those who are immersed in the world of wildlife protection believe otherwise. In addition to compiling data on hunting accidents, CASH also keeps an archive of hunting violations which can be found at accident-center.html#v .
Hunters kill wildlife illegally for many reasons. For some, killing animals is a money-making pursuit. Others do so because they have an insatiable desire to kill and to be violent against those who are helpless. Some are so overcome by the rush they get when hunting that they will not hesitate to shoot across roads or trespass upon private property lest they miss an opportunity to blow off the head of an animal. While wildlife agencies for the most part do what they can to enforce state and federal wildlife laws, the number of conservation officers in the field is woefully inadequate to enforce the law. Given the enormous amount land area that conservation officers are responsible for covering, the number of violations they prosecute is the mere tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number of illegal killings (and woundings) committed.
If you’re aware of illegal wildlife killing, do not hesitate to report it to your state enforcement agency. Wildlife agencies often pursue illegal wildlife killers because the fines levied brings the agency much needed income, and they are quick to quash behavior that makes hunters look bad. It is important to take detailed notes:
· What was the violation
· When and where did it occur (county, township, road/highway)
· What weapons or equipment were used
· What vehicles or crafts were used (registration numbers are important if you have access to them)
· How many people were involved (names, addresses, physical descriptions and clothing)
· What evidence is still at the scene
· Did the violator(s) take evidence of the crime with them
· Which way or where did they go and how?
Providing these details to law enforcement agencies will give them the best chance possible to track down and prosecute those who illegally kill wildlife.
State “Report-A-Poacher” Contact Information
Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division
Law Enforcement Section
Operation Game Watch: 1-800-272-4263;
Law Enforcement – Montgomery Headquarters: (334) 242-3467 dcnr.enforce@dcnr.alabama.gov
http://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/contacts/districtoffices.cfm
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Fish and Wildlife Safeguard
Hotline: 1-800-478-3377;
Captain Burke Waldron, Alaska State Troopers: 907-269-5955
http://www.dps.state.ak.us/awt/safeguard.aspx
http://www.dps.state.ak.us/awt/SafeguardFaq.aspx
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Operation Game Thief Hotline: 1-800-352-0700
http://www.azgfd.gov/artman/publish/article_822.shtml
http://www.azgfd.gov/ogt.shtml
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Turn in Poachers (TIP) Hotline: 1-800-482-9262;
Cingular Customers Dial #TIP (#847)
Alltel Customers Dial *TIP (*847)
http://www.agfc.com/rules-regulations/tip.aspx
California Department of Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division
Law Enforcement Division: (916) 653-4094;
Cal-TIP: 1 (888) DFGCALTIP
lschwall@dfg.ca.gov
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/caltip.aspx
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Operation Game Thief (OGT) and Turn in Poachers (TIP) program
1-877-COLO-OGT (1-877-265-6648),
Verizon cell phone users can dial #OGT.
Law Enforcement Administration: 303-291-7223
game.thief@state.co.us
http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/TurnInPoachers.aspx
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
DEP Law Enforcement – 860-424-3333
Turn In Poachers (TIP) 800-842-4357 – (800) 842-HELP
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2690&Q=322474
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
1-800-292-3030 (Operation Game Theft); 1-800-532-3336
(Communications Section); James Graybeal – 302-739-9913
Enforcement (Hunting/Boating): 302-739-9913
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
FWC Wildlife Alert Reward Program: 1-888-404-FWCC (3922)
http://myfwc.com/law/Alert
http://myfwc.com/law/Alert/MailMap.asp?region=CTY
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Turn In Poachers, Inc. (TIP) 1-800-241-4113 or
*DNR (Cellular for Cingular Mobility Customers)
Wildlife Resources Division:
LE Headquarters: (770) 918-6410, (770) 918-6408
http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us
https://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/service/tipemail.asp
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
Division of Conservation and
Resource Enforcement: 808-587-0077
Enforcement Hotline: (808)643-DLNR
Idaho Fish and Game
Citizens Against Poaching hotline 1-800-632-5999
Law Enforcement: 208-334-3736
https://idfg.idaho.gov/poacher
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Poacher Hotline 1-877-236-7529 or 217-785-7567
jsample@dnrmail.state.il.us
Indiana DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife
Turn in a Poacher/Polluter (TIP) Hotline: 1-800-TIP-IDNR
https://www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/7608.htm
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Turn in Poachers Hotline:1-800-532-2020
Contact person for TIP Program: Steve Dermand: 515-281-4515
https://www.iowadnr.gov/tip
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Operation Game Thief Hotline: 1-877-426-3843
Officer Dan Melson: 620-583-7515; Law Enforcement: 620-672-5911
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/what_to_look_for_when_reporting_a_violation
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/operation_game_thief_report_form
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Report a Poacher 1-800-25ALERT (1-800-252-5378)
https://fw.ky.gov/Enforcement/Pages/default.aspx
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Operation Game Thief Hotline: 1-800-442-2511
KLaCaze@wlf.louisiana.gov
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/enforcement/operation-game-thief
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Operation Game Thief Hotline
within Maine: 1-800-253-7887
outside Maine: (207) 287-6057
http://www.maine.gov/ifw/warden-service/
Maryland Department of Natural Resources,
24 hour Catch A Poacher Hotline: 1-800-635-6124
Outside MD: 410-260-8888
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/poacher.asp
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Environmental Police Hotline: 1-800-632-8075
https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-a-violation-online-form
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Report All Poaching (RAP)
https://secure1.state.mi.us/rap
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Turn In Poachers, TIP Inc. Hotline: 1-800-652-9093
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/enformcement/tipreportingform.html
Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
Hotline for reporting violations: 1-800-BE SMART
https://www.mdwfp.com/apps/report-violation/
Missouri Department of Conservation
Operation Game Thief (OGT) Hotline: 1-800-392-1111
https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/huntfish/operation-game-thief
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Turn In Poachers Hotline: 1-800-847-6668
http://fwp.mt.gov/enforcement/tipmont/
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Wildlife Crimestoppers Hotline: 1-800-742-7627
http://outdoornebraska.gov/wildlifecrimestoppers/
Nevada Division of Wildlife
Operation Game Thief: 1-800-992-3030
http://www.ndow.org/Laws/Operation_Game_Thief/
New Hampshire Fish & Game Department
Operation Game Thief 1-800-344-4262
Law Enforcement Division: 603-271-3127
law@wildlife.nh.gov
https://wildlife.state.nh.us/ogt/index.html
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Operation
Game Thief Hotline: 1-800-222-0456
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ogt.htm
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Operation Game Thief Hotline: 1-800-432-4263 (1-800-432-GAME)
Dan Brooks, Division Chief, Law Enforcement: 505-476- 8066
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/enforcement/operation-game-thief-overview/
New York Department of Environmental Conservation
Stop Poachers and Polluters in Their Tracks! (TIPP DEC)
Hotline: 1-844-DEC-ECOS (1-844-332-3267)
DEC Division of Law Enforcement: 877-457-5680
Sergeant Kranker: 518-897-1326
r5dsptch@gw.dec.state.ny.us
http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/67751.html
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Division of Enforcement Hotline: 1-800-662-7137
Division of Enforcement: 919-707-0030
http://www.ncwildlife.org/wildtip
North Dakota Game and Fish Department
Report All Poaching (RAP) Hotline: 1-800-472-2121
Enforcement Division Chief/Chief Game Warden:
Robert Timian 701-328-6324
https://gf.nd.gov/contact-us
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife
Turn In A Poacher, Inc. Hotline: 1-800-POACHER
wildinfo@dnr.state.oh.us
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/stay-informed/turn-in-a-poacher-tip
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Operation Game Thief Hotline: 1-800-522-8039
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/law/operation-game-thief
Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division
Turn in Poachers Hotline: 1-800-452-7888
https://www.oregon.gov/osp/fw/pages/f_w_tip.aspx
Pennsylvania Game Commission
Turn In A Poacher (TIP) Program Hotline: 1-888-PGC-8001
https://pgcdatacollection.pa.gov/operationgamethief
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Rhode Island Environmental Police Hotline: 401-222-3070
Kurt Blanchard: (401) 222-2284
kurt.blanchard@dem.ri.gov
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/enforce/index.htm
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division
Operation Game Thief Hotline: 1-800-922-5431
LT. Robert McCullough: 803-734-3607
McCulloughR@dnr.sc.gov
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/law/OGT.html
South Dakota Division of Wildlife
Turn In Poachers Hotline: 1-888-OVERBAG 683-TIPS (7224)
https://gfp.sd.gov/tips/
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Regional Hotlines:
West TN: 1-800-831-1173
Middle TN: 1-800-255-8972
Cumberland Plateau: 1-800-241-0767
East TN: 1-800-831-1174
Texas Parks and Wildlife, Law Enforcement Division
Operation Game Thief Hotline: 1-800-792-GAME (4263)
Buddy Turner, OGT Program Director at 512-389-4626
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/warden/ogt ;
http://www.ogttx.com/report.htm
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Help Stop Poaching Hotline Hotline: 1-800-662-DEER (3337)
HelpStopPoaching@utah.gov
http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/law
http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/law/information.php
http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/law/hsp/pf.php
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
Operation Game Thief Hotline: 1-800-75 ALERT (1-800-752-5378)
Fish & Wildlife Law Enforcement: 802-241-3727 or 802-241-3716
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/find-a-warden.html
Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
VA Wildlife Crimeline Hotline: 1-800-237-5712
wildcrime@dgif.virginia.gov
http://www.dgif.state.va.us/info/wildlife-violations.html
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/news/release.asp?id=136
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
STOP WASHINGTON POACHERS
Emergency/Incident Hotline: 1-800-477-6224
WDFW Enforcement Program: 360-902-2936
enforcement-web@dfw.wa.gov
http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/reporting_violations.html
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Section Hotline: 1 (800) NET-GAME (1-800-638-4263)
DNR Law Enforcement: (304) 558-2784
Law@wvdnr.gov
http://www.wvdnr.gov/LEnforce/Poachers.shtm
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Violation Hotline: 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367)
LE.Hotline@dnr.state.wi.us
https://dnr.wi.gov/Contact/hotline.html
Wyoming Game and Fish
Stop Poaching TIP program Hotline: 1-877-WGFDTIP (1-877-943-3847)
Out-of-state: 1-307-777-4330
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/About-Us/Contact-Us/Report-Violation