2016 Showed a Rise in “TURN IN A POACHER” Calls

DNR NEWS

Division of Law Enforcement

Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Law Enforcement
402 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2748


For immediate release: January 6, 2017

2016 Showed a Rise in “TURN IN A POACHER” Calls

Turn in a Poacher, Inc. (TIP) is a non-profit conservation organization that protects Indiana fish and wildlife resources by increasing public support and involvement in bringing violators to justice.

A poacher is a thief who illegally steals wildlife that belongs to each Indiana citizen. Poachers rob licensed, ethical hunters and fishermen from recreational opportunities they bought through license fees. Estimates indicate that poachers kill as much fish and game as legitimate hunters and fishermen.

2016 showed several hundred TIPS reported and several thousands of dollars paid out due cases were made from these calls!

The pictured whitetail deer attached here scored 170+ inches and was taken illegally by hunting without consent of the landowner. A concerned hunter who had information reference the illegal taking of the deer reported it and an investigation proved them correct. The deer head was seized and charges were filed.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/nixle/uploads/pub_media/user31798-1483727248-media1

“As Conservation Officers we work for the ethical and responsible hunter. In a joint effort with sportsman and concerned private citizens we can eliminate the illegal taking of fish and wildlife” stated Indiana Conservation Officer Brandon Shoults.

Rewards are offered for information leading to the arrest of either wildlife violators or persons involved in an environmental crime such as polluting.

Become a deterrent to poaching by calling the toll-free number or visiting the website and filling out a complaint form online. Callers will remain anonymous if requested and dispatchers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call the next time you receive information or have information of a wildlife crime at 1-800-847-4367 (1-800-TIP-IDNR) or visit www.TIP.in.gov.

In 2015 only $700 was paid in rewards to people who turned in poachers, but 2016 showed an increase to over $4,000 paid in rewards and many poachers were brought to justice as a result. Excellent work Indiana!!

Great job people, turn them all in...

Is there any information as to the penalties that were given to the convicted poachers? Please post if you have access to it. There needs to be stiff penalties and not the typical wrist slapping that has occurred in the past.

I am still waiting on the Zachery that got caught in Jefferson/Switzerland co. Poaching case Poof it disappeared .. also

The rise is directly related to the drastic fall of deer left on farms where the idiots hunted....they shot all the good ones, and little ones, which left them nothing to "show off" anymore. So.......they trespass and poach to still be able to "show off" they still are a "dammmmm good buck hunter". :rolleyes:

This trend will continue as our deer numbers free fall.

There has always been trespassing, and people driving and shooting from the roads at night. But Dew is correct. I've seen an increased amount of this, particularly towards the end of this season. I believe it is due to the drop in deer numbers, and people not getting their deer. A good friend and neighbor just spoke to and confirmed that with our local C.O. about the poaching.

Our Region ICO's are reporting the same thing...... and steady climb in complaints/poaching/trespassing calls since the free fall in our deer numbers has now been ongoing for several years.


Another data point that shows the desperation of quite of few deer hunters is that I have received more calls these last few years of others asking permission to deer hunt. I take the time to talk with them.....and ask some questions back. ALL are asking due to running out of deer on their properties........ OR...... are asking since they want to get off the property they are currently on due to problems with new hunters with no ethics or ability to restrain themselves from shooting every deer they see. With all the farms I own or lease...... I can remember going for many years with nobody asking for permission. This year alone I was asked by 7 different hunters.

It's a sad situation for those on the "outside looking in". They took the bait from the IDNR with the Prop #2 regs...... and shot every thing to Hades.....or have had others on their properties do such.......or their "border idiot buddies" have done such...

........AND........what is even sadder for those hunters is that you have Thugs that FIGHT to keep these terrible regs in place so the suffering gets worse........and those same Thugs are pizzzed off at those that took care of their resource and now feel those responsible deer hunters have "too much resource" on their properties. :rolleyes: