Citizens Against Poaching Works Overtime

Now that hunting season is open, Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) is paying operators to monitor the CAP hotline for extended hours including evenings and weekends. The hotline number is 1-800-632-5999. Violations can also be reported online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov

"Most of our calls come in during the hunting season," assistant chief of enforcement Clay Cummins said. In fact, about 50% of CAP calls come in from September through November. "Involved sportsmen are invaluable in helping our conservation officers fight poaching."

Citizens reporting poachers are eligible for cash rewards up to $500 if the call leads to an arrest/ citation. Rewards can be collected even if the caller chooses to remain anonymous. The fund has paid out $360,000 since 1986. Callers received $16,000 in reward money last year.

Anyone who witnesses a hunting or fishing violation is encouraged to call the CAP hotline or a local sheriff's office as soon as possible to report it. "The sooner it is reported the more likely a conservation officer will be able to make a case. In many cases the sheriff's dispatch or Idaho State Police dispatch will have immediate radio contact with a conservation officer in the area," Cummins said.

Here are some guidelines to follow when making a call to the CAP hotline that will help conservation officers build a case:
" If you witness a poaching violation get to a phone as quickly as possible-don't wait for several days.
" Leave a name and phone number where the local conservation officer can contact you for details.
" Provide the exact location, date, and time of the violation.
" Describe the exact nature of the violation, and where the poached animal is now.
" Provide the license plate number and a detailed description of the suspect vehicle
" Provide a detailed description of the suspect(s).

Whether giving information to an operator, or leaving a message, callers should include as many details as possible, beginning with where in the state the violation occurred. The names of creeks, roads and other landmarks are duplicated in many parts of Idaho, so saying "A guy just poached a moose on Clear Creek" is probably not enough information. If the information is to reach the appropriate officer, and be useful, the caller should be able to provide detailed directions to the location of the poached animal, the poacher, or both.

The Department of Fish and Game does not have funding for a dispatch center, and CAP, which is funded by donations, cannot afford to pay operators to man the hotline 24 hours a day. However, the line is always open and callers can leave messages. If there is a violation in progress, and the caller only reaches the CAP answering machine, they should leave a detailed message, with a contact number, then contact the sheriff's office in the county where the violation occurred. Citizen's Against Poaching guarantees callers reporting a violation will remain anonymous, if they choose.

"I encourage all citizens to get involved in protecting Idaho's valuable wildlife resource from poachers. It's everyone's responsibility," Cummins said. "I would like to thank all those past sportsmen who have gotten off the sidelines and done something when they knew of a wildlife crime."
 

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