OPERATION GAME THIEF NOW HAS FORM AVAILABLE ON L.D.W.F.?S WEB SITE

Release Date: 08/08/2006

Operation Game Thief now has an online form to make it easier to report an outdoors associated violation to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division (LDWF).

The form can be found at LDWF's new Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov by highlighting "Public Services" from the top menu and then highlighting "Enforcement" and then by finally clicking the "Operation Game Thief" link.  After arriving to the Operation Game Thief page, just scroll to the bottom and answer the questions on the form then hit submit.  The form is then forwarded to an LDWF enforcement agent who will investigate the situation.

"With this new online form, the public now has an easier and more effective way to help our enforcement agents perform their jobs," LDWF Enforcement Division Lt. Col. Keith LaCaze said.  "The form gives us a lot of information about a potential violator that we can print out for the investigation.  We strongly encourage the public to use this form."

Operation Game Thief is a non-profit corporation funded and managed by volunteer Louisiana sportsmen since 1984.  They meet quarterly to review outdoor related cases resulting from information provided by program participants. 

If the information provided by Operation Game Thief results in an arrest, the participant is eligible for a cash reward.  The amount is determined by Operation Game Thief members and is based on a scale of a $100 minimum for small game, $300 minimum for big game or illegal selling of game or fish and a maximum of $1,000 for large-scale cases.  More than $175,000 in rewards has been dispensed to participants since the program started.  Information provided by Operation Game Thief informants has also resulted in the apprehension of more than 700 violators.

For more information, contact Keith LaCaze at 225-765-2985 or klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov.
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