Do you report poachers?

[chewydog]

Have Co. Operation Game Thief on speed dial.

[bgreer]

Have Co. Operation Game Thief on speed dial.

That is an excellent idea.

One thing to note: many states have an Operation Game Thief....but the telephone numbers usually differ from state to state.

[maodiver]

California has Cal-Tip. It's on speed dial, and there is a text number too, if you don't want to be obvi, or have spotty coverage

[Jayatwork]

Partly it depends on the situation. For example I recently observed a young man carrying a rigged up spinning rod on a fly fishing only section that was closed season at that time. There were other parts of the river that were open and a section that allowed spinning gear. He wasn't hiding anything and was out in the open in a extremely well traveled area. I figured he just didn't know the rules. I reminded him to check the rules and that he could be ticketed if a game officer showed up.

Other times someone is clearly violating the law on purpose or trying to hide something. They get turned in.

I have Oregon's TIP (Turn In Poachers) number on speed dial.

[Marco]

Jayatwork,
In keeping with my "ain't your/my job" opinion stated earlier , I think you made certain assumptions that may or may not have been factual. If, on the other hand, a game warden did confront this individual, the lesson learned would be FAR MORE effective and lasting than your reminder (even if the warden gave , and probably would have given, him a pass). Until very recently, intent and ignorance of the law, have never been a legitimate excuses to break the law, but mitigating circumstances could, however, lessen the sting as likely would have happened in this case.

Mark

[Jayatwork]

Yes I made assumptions, but I think I am pretty capable of assessing the situation and I will continue to use my discretion in these situations. The kid could not have been in a more conspicuous spot on the river. He might as well have been wearing a big neon sign. Cell service is spotty in the area and I would have had to drive a few miles to make a call. If I had called the TIP line, he probably would have been long gone by the time they responded.

[Ed_D]

I was fishing the North Branch of the AuSable in Michigan at a MiFi several years ago when an older man waded past, on the far side of the stream, with a spinning rod. The weight of his lure made it clear that he wasn't using a fly, in fly-only. I pointed it out to the guide but did no more. For all I knew the guy was a friend of the guide's parents and needed some fish. In this case I yielded to the opinion of the local guide. The spin angler was wading upstream at the Dam 4 area just downstream of the steps, for those who know the spot.