Cash Rewards! 800-522-8039 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Do You Care About Wildlife?
Help Us Protect It...
OPERATION GAME THIEF (OGT) is a program of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation designed specifically to stop the illegal killing of the fish and game that belong to YOU, whether you’re a sportsman or not. It’s a big problem with no simple solution. Help from the public, makes a difference.
One day before the opening of a recent deer season, two men killed four whitetail bucks.
Late one summer night, three men steered their boat across a state reservoir, stopped at their illegal net site, and hauled in a load of striped bass and other open-water fish they could sell for $1 a pound on the commercial market.
In each of these examples, you were the loser. You lost hunting and fishing opportunities or the chance to view wildlife in their natural surroundings. At the same time, law-abiding sportsmen received a bad reputation from those who failed to distinguish between legal and illegal hunting. OGT is something everyone can do to help wildlife and help us apprehend the poachers.
What to Look For When Reporting a Violation
GETTING THE INFORMATION A GAME WARDEN WILL NEED
When reporting a violation, please note as many facts as possible. You will be asked a variety of questions and the more information you can provide, the better chance the violator can be caught, and the case successfully prosecuted.
Do not attempt to stop a violation yourself or to detain those responsible. Be safe, and be a good witness!
- What happened? What type of violation was it? When and where did it happen? Give the date, time and location, number of shots, etc.
- Give as much information as possible about the suspect or suspects- name, address, telephone, physical description (age, weight, height, hair color, eyes, clothing, and any other pertinent information).
- Were firearms involved in the violation? Was the firearm visible or is it concealed in some way? Describe the number and type of weapons.
- Describe the suspect's vehicle - make, year, color, and style. License number and any other distinguishing feature like rusted spots or mismatched paint and dents?
- What animals or fish were involved, how many, and where are they now?
- Do you know about any other physical evidence - like hides, entrails, guns, cartridge cases, knives, and such?
- Has the illegal game or evidence been moved or will it be moved soon? How is it being transported, and where is it being stored?
- Were there other witnesses? Give their names and any other information about the violation, suspect or violations that you may have noted.
You may not be able to remember everything, but the more information you supply, the more likely there will be an arrest and conviction.
It is always better to call the game warden stationed in the county in which the violation occurred. Game wardens' numbers are listed in the printed regulations or online. You can also report a violation by calling 1-800-522-8039 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can remain anonymous. You can download the Operation Game Thief Reporting Form fill it out and send it as an attachment to marni.loftis@odwc.ok.gov. DO NOT use this number or form for general information requests. General information may be obtained by phoning the Wildlife Department at (405) 521-3851.
Reward payments are made so that no one will ever know who received this payment. — not even the officer to whom you spoke with on the telephone. Remember, the poacher is a criminal. His illegal activities steal from all of us and take hard cash out of the pockets of hunters and fishermen who pay for wildlife conservation programs through their license and permit fees and taxes on their equipment.
If you see a violation, or have knowledge of illegal fishing and hunting activity, do something about it: report it on the Operation Game Thief hotline or call your local game warden.
ANOTHER WAY TO HELP
The funds to provide rewards for information on fish and game law violations come entirely from donations. Anyone with an interest in conservation can help stop poaching by sending tax-deductible donations to help finance the Operation Game Thief rewards.
The poachers lay waste the efforts of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, sportsmen, conservationists, naturalists, ecologists, and everyone who cares about wildlife. Here’s your chance to stop them cold with a call or check.
Make your check payable to:
OPERATION GAME THIEF
Send it to:
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Operation Game Thief Fund
P.O. Box 53465
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
