When to be a snitch?

PineSapJunky

Well-Known Member
Alright guys. Something I'd like to get other opinions on. I've already made up my mind but I am interested in others feelings on this topic. The topic being; When does one report a wildlife/hunting violation?

This year is the first year Mississippi has required that you report your turkey harvests via game check. Personally I think this is a small step in the right direction being able to put some teeth our laws trying to protect and grow certain species. I'm not a big fan of government oversight but the state's honor system of management is not working.

So my question to you. Do you report abuse or violations as they happen or see them or do you take the "I'm going to mind my own business approach"? Case in point I know my county has only reported 2 birds being killed when I know for fact that 6 have been killed just in the past 2 days, with 4 of them being on Friday. Yes you have until 10pm to report your day's harvest so that leaves a couple more minutes for 2 to make it on the board. Would you report the people to Mr. Greenjeans or let it go? I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts.

I know this is a deer forum but this is for wildlife violations in general.
 
Alright guys. Something I'd like to get other opinions on. I've already made up my mind but I am interested in others feelings on this topic. The topic being; When does one report a wildlife/hunting violation?

This year is the first year Mississippi has required that you report your turkey harvests via game check. Personally I think this is a small step in the right direction being able to put some teeth our laws trying to protect and grow certain species. I'm not a big fan of government oversight but the state's honor system of management is not working.

So my question to you. Do you report abuse or violations as they happen or see them or do you take the "I'm going to mind my own business approach"? Case in point I know my county has only reported 2 birds being killed when I know for fact that 6 have been killed just in the past 2 days, with 4 of them being on Friday. Yes you have until 10pm to report your day's harvest so that leaves a couple more minutes for 2 to make it on the board. Would you report the people to Mr. Greenjeans or let it go? I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts.

I know this is a deer forum but this is for wildlife violations in general.
Your “county”?
 
Your “county”?
Sorry. The county in which you harvested the bird. I know of 6 birds killed within our county. You can log view the map on the website. I talked to one of the guys in the office to see if there was a delay in posting. But they told me it is almost instantaneous when someone reports a harvest via the app or calls it in. They are trying to get an overall consensus on where the majority of the birds are in our state
 
Honestly I just mind my own business... But I haven’t known of any major violations happening around me. Just things like baiting violations, family doe tag pooling, and the occasional trespassers. I consider myself lucky.
If I were to turn someone in, it would be because they are consistently doing something that has a significant impact. I would never know that my neighbor illegally feeds deer through the Winter if he didn’t tell me, so I don’t see that as a big deal


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Small potatoes. It's the first year. Give it some time. The people who use the data and who instituted the new regulation know there's going to be some slippage the first year. You can be an advocate for doing the right thing by talking about how important reporting is to the understanding of population dynamics. The compliance rate will increase with time, but it will never be 100%. And, my supposition is, if you report it, it will be ignored because the local LEO has better things to do.
 
When to report and when to ignore game law violations is a fine line. Here one who snitches can get a pretty cold shoulder in most circles and "everybody" in town will know about it within hours if not minutes. I don't hesitate to openly work with the DEC though if people violating the laws are having a negative impact on the local herd or even on my property, on a neighboring property I watch or if the violation creates a danger to the area. However not reporting game taken is one I wouldn't report. It probably does not have much impact on the local game population. As X-farmerdan inferred the data collectors do not assume that they are getting full or even 3/4 compliance on reporting and likely the LEO might not even followup on that. Shooting after sunset or before sunrise is another one that often is ignored around here. It is a dumb law made by someone in the city where people don't hunt and we got stuck with it.

Trespassing on my property or a co-operating neighbor where we watch each others is another matter; Additionally game violations happening in the county I live in like using others tags to kill bucks( consistent cross tagging), shooting deer after dark, shooting from or across the road, shooting at a deer on my property from a neighboring property, or as Chipdasqrrl stated or anything else that has a consistently significant impact are reported by me.

If we mind our own business and ignore all of the lawlessness around us we are more or less perpetuating it even if we ourselves follow the laws. Report one violation and everyone knows that the free ride of no game laws is over and the next one reported could be them. It takes time but slowly more and more people end up following the laws when some get caught once in a while.

When someone from another county tells me how they need just one more buck to fill so and so's tag I do not hesitate to tell them that what they are doing is wrong, selfish, unfair, greedy and illegal to boot. And I tell them if they do it in my area they will be reported by me. It generally ends communication for a while but staying quiet when someone thinks shooting 15 bucks most seasons is fine as long as they have tags is just plain irresponsible.

Picking and choosing which laws to follow to the letter/which violations to report is in itself wrong for sure but it is a reality here and likely is in most areas as well.
 
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Realize that the computer program could have a glitch in it that is not reporting the said harvested birds. Some people may not realize that they have to check them in. I know ignorance is not an exception but it does happen.
 
I agree with Dave. I’ll also add another point. In some areas, reporting the wrong person could have dire consequences. Not reason to be blind, but something to be cognizant of. I’ve pissed some folks off enforcing our boundaries. While I will continue to prosecute (and sue) everyone I catch, I keep a list pictures/ names of people I’ve had trouble with in case I’m found with a gunshot to the back...or the house unexpectedly catches fire. I’ve got enough cameras out including nearly 20 visible decoys (mostly dead Bushnels) that I think folks have come to understand the risk of their mug being caught on camera.

In any event, I don’t know how seriously the local fish and game officers take what they perceive to be minor violations. I do know it took 3 weeks and multiple calls to get a response about trespassing. Fortunately, the State Troopers will respond quickly. I don’t mean this as a dis on the conservation officers.... I just wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for them to respond to some violations. As a former prosecutor, I get the need to prioritize limited resources....it’s just frustrating to be a victim or a potential reporting party who believes the law matters and cheating should have consequences.
 
Good thread. I’m in MS, too, and have the same dilemma most turkey seasons. Heck, my neighbor told me a few weeks ago that he’s probably gonna start turkey season a little early this year.

Turkey hunters in MS are the biggest outlaws. And the biggest bitchers when there aren’t any turkeys, too. It’s maddening.
 
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Good thread and responses. I agree that it can be a fine line when to report someone or something. As a farmer I see bait piles and things that I want to report but am smart enough to know that I’m the only person who would see the violation. Game warden showing up the next day after I’m there cutting is good way to get equipment vandalized.
But I also have a good relationship with local Leo’s and will tell them of the properties to keep an eye on. Someone hunting from road, trespassing, spotlighting deer, shooting after dark and I will text the warden a drop pin in a heartbeat. At that point it’s like someone exceeding the bag limits, they are stealing from all of us who are trying to manage the population.
 
I agree with Dave. I’ll also add another point. In some areas, reporting the wrong person could have dire consequences. Not reason to be blind, but something to be cognizant of. I’ve pissed some folks off enforcing our boundaries. While I will continue to prosecute (and sue) everyone I catch, I keep a list pictures/ names of people I’ve had trouble with in case I’m found with a gunshot to the back...or the house unexpectedly catches fire. I’ve got enough cameras out including nearly 20 visible decoys (mostly dead Bushnels) that I think folks have come to understand the risk of their mug being caught on camera.


With your experience Tom, as a past prosecutor you have probably seen it all. And believe me I don't take the risks associated with turning in poachers lightly. Most of them though are also loudmouthed bullies and hopefully the one that isn't either is a bad first shot or at least he may be caught on camera doing his get even maneuver. Also as you I do have a list of possible/likely suspects should anything bad happen to me. And the local warden and judge are aware.

I like how you have so many decoy cameras out there. They would go nuts trying to find them all the cams to determine which count and which do not to say nothing on them getting caught on the cams that do count.
 
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If I reported violations I'm aware of, I'd be on the phone to the authorities non stop. Persistent trespassing would be my only true complaint to make.
 
So here is where I am at with all of this. Our Department of Wildlife is grossly underfunded (or they suck at appropriating funds) which results in only 1 maybe 2 at most (really depends if you have WMA in your county) game wardens per county. That is an impossible task to try and cover every inch. Just like any law enforcement department they need public help. I am a no holds bar guy when it comes to wildlife violations. I didn't use to be. But I've learned the hard way that if you give someone an inch they'll take it and run. I understand "honest" mistakes happen. That is for the GW and the person to work out. I cannot stand anyone that takes without even the thought of giving back to the land. Unless you live in a high fence or bio-dome we all share the wildlife in one shape or another. Unfortunately where I live even though we are as about as backwoods and conservative as you can be we have become a socialist hunting society. You have a few hard workers but everyone wants to benefit from their work.

The reason why I asked about the turkey registration. The people at fault are known killers and won't stop there. At some point a message has to get out that if you exceed you bag limit or fail to report your harvest or trespass there are real and dire consequences. Call me what you want. Let people mess with what they want on my place in retaliation. I will not back down from what is right. I refuse to live my life with "what if" in mind.

Just my $.02
 
I'm quite surprised at all the responses of doing nothing about illegal hunting. Worried about retaliation? Shit, I'd never leave my house if that were the case. Either stand up or get walked all over.

If you start hunting a week before the season, you are making it difficult on the rest of the hunters who aren't cheaters. I get pissed just hearing about guying calling to turkeys before the season starts much less some guy who decides he can start a week early. Guess nobody follows rules anymore?
 
I am surprised as well. Taking more than your limit and not reporting game taken only hurts the ethical hunters. I can only assume that they are not reporting just in case they decide to go out again...even if they don’t it skews the numbers...
 
Sorry... I have a VERY close relationship with my local CO (conservation Officer) and I report things to him and the local sheriff all the time. I have NEVER been told to not report something. It can help add evidence and build a stronger case or even inform them of something they had no idea was going on. I know at least 2 situations that I know I proved some information on that led to arrests. One case was deer poaching and another was a meth lab.
 
You can always ask them to keep your information anonymous.

In fact most states will tell you if you call in a tip or a violation and it will remain anonymous.

Make a call and drop a dime on them, heck drop a whole roll of dimes on them, cause they will continue until their caught.


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