OSP Fish and Wildlife seeks information in illegal deer killing near Prineville

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PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is requesting the public's help to identify the person or persons responsible for the illegal killing of a buck deer on private property near Prineville, Ore.

State police troopers responded on Oct. 29 to a report of a buck deer that had been killed and harvested along O'Neil Highway, near Century Drive and Elliot Lane in Crook County. Responding troopers believe the deer was killed with archery equipment between Oct. 26 and Oct. 28. There was no legal deer hunting season in effect at the time and location where the animal was found, following the conclusion of rifle deer season on Oct. 14.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident or suspicious activity in the area to contact the state's Turn-In-Poachers hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or by email at TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Tipsters can also contact law enforcement by calling *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Individuals providing information are asked to reference case number SP26-354801, and all tips may be submitted anonymously.

The Turn-In-Poachers program is a joint collaboration involving the Oregon State Police, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Hunters Association, the Oregon Wildlife Coalition, the Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association and the Oregon State Marine Board. The initiative aims to curb wildlife law violations, habitat destruction and the unlawful taking, possession or waste of fish and wildlife species across Oregon.

To encourage public reporting, the program offers preference point rewards for tips that lead to an arrest or citation for unlawful big game harvest. Informants can receive four preference points for valid tips concerning deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, bear or cougar. Five preference points are awarded for reports involving bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goats, moose or wolves.

In addition to preference points, cash rewards are sponsored by partner organizations for successful tips. The Oregon Hunters Association offers cash rewards of $1,000 for reports involving deer, elk or antelope and $2,000 for bighorn sheep, mountain goats or moose. The group also awards $600 for bear, cougar or wolf cases, $400 for game fish, shellfish or snagging, $300 for habitat destruction and $200 for spotlighting, tag violations or illegally obtaining hunting licenses.

The Oregon Wildlife Coalition provides cash rewards starting at $500 for violations involving protected birds of prey, cougars, bobcats, black bears, bighorn sheep, martens, fishers and Sierra Nevada red foxes. The coalition offers $1,000 for state or federally listed threatened or endangered species, as well as rewards between $10,000 and $11,500 for wolf violations east of Highway 395.

The Oregon Outfitters and Guides Association provides $200 cash rewards for information regarding illegal outfitter guide operations or unlawful offers to act as a guide. Rewards for game fish and snagging violations are supported in part by the Northwest Steelheaders Association and the Coastal Conservation Association. State police monitor email reports sent to the TIP program Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.