OSP seeks public tips in Crook County poaching case

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division sought the public’s help Monday to find whoever is responsible for the unlawful taking and wasting of a buck deer in Crook County.

On Saturday afternoon, OSP was notified of a dead buck deer north of Prineville, about 1 1/2 miles from McKay Creek on McKay Creek Road (Forest Service Road 33).

The deer was found about 75 yards from the roadway and the 2×3 buck only had a portion of one back-strap removed. The rest of the buck was left to waste.

The buck deer had been shot with a rifle during the archery season. Troopers said it’s believed it happened on the Thursday or Friday before the poaching discovery.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division at your local office or use the below information to report wildlife violators on the TIP Line.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

Poaching wildlife and damaging habitats affects present and future generations of wildlife, impacts communities and the economy, and creates enforcement challenges.

The Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) reward is paid for information leading to the arrest/conviction of person(s) for the illegal possession, killing, taking, and/or waste of deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar, wolf, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose, furbearers and/or game birds.

TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statute as a game fish.

In addition, a reward may be issued for information that results in an arrest/conviction of a person who has illegally obtained Oregon hunting/angling license or tags. People who “work” the system and falsely apply for resident licenses and/or tags are not legally hunting and/or angling and are considered poachers.

Increasing damage to wildlife habitat by off-road vehicles prompted the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) in 2009 to create the Natural Resources Reward Program that offers a $300 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone causing natural resources damage by the illegal use of motorized vehicles and is similar to its highly successful TIP program.

$1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and Moose

$500 Elk, Deer and Antelope

$300 Bear, Cougar and Wolf

$300 Habitat Destruction

$100 Game Fish and Shellfish

$100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl

$100 Furbearers

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:

TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 (24/7)

TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM – 5:00PM)