With hunting seasons getting underway, Oregon State Police Senior Trooper James Halsey reminds the public that OSP has a tip hotline for reporting wildlife violations, and when tips lead to charges, the state offers a reward.
Halsey is a senior trooper with the OSP Fish and Wildlife Division in this area.
The tip hotline, which goes to the OSP dispatch center, is (800) 452-7888. For tips leading to charges in elk violations, the state offers a reward of $500. For deer, the reward is $250.
The police have had several reports of poached deer and elk in recent weeks, Halsey said. Among them is a bull that was killed on High Deck Road. Antlers were chopped off, and the meat left to waste. The case remains under investigation.
“We just had a case where a large trophy buck was taken illegally with a rifle during bow season,” Halsey said.
After pleading guilty, Eugene Joseph Sanchez, 21, was sentenced on Sept. 17 for taking deer with a prohibited method in the Lebanon-McDowell Creek area.
He was fined $723 and must pay $1,133.80 in restitution. He also had to forfeit his rifle and suspended from hunting for two years.
The law will get tougher in January, with $7,500 in fines for taking a four-point or better, Halsey said. The fine goes up another $1,500 in the case of an elk.
“Hopefully, that will deter some of the killing of our trophy animals,” Halsey said.
Activity appears to be typical so far, Halsey said. It tends to get busier when hunting season starts, usually as long as deer and elk have antlers on their heads.
Reports of wildlife violations include filling tags at night; filling other people’s tags; and using the wrong method, such as a rifle during bow season. Blacktails go into rut toward the end of November, and there will be problems with people shooting trophy bucks.
During hunting season though, there are many more legitimate hunters than illegal hunters, Halsey said. Just a few people hunt illegally.
When people see a violation, license plate numbers are worth a lot, Halsey said. Callers reporting a violation should include a vehicle description and any other information they can provide.
“When you feel something’s not right when you’re in the field, then there’s probably something not right,” Halsey said. “Give us a call.”