Ways to report
TIP line
The quickest and easiest way to report a tip is to call 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone.
Form
Submit a tip via our online form to help us stop poaching.
Email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov
Between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday.
Rewards for reporting poaching
You can receive a cash reward or preference points for turning in poachers:
The Oregon Hunters Association established the Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) reward as an incentive for people to report suspicious activity. The fund pays cash for reports leading to citations or arrests. TIP rewards apply for the illegal killing of fish and game mammals.
- $2,000 Bighorn sheep, mountain goat & moose
- $1000 Elk, deer & antelope
- $600 Bear, cougar & wolf
- $300 Habitat destruction
- $200 Game fish & shellfish
- $200 Game birds or furbearers
- $200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags
- $200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s)
ODFW awards hunter preference points as an incentive for people who report poaching if the report leads to a citation or arrest. You can apply those points to any legal Oregon hunting opportunity.
- 5 Points Bighorn Sheep
- 5 Points Rocky Mountain Goat
- 5 Points Moose
- 5 Points Wolf
- 4 Points Elk
- 4 Points Deer
- 4 Points Pronghorn Antelope
- 4 Points Bear
- 4 Points Cougar
The Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) will pay rewards of $500 to $1,000 for poaching reports that lead Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife troopers to an arrest or citation. OWC launched the new reward program to address poaching of non-game species.
- Birds: $500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey. All other protected avian species: see category below for listed species
- Mammals: $500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox
- Species listed as “threatened” or “endangered” under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excludes fish): $1,000
Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA), supported by donations from the Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB), offers a $200 cash reward for information leading to a citation of inidividuals acting as an Outfitter Guide for the Illegal Killing of Wildlife, Illegally Obtaining Oregon Hunting or Angling Licenses or Tags, or Illegally Offering to Act as an Outfitter Guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020.
Cash rewards and hunter preference points generally go to the first credible report of an incident that leads to an arrest or citation. In some cases, they may be awarded to more than one individual. If you would like points or rewards for your call, be sure to leave your name and contact information so OSP F&W can follow up with you. The information is confidential. You can also report anonymously.
Turn in Poachers
(TIP) Program
The Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) has led the way in the fight against poaching as one of the founders of the Turn In Poaching, or TIP, program. The TIP program is administered by OHA in cooperation with Oregon State Police (OSP) and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) and was created with the goal of significantly reducing the illegal take of wildlife, fish, upland birds, waterfowl, and the destruction of habitat.
OHA is the largest Oregon-centric hunting and conservation organization with over 11,000 members in 26 chapters around the state. The TIP program, and all anti-poaching efforts, align with the organization’s mission statement of “Protecting Oregon’s Wildlife, Habitat, and Hunting Heritage.” OHA’s membership regularly participates in on-the-ground conservation efforts such as replanting seedlings after wildfires, building wildlife-friendly fencing (as shown in the adjacent image), building and maintaining water guzzlers, and donating funds toward wildlife crossings.
In the last 5 years alone, OHA has paid out over $83,000 in TIP rewards for credible tips on 214 poaching cases. Qualification for a reward is dependent on the issuing of a citation by OSP Wildlife Division.
In recent years, ODFW began offering preference points as an option in lieu of a cash reward. This option is popular within the hunting community for those that have witnessed or have information on potential poaching activity. The cash reward remains a popular option among the non-hunting public. Regardless of the reward option, the TIP program and OHA have made great strides toward reducing the illegal take of wildlife, fish, and destruction of habitat.
Enforcement
Oregon partners with Oregon State Police to enforce crimes against fish, wildlife, and habitat destruction. The states of Oregon and Alaska are the only two in the country that work with their state police rather than having their own game wardens. In 2019, the Oregon Legislature approved funding to increase anti-poaching efforts across the state, including adding Oregon State Police troopers and a sergeant to increase enforcement.
You can hear more about how OSP Fish and Wildlife Division works to protect Oregon’s natural resources through a recent Beaver State podcast on poaching: https://myodfw.com/articles/beaver-state-podcast-episode-41-poaching
What makes a good tip?
When making a report, provide as much of the following information as possible:
- Description of suspicious activity or violation
- Date, time and location of activity
- Description of any vehicle involved
- Name and/or description of suspect(s)
- Type of wildlife involved
Always remember that no tip is a bad tip. OSP F&W Troopers will work with any information available. If someone who poaches fish and game animals is convicted, the person who reported them can receive either a cash reward or hunting preference points.
All tips can be reported anonymously.
What happens to poachers
Oregon has gotten tougher with poachers in recent years, increasing penalties and in some cases turning poaching into a felony.
Poaching can come with a whole range of legal and financial penalties that may include:
The suspension of your hunting or fishing licenses for 3 years for a first or second offense, and a lifetime ban for a third offense.
Maximum five-year prison sentence