Hunting continues as a legacy passed on to future generations and sometimes to those who are friends, co-workers and peers. Time spent in the outdoors and in touch with nature is hard to beat or even compare with the “virtual world”, we often live in. A shared benefit of the natural surroundings which hunting provides is having enjoyable, nutritious table fare which wild game like venison and turkey provide. Sharing harvested wild game with others including the less fortunate, is an especially rewarding event. Hunters are among the most dedicated conservationists because they experience and see what needs to be maintained and protected in order to keep wildlife and their habitat flourishing. It may also be law abiding hunters who first discover the despicable acts of poaching and leaving wild game to rot, after killing it. 

     Poaching and wildlife butchery continues across Maryland and Virginia. It requires the investigation, arrest and conviction of suspect/perpetrators by either the Natural Resources Police in Maryland (NRP) or Virginia’s State Game Wardens of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). Some poaching and wildlife destruction cases also involve federal officers of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While these law enforcement agencies have experienced teams operating either openly as field officers or via covert surveillance, their success can be dependent on information provided to them by law abiding hunters or concerned landowners. Those who see suspicious activities which could be trespassing or illegal hunting should report the incident to the assigned area Maryland NRP Officer or Virginia DGIF Game Warden. Local Sheriff offices or police department radio dispatchers are often used as the first point of contact so they can alert a Game Warden or NRP Officer on patrol. Law abiding hunters and concerned land owners should take the opportunity to meet and get to know the NRP Officer or Game Wardens assigned to your areas. They may be able to provide ways to directly contact them to report suspicious activities, as soon as they occur. To find out who your assigned NRP Officers are in your Maryland area, call 410-260-8888. In Virginia, call Virginia’s DGIF at 804)-367-1000 or 367-0776. 

     Both Maryland and Virginia have ways in which poaching, illegal hunting activities or related evidence can be reported via toll free  800 phone numbers. In Maryland, reports can be made via the,“Catch-A-Poacher 24 Hour Hotline” at 800-635-6124. Maryland’s DNR Law Enforcement can also be contacted at 800-628-9944. Virginia’s hotline number to report poaching or wildlife violations is, 800-237-5712. Tips for reporting wildlife violations or suspected poachers are provided on the back of the Virginia DGIF Hunting & Trapping Regulations. They include the following:

• What happened
• Where did it happen, be as specific as possible
• Who was involved, describe persons (names if known), vehicles (license numbers are crucial), names of other witnesses
• When did it happen

© 2002 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved