fishing and hunting
february15
13
OHA’s Turn In Poachers (TIP) Fund Pays Record $24,200 in Rewards
2018
The Oregon Hunters Associa-
tion’s (OHA) Turn In Poachers (TIP)
reward fund paid a record $24,200 in
rewards to informants in poaching cases
last year, according to a report delivered
to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Com-
mission by OHA State Vice President
John Gander on February 9 in Portland.
The rewards were paid in 50
separate fish and wildlife violation cases
reported to Oregon State Police Offices
throughout the state, including three in
Columbia County.
Both the number of cases and
reward sums easily eclipsed all previous
marks in the program’s 32-year history.
Reward cases in recent years have typi-
cally numbered from 20 to 35, and total
reward amounts averaged approximately
$10,000 annually.
OHA in 2017 increased the stan-
dard reward amounts, which now range
from $100 for birds, fish, and furbear-
ers to $500 for deer, elk, and antelope,
and $1,000 for bighorn sheep, mountain
goat, and moose.
OHA State Coordinator Duane
Dungannon, whose OHA Office issues
the reward checks, believes the increased
reward amounts likely contributed to the
sharp increases in cases as well as the
sum of rewards.
“Obviously increasing the
amounts of each reward will result in a
greater total paid for the year, but the
jump in the number of TIP cases – where
a caller requests the reward – suggests
there’s more going on,” Dungannon
said. “The rewards offered are included
in news releases published in local me-
dia when a poaching case occurs and
police are looking for leads, so members
of the public can see that we’re offering
them some sizable sums to do the right
thing.”
An increased level of public
awareness may be a factor, as well, ac-
cording to Lieutenant Craig Heuberger
of the Fish and Wildlife Division at the
Oregon State Police headquarters in Sa-
lem.
“I think it is a combination of
different things,” Heuberger said. “We
are doing a better job of advertising the
TIP program through social media such
as our monthly newsletter, Twitter, and
Facebook. When we make a TIP case
and are able to promote it, we try to
channel that information out to the pub-
lic every chance we get.
“Internally we have changed
the administration of the TIP program
to make it easier for the Troopers to get
the information they need to promote the
TIP program to the public, and we have
also streamlined the reporting mecha-
nism to make it easier for Troopers to
turn the documentation in that is need-
ed to facilitate a TIP request to OHA.”
Started in 1986 with start-up
funds from OHA and Leupold & Ste-
vens, the TIP fund is largely self-sus-
taining as the result of courts ordering
convicted violators to pay restitution
to the fund. The $23,917 restitution
paid to the reward fund in 2017 nearly
equaled the reward amounts paid for
the year.
Poaching will be a major em-
phasis in the current state legislative
session that recently opened. One bill
would better enable courts to apply the
penalties already in place for poaching.
In addition, the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife will present a pro-
posal for a poaching public awareness
campaign, mandated by a budget note
requested by OHA and attached to the
agency’s budget when it was approved
last year.
OHA chapters and other con-
servation groups sometimes pledge
additional amounts in particularly hei-
nous poaching cases. Reward offers
have exceeded $17,000 in a few cases,
including one involving a recent north-
east Oregon bighorn sheep poaching
and another in a southern Oregon elk
killing and wasting spree that took
place for an extended period of time.
When the reward of $17,500 was of-
fered, the elk killing stopped.
Columbia Humane Society
Featured Pet
Dolly is my name and being as cute as
can be is my game. I came to the shelter
from another shelter. I get along ok with
other dogs, however I don't put up with
any bull. I am a bundle of love and I love
to be with my people. The shelter has me
on joint supplements as the vets have
found that I don't have the best hips. I
also am on a specialized food as I kinda
have a tricky tummy. I walk great on a
leash, I know how to lay down, sit, and
come when I am called.
Please note that the kennels at CHS are
not open to the public. If you are inter-
ested in meeting a dog please either call or email. We will be very happy
to talk to you about our adoption process and how we can help you in
your quest to find that perfect pet for your family. CHS is committed to
our pets and we want to be sure that proper placement is made not only
for our animals’ sake, but also for our adopters. For this reason our
adoptions are not always first come first served. If we have several
applications on one animal we will weigh our options and make the
choice that is the best fit for the pets.
Phone: 503-397-4353
2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
OHA (oregonhunters.org) is the
state’s largest Oregon-based pro-hunting
organization, with 10,000 members and
26 chapters statewide. Its mission is
“Protecting Oregon’s wildlife, habitat,
and hunting heritage.”
How the TIP Program Works
Callers can remain anonymous
and still collect a reward from OHA
if the information leads to a citation.
TIP
hotline:1-800-452-7888
or
dial
*OSP
(24/7)
TIP email: TIP@state.or.us (monitored
weekdays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm)
Use the TIP hotline on weekends and
evenings.
Standard rewards:
Bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose:
$1,000.
Elk, deer, antelope: $500.
Bear, cougar, wolf: $300.
Habitat destruction: $300.
Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or
angling license or tags: $200.
Game fish, shellfish, upland birds, wa-
terfowl, furbearers: $100.
Vernonia Community Annual
FATHER & DAUGHTER
COUNTRY BALL
Dads dust off your best country duds and daughters dress up like the
princesses you are and come for a fun filled, magical, memory making
evening of dancing. There will be sweets for the sweeties and drinks as
well as crafts tables, and more.
When: Saturday, March 10, 2018
There will be
6 to 8 pm
games and a
Where: Grace Family Fellowship (Big Gym)
raffle for prizes
957 State Avenue, Vernonia
Cost:
$5 Per couple
Dads & Daughters
For more information contact:
of all ages
Jon Nelson 503-602-0615
are welcome
Rose Nelson 503-602-0616
Visit our Facebook page: Fatherdaughtercountryball
This dance was created so that our little, or maybe not so little anymore,
girls can celebrate for one night with the most important man in their lives,
whether it is Dad, Grandpa, or any significant male.