"TURN IN POACHERS" OFFERS REWARD IN MOOSE CASE

 

PIERRE, S.D. - The Turn In Poacher's program, a cooperative effort between Wildlife Protection Inc. and South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department, is offering a $1,000 reward for the identification and arrest of the person or people responsible for the death of a moose near Deerfield Reservoir about Oct. 1.

 

Additionally, the TIPs Board of Directors has agreed to accept and administer any additional donations from member of the general public who would like to add to the reward.  According to TIPs Board President Bob Schuurmans, individuals and organizations have already contacted TIPs and offered several hundred dollars in donations to supplement anything the TIPs board would authorize.

 

Those wishing to contribute to the reward may do so by earmarking the donation as "Moose TIPs Reward" and sending it to the Turn In Poachers office at 412 W. Missouri,  Pierre, SD, 57501.  If you would like more information about making a donation, please call Charlie Wharton at 605-773-5906. 

 

Anyone with information on the bull moose case is urged to call a local state Game, Fish, and Parks conservation officer, a local law enforcement agency, or the TIPs line at 1-888-OVERBAG (1-888-683-7224).  Tips may also be submitted online through the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Web site:  https://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/TIPS/AnonRepo.htm

 

Those providing information through TIPs may  remain anonymous. 

 

According to Conservation Officer Blair Waite, elk hunters found the moose dead from gunshot wounds on Friday, Oct. 2 in southwestern Lawrence County.  While moose are not native to South Dakota, the animal had recently become a welcome visitor to the Black Hills.  

 

The Turn In Poachers Hotline was started in an effort to reduce the number of wildlife crimes in the state.  The TIPs program, which began in 1984 after two elk were poached in the Black Hills, serves as a single contact point for anyone with information about hunting and fishing violations in the state.

 

The program not only offers rewards for information on those cases, it also provides an opportunity for tipsters to remain anonymous.  Hundreds of arrests are made and thousands of dollars are rewarded each year through use of the network. According to Schuurmans, this could be the most important call you ever make.

--GFP--