POACHERS ARE A THREATENED SPECIES

Wednesday, March 25, 1998, was not the day for a Minnesota poacher fishing the Missouri River near Pierre, South Dakota.  A Starbuck, Minnesota father and his son caught their limit of eight walleyes and brought them into the Ft. Pierre boat dock that morning. Later that afternoon they were fishing below the Oahe dam and had caught two walleyes when they were checked by Conservation Officer Lee Leuning. Officer Leuning, not knowing they had their limit, went on checking other fishermen when he got a TIPs call about the Minnesota fishermen who were double dipping (catching a double daily limit). Officer Leuning, being only 300 yards away, went back to the father who had now caught one more walleye and admitted under questioning to being three walleyes over. He was given a $116.50 citation and lost his walleyes.

While officer Leuning was checking other fisherman, another sportsman advised him of seeing two Minnesota fishermen cleaning their limit and were down here fishing again. The sportsman was advised the violator had just been arrested. When Leuning got back to his pickup, there was a note on the windshield advising of two Minnesota fishermen who were double dipping and gave the same set of facts. All this took place in 30 minutes.

This has to be a record number of TIPs callers - two calls and one note - in 30 minutes with the officer being only 300 yards away.

"This goes to show that sportsmen will not tolerate violators and want their resources protected,” stated TIPs coordinator Bob Schuurmans. Based on the start of this fishing season’s calls, it could be a very busy spring/summer for conservation officers and for the TIPs program.

Callers will remain anonymous and can receive cash rewards if an arrest is made - just call the TIPs hotline 1-800-592-5522, regional Game, Fish and Parks office or your local conservation officer.

One call from you is all it takes to have a violator caught - it may be the biggest call you ever make,” Schuurmans said.