Oregon State Police Seeks Public Assistance in Douglas County Poaching Case

Poached Cow Elk, courtesy of OSP.

by Oregon State Police
8-17-2017


The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public's help to identify the person(s) responsible for the unlawful killing of a cow elk in Douglas County.

On the morning of August 12th, 2017, OSP was notified of a dead cow elk southeast of the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. The animal was located near the intersection of Deans Creek Road and Johanneson Creek Road. An OSP Fish and Wildlife Trooper responded and found the dead elk in an open field approximately 75 feet from Deans Creek Road. The animal had been shot and the majority of it was left to waste. Investigation revealed the elk was most likely shot on or around Friday, August 12th, 2017 during the late evening hours.

A reward of up to $500 is offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. The reward is comprised of $500 from the Oregon Hunters Association Turn-In-Poacher program. 

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact OSP Trooper Jay Evans through the Turn in Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or 541-900-0447. (Case # SP17288134) (Email - JEvans@osp.state.or.us). Information may be kept anonymous. 

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators
Poaching wildlife and damaging habitats affects present and future generations of wildlife, impacts communities and the economy, and creates enforcement challenges.

The Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) reward is paid for information leading to the arrest/conviction of person(s) for the illegal possession, killing, taking, and/or waste of deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar, wolf, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose, furbearers and/or game birds.

TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statute as a game fish.

In addition, a reward may be issued for information that results in an arrest/conviction of a person who has illegally obtained Oregon hunting/angling license or tags. People who "work" the system and falsely apply for resident licenses and/or tags are not legally hunting and/or angling and are considered poachers.

Increasing damage to wildlife habitat by off-road vehicles prompted the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) in 2009 to create the Natural Resources Reward Program that offers a $300 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone causing natural resources damage by the illegal use of motorized vehicles and is similar to its highly successful TIP program.

* $1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and Moose 

* $500 Elk, Deer and Antelope 

* $300 Bear, Cougar and Wolf 

* $300 Habitat Destruction 

* $100 Game Fish and Shellfish 

* $100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl 

* $100 Furbearers 

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity: 
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 (24/7) 
TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM - 5:00PM) 
(Please use the TIP Hotline for Weekend and Evening Reporting)