By FRANK CAMPA
Mo. Dept. of Conservation
With several hunting seasons currently in progress, there are likely to be some wildlife violations occur. There are also only one to two conservation agents per county on the average. So, we all depend on timely violation calls in order to correct the violation problems and deal with the suspects involved.
Our goal is the same as yours: to address the violation quickly and obtain as much solid evidence as possible to prove the violation beyond a reasonable doubt. In other words, to make sure we have the right people and they are actually guilty of what they are suspected of doing.
An important part of this process that is desired both by you and us is anonymity. While we will always keep informants anonymous when requested, we do need at least a call back number to ask additional questions. Someone leaving a one sentence violation report on a voicemail or OGT call with no call-back information is of little help on most occasions.
Let's go through a violation report in chronological order and look at the options and information desired.
First, make the call as soon as possible. Don't wait to tell an agent until the following spring about it. It will be much too late. The best person to call is the local conservation agent directly. This information is available on any computer or smartphone on the Missouri Department of Conservation website, or your local sheriff's department.
Always leave a message on our voicemail, regardless of the time of day. We will call back as soon as possible.
The other options are to call the local sheriff's department if you do not reach an agent, then, the OGT (Operation Game Thief) number, 1-800-392-1111, as the third option. That information will again be relayed down to the local agent to follow up and investigate.
Calls that only inform us of only a shot fired and nothing else are frustrating to say the least. Specific information is needed, but any information is helpful. In Butler County, call myself at 573-300-3475 or Mark Skelton at 573-300-3693.
What type of information are we seeking? Names of suspects are great if possible. Vehicle descriptions are always necessary, hopefully with license plates numbers. A white Chevrolet pickup truck, for example, is not much information to go on or make a vehicle stop. A good description might be a white extended-cab Chevrolet 4X4 pick-up truck with a black camper shell and primer on the driver's side door, with license plate number included.
Keep a pair of binoculars handy at home or in your vehicle to gather this information at a distance without putting yourself into the situation and creating a possible safety problem. A bad situation is when a citizen injects themselves into the situation, then tells the suspects they are going to call the "game warden." The suspects usually disappear, as does any possible evidence necessary to make the case. Not to mention, it puts you, the citizen, in a confrontational situation immediately.
Pay attention to how many people are involved and their basic characteristics; short or tall in comparison to each other, thin or heavy-set, hair length, facial hair, relative age young or older.
The important thing is that you get involved without personally being involved. It is difficult for conservation agents to always be in the right place at the right time and we depend heavily on your telephone calls to make good arrests and protect your fish and wildlife resources for you and your children to enjoy during legal seasons by legal methods.