February 28, 2008 - Operation Game Thief Results for 2007

2007 proved to be a banner year for Operation Game Thief! Perhaps one of the program's proudest moments was when the new OGT website went live on September 18, 2007. The program enjoyed a great deal of media attention, both on television and in newspapers across Maine. The website visits were measured in the tens of thousands and continued to be visited throughout the remainder of the year.

The number of calls/web reports of poaching to either to 800-ALERT-US or to www.maineogt.org increased from 2006 by 37% with a total number of 358 reports of poaching. Although a number of cases are pending, 18 of these reports resulted in 28 apprehensions, some calls resulting in multiple apprehensions. The success of the program can also be measured in that in 2006, there was a 59% in calls from 2005! So we know the program is working!

Some of the 28 apprehensions were: Illegal Hunting of Deer, Illegal Hunting of Moose, Baiting Deer, Failure to Register Deer, Night Hunting, Killing Turkey in Closed Season, Exceeding Bag Limit of Deer, Possession of Firearms by Felons and several others. It should not be missed that these apprehensions of poachers violating Maine's fish and wildlife laws would not have been possible were it not for concerned citizens call our 800 line or reporting the violation online. Wardens cannot do the job by themselves — they need the help of all concerned citizens who love Maine's fish and wildlife resources. THANK YOU!

Note: the Canadian Lynx shooting, as described below,  from last October has yet to be solved. Please call Operation Game Thief if you have any information!

NEWS FLASH - OCTOBER 12, 2007

FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND OPERATION GAME THIEF ARE OFFERING UP TO A $2,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE APPREHENSION OF THE PERSON WHO SHOT AND KILLED A CANADIAN LYNX ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2007 IN VAN BUREN, IN NORTHERN MAINE. A HUNTER NOTIFIED MAINE GAME WARDENS OF A DEAD AND BLOODIED CANADIAN LYNX LYING ON THE SIDE OF  THE IRVING ROAD BETWEEN HAMLIN AND VAN BUREN, LOCATED NOT FAR FROM RT. 1A. THE 25 POUND MALE LYNX WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HINDQUARTERS WITH A HIGH-POWERED RIFLE SHATTERING BOTH HIND LEGS AND LIKELY RESULTING IN MASSIVE BLOOD LOSS, WARDENS SAID.

POACHING OF LYNX IS A FEDERAL VIOLATION AS IT IS A 'THREATENED' SPECIES UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. ANYONE CONVICTED OF KILLING A THREATENED SPECIES FACES UP TO A $25,000 FINE AND/OR 6 MONTHS IN JAIL.

INVESTIGATORS ARE REQUESTING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE POACHING OF THIS LYNX TO CONTACT OPERATION GAME THIEF BY REPORTING THE VIOLATION ON THIS WEBSITE OR BY CALLING 1-800-253-7887.

Through the fundraising efforts of the Board of Directors of Operation Game Thief, Maine's OGT program now has the "Wall of Shame" trailer whose purpose is to increase the public's awareness of the disastrous effects that poaching has on our fish and wildlife resources. This 36 foot trailer, full of mounted fish and wildlife poached by thieves allow Maine wardens a means of communicating this message to far more people than ever before. 

What's in the Wall of Shame? Mounts of illegally poached fish, deer, moose, turkey and furbearers are a major part of the Wall of Shame. You will also find illegal implements such as gill nets, snares, jacklights and illegal firearms that were all used to poach our fish and wildlife. You will read interesting stories about these poaching incidents and how the poachers were apprehended by our Maine game wardens. We are sure that you will feel, as all concerned citizens, sportsmen and women feel about these thieves - they need to be caught and Maine Operation Game Thief is just one tool that wardens have to help catch poachers. The Wall of Shame is an effective way to get this message out to the public.

If you would like to have the trailer at one of your fish and game club functions, a civic group function, school or any other event that will allow for the greatest opportunity to increase the public's awareness of the work of poachers, then please call the Maine Warden Service in Augusta at 287-2766. We will make every effort to have a game warden and the Wall of Shame at your event.

Be a sport. Report.