Operation Game Thief

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Help preserve Maine's fish and wildlife heritage for our generation as well as future ones.

Please report Fish & Wildlife law or landowner abuse violations.
Call the Operation Game Thief toll-free number.

1-800-ALERT-US

Calls are answered 7 days a week,
8:00am to midnight.

What is Operation Game Thief?

Operation Game Thief is a private, non-profit organization that works in cooperation with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Warden Service which pays rewards if requested to citizens who turn in poachers. You can call toll free within Maine at 1-800-253-7887. Cell phone users can dial #GW or * GW. If you are calling from out of state please dial 1(207) 287-6057. Callers do not have to reveal their names or testify in court. The minimum reward is $50.00 and reward amounts are based on the severity of the case. The Operation Game Thief board administers the reward fund, which is maintained by private contributions. The Board may approve rewards of up to $1,000.00 for flagrant cases. Rewards are paid for information which leads to an arrest or a citation being issued. Why? In the entire state of Maine there are 95 District Game Wardens so wildlife needs your eyes and ears to report known or suspected violations. Poaching is a serious and costly crime. It robs legitimate sportsmen of game and fish, robs businesses and taxpayers of revenues generated by hunting and fishing and robs all of us of a valuable natural resource—our wildlife. Operation Game Thief is strong stuff, but the crime of poaching is serious enough to merit it.


Is Poaching Significant?

Yes. No one knows the exact figures, but studies indicate poachers may kill almost as many animals and fish as legitimate hunters and fishermen take during legal seasons. If poachers kill even half that number each year, the problem is serious. Poachers do not confine their killing only to game animals and fish. Threatened, endangered and nongame wildlife show up in the poacher’s bag as well.


Who Are the Poachers?

Poaching is surrounded by romantic myths which just aren’t true. Poachers are not poor people trying to feed their families. In fact, putting food on the table is one of the least common motives for poaching. Poachers kill for the thrill of killing, to lash out at wildlife laws or for profit. They kill wildlife any way, time and place they can. Poaching rings can be well organized and extremely profitable. In a nutshell, poachers are criminals and should be dealt with as criminals.


Does It Work?

Yes. Operation Game Thief was pioneered by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and has been adopted by 49 of the 50 states, including Maine. Since 1989 Maine’s Operation Game Thief has received more than 6,601 reports of poaching, resulting in more than 1,948 convictions. These convictions have netted $263,750.00 in fines. During this period, almost $61,740.00 in rewards has been paid to citizens who reported suspected illegal activity.


How does the Program Work?

Calls on the Operation Game Thief hotline (toll-free within Maine at 1-800-253-7887 or cell phone users can dial #GW or *GW) are taken in the Augusta Fish and Wildlife headquarters or by volunteers of the program. All information about the poaching incident is taken and the caller is assigned a code number. The toll free hotline is answered every day of the year from 8:00 am until midnight.

The information is evaluated by the law enforcement personnel. Investigations are begun immediately and must follow the same rules and constitutional guidelines as any law enforcement investigation.

If a poacher is arrested or issued a summons on the basis of information provided by a caller, a reward is authorized if asked for previously by the caller.

Rewards can be paid in cash and the pay-off is arranged to protect the anonymity of the caller.

Rewards will be paid only if the informant states that a reward is desired prior to any investigation. Actually, most wildlife enthusiasts don’t want a reward-- they just want the criminals stopped!


What to Look For

  • Poaching is the illegal taking or possession of any game, fish or nongame wildlife.
  • Hunting out of season or at night using spotlights or taking more than the legal limit are obvious signs of poaching. Non-residents buying resident licenses is a violation that also impacts wildlife management.
  • Provide all the information you can. We need the violation date and time; as exact a location as possible; a description of the violation; number of shots heard; type of weapon, etc; the number of suspects; names and/or identifying features such as age, height, hair color, clothes, etc; a vehicle description including type, year, color and license number. Include any other information you think may be pertinent to the case.
  • If you know how a poached animal is being transported, or where it is being stored, tell us about it.
  • Remember, get the information to us as soon as possible.
  • Any delay may mean we might not catch the those who are stealing from all of us.


You can help stop poaching. If you see a poaching incident, report it. Look at it this way: if you saw someone breaking into your neighbor’s house, would you just stand by and watch? Of course not; you would report it. Poaching is a crime against you, your neighbor and everyone else in the state of Maine. Call 1-800-253-7887 toll free or cell phone users can just dial #GW or *GW. Out of state callers dial 1 (207) 287-6057.

Operation Game Thief, Inc. pays for all costs associated with the administration of this program. There are no departmental funds utilized.

You can also help by contributing to the reward fund which makes the program possible.
Make checks out to: Operation Game Thief and send to P.O. Box 2684, Augusta, Maine 04338.



Home FAQ Association Boating Laws Community Contests Current Events Discussions Fishing
Links Living Local Laws Maps Marine Safety Past Events Photos State of Maine Water Education
E-mail: Contact the webmaster with your questions, comments or suggestions.

Operation Game Thief