TIP call works

[Powerstroke]

I would like to toot my own horn for a moment and say that my TIP call this weekend resulted in 2 baiting citations and I couldn't be happier.

I saw 2 guys and 3 young (under 12) boys walking into the woods with 2 huge bushel bags full of corn. They were heading to their stand on land we'd both be hunting. I called the CO and he busted them on 2 bait piles opening morning. I will probably not be able to hunt that land anymore, but that doesn't really matter to me. I don't want to be associated with cheaters.

Do it right or not at all. The CO said he wrote 5 baiting cites before 9am and 4 of those people were doing so with children in the stands.

DO NOT teach the next generation how to cheat, steal and otherwise break the law while hunting.

I do advise anyone who has a cell phoen to program the TIP # and keep your phone with you. You never know what you'll see.

[Ufatz]

Congratulations, thats what the program is all about. It is deeply unfortunate that these individuals had young "hunters" with them and then had to see the (presumed) parents busted.

You did the right thing.

[catman71]

nice work!

[Bank Beater]

Nice job! It is too bad that the kids were there, but if they see this, then hopefully they will remember it in the future as well and not participate.

[Ole #1]

Thank you powerstroke.

More people need to do something when they see poeple violate the laws of our outdoors. It's up to us to help CO's do their jobs, so we can keep enjoying the great outdoors here in MN. There are a lot more hunters than there are CO's and I'm sure they really appreciate the help.

It's really sad that these kids were exposed to this kind of cheating. Hopefully all parties involved learned from this.

[lawdog]

GOOD JOB!

Geez I hate poachers...

[poutpro]

Last time I called the TIP line i was very disappointed. I called abouet some guy that had walked up onto a game sanctuary and was shooting geese. I called the TIP line and I told them what they had done, and they asked " Well have they actually done anything illegal?". I told them that people cant go onto game sanctuaries, and they told me another number to call in Detriot Lakes when I was in Fergus Falls. I called this number to get no answer. TIP sure failed on that experience.

[ChuckN]

I had the same thing happen to me poutpro. TIP asked me to call the State Patrol dispatch in DL. I laughed since I thought maybe they would get farther than I would with that. I had to call the SP. SP didn't do anything either other than say that my local CO was on duty...I said dispatch them with my phone#.

I found another CO in the area and they said that TIP was going through major changes and they were trying to get everything in line (last summer). He apologized, but in the end the law breakers went down in flames. Don't be afraid to get to know your local CO.

[poutpro]

Yeah I have Gary Forsberg's number programmed into my cell phone, as he is a really good guy to talk to and cooperates with people. He seems to do a very good job.

[Steve Foss]

Good job on the TIP!

Dan Starr, a CO out of Tower up here, said this week in the CO reports that he wasn't sure if this was forest land or farm land, there was so much grain laying around in the woods. Baiting is alive and (un)well, all right.

[Powerstroke]

Part of my report also made the CO reports on the DNR's site. I can't believe so many people still try and cheat.

The DNR's "Enforecement" section of the HSOforum has a full list of the direct number to reach all of the conservation officers. It lists them by region and the station they cover. I encourage everyone to look up the officers that serve the areas you frequent.