Turn-In-Poachers invaluable to conservation officers

For more than 25 years, TIP’s tips have helped state conservation officers apprehend thousands of violators while protecting and preserving Minnesota’s natural resources.
 

TIP is Turn-In-Poachers, which was formed in September 1981 by a group of concerned citizens and conservationist to initially curb the illegal harvest of game and fish in Minnesota. Today’s calls also reference wetlands, all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile violations.
 

“Everyone assumes we are part of the DNR or we receive state funding, but that’ s not the case,” said Al Thomas, executive director of TIP, Inc. “As a non-profit, we ask volunteers to help us raise funds through banquets and ask the outdoor community to join TIP with a membership. That’ s how we carry out our programs and supply conservation officers with more eyes and ears in the field.”
 

From 1981-2008, 28,500 TIP calls have been referred to state conservation officers, leading to nearly 8,200 arrests. TIP rewards paid out since inception total nearly $338,000. These are amazing numbers for an organization staffed by a 20-person volunteer board of directors and 10 TIP chapters around the state.
 

Here are some hard results:

• The information received in a late 2008 TIP call resulted in two Ohio anglers paying fines and restitution of $2,600 for taking 99 sunfish over the legal limit.
• A TIP call resulted in the “big fish” being respectively 257 sunfish and 79 bass over the limit. Fine and restitution for the fish totaled $6,000.
• Calls from concerned anglers led conservation officers to two residents who were 314 crappies over the limit. Fine and restitution totaled $8,000.

“Cases such as these go to show how invaluable TIP is for us and the importance of the program to law-abiding outdoorsmen and women willing to make the calls,” said Col. Jim Konrad, DNR Enforcement chief.
 

TIP, Inc. is a non-profit, privately funded 501©3 organization. Law-abiding outdoor enthusiasts report violations anonymously by calling the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-652-9093 or #TIP on their cell phone. Callers providing information leading to an arrest are given cash rewards ranging from $25 to $1,000. TIP officials say that nearly half of the rewards offered are turned down.