MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Breadcrumb Home About Us About Regulations Operation Game Thief Operation Game Thief IN THIS SECTION Fishing Regulations Hunting Regulations Mountain Lion Regulations Operation Game Thief Point System for Wildlife Code Violations Process for Adopting Regulations Regulation Summaries Regulations and Permits Definitions Regulations Committee Meeting Agenda Wild Ginseng Harvest Regulations Wildlife Code of Missouri Wildlife Code - Comment on Existing Regulations Wildlife Code - Proposed Regulation Changes Body If you witness or suspect a wildlife violation, report it to your local conservation agent or call 1-800-392-1111 which is staffed 24 hours a day. You may remain anonymous, and you may ask to be considered for a reward. If your information leads to an arrest and you’ve asked to be considered for a reward, your agent will refer this request to a citizen board of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. That board assigns a reward based on the severity of the violation involved. Rewards range from $50 to $1,000. Body Call 1-800-392-1111 When you call, you will be asked simple questions. The answers to these questions are vital to the investigation. Here are a few things to remember when you witness a suspected violation. Nature of suspected illegal activity Date and time of violation The suspect’s identity, if possible Description of the suspects and vehicles Icon ADD OGT TO YOUR CONTACT LIST Add Operation Game Thief (800-392-1111) to your phone's contact list. With this toll-free number, you can take immediate action when you see violations in the field. Do not attempt to intervene yourself. Body Poaching hurts all Missourians You may not “feel the pain” of poaching personally, but this crime can affect you in specific ways. Poachers steal your opportunity to hunt, fish, or collect legally. Those who cheat the permit system cheat every Missouri taxpayer. MDC depends on revenue from hunting and fishing permits to manage wildlife populations and habitat. How can you tell if someone is poaching? Each year, conservation agents spend time tracking down poachers who disregard regulations protecting wildlife. Here are some of the illegal activities that agents deal with: Hunting from the road Disposing of carcasses and other body parts in streams, rivers, ponds and lakes Harvesting a deer or turkey and putting someone else’s permit on it Using a spotlight to harvest deer or turkeys A person is poaching if he or she… Sells venison, deer sausage, fish or small game to acquaintances or at work. Collects live animals for sale. Many native species of reptiles and amphibians (turtles, lizards, snakes and frogs) are illegally taken for worldwide pet trade. Hunts without a permit or with an inappropriate permit. Some non-residents will try to buy lower-cost resident permits, even though they are not qualified to do so. Collects native seeds, plants, or roots on MDC lands. Help build our reward fund Reward money for both Operation Game Thief and Operation Forest Arson comes from a fund administered by a four-person board. Tax-deductible donations to that fund can be sent to: Operation Game Thief/ Forest Arson Reward Fund C/O Conservation Federation of Missouri 728 West Main St. Jefferson City, Missouri 65101 Video URL 1/1 INSIDE MDC About Us Magazines & Newsletters Blog Area Management Plans About Regulations MDC Nature Shop Newsroom Research Projects RESOURCES Careers Volunteer Login Community Grants & Aid Construction Activities Mobile Apps AskMDC Videos Nature's Calling Videos Fish Story Videos MISSION & VISION We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Accessibility Conservation Commission Privacy Policy State of Missouri Terms of Use