OSP asks for tips on three elk left to waste in Umatilla County

By on Friday, January 26th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

UMATILLA COUNTY(News release from OSP) The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help to identify the person(s) responsible for the unlawful take and waste of a multiple cow elk in Umatilla County.  
 
On Dec. 29, 2023, Fish and Wildlife troopers received a report of two dead cow elk and three additional gut piles in the Heppner Unit near Sugar Bowl Ridge. The five elk had been shot and two cow elk had been left to waste.  
 
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677), or email at TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Please reference case number is SP23409986. 

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators  
The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a collaboration between the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board.  

The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.   

Preference Point Rewards 
5 Points: Bighorn Sheep 
5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat 
5 Points: Moose 
5 Points: Wolf 
4 Points: Elk 
4 Points: Deer 
4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope 
4 Points: Bear 
4 Points: Cougar 

The TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of the following fish and wildlife species. Cash rewards can also be awarded for habitat destruction, illegally obtaining hunting or angling license or tag, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging. 

Cash Rewards 

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards: 
$2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose  
$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope  
$600 Bear, Cougar, or Wolf 
$300 Habitat destruction  
$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags 
$200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s) 
$200 Game Fish & Shellfish 
$200 Game Birds or Furbearers 
$200 Spotlighting 
$200 Snagging/Attempt to Snag 

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards: 
$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey 
$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox 
$1,000 Species listed as “threatened” or “endangered” under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excludes fish) 

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards: 
$200 Acting as an Outfitter Guide for the Illegal Killing of Wildlife, Illegally Obtaining Oregon Hunting or Angling Licenses or Tags, or Illegally Offering to Act as an Outfitter Guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020. 

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:  
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (*677) 
TIP email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov (monitored Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 
For more information visit: www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/tip.aspx