OSP Seeks public assistance in unlawful take of big horn sheep ram

By on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

BAKER COUNTY — The Oregon State Police have issued a request for public assistance regarding another, different, unlawful killing of an animal in Baker County. The OSP release is as follows:

“The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help to identify the person(s) responsible for the unlawful take and waste of a Big Horn Sheep Ram in Baker County. On Nov. 30, 2023, Fish and Wildlife Trooper Dakotah Keys responded to a Big Horn Sheep Ram which had been shot and left to waste on BLM land, near Hibbard Creek Road. Furthermore, the involved person(s) removed the ram’s head and horns, before leaving all meat to waste. This location is within the Lookout Mountain Wildlife Management Unit, approximately 50 miles south of Baker City. 

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact OSP Trooper Dakotah Keys through the Turn in Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or dial *OSP (mobile). 

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 the following 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 M-F 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

For more information visit: www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/tip.aspx