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Operation Game Thief

deer buck in crosshairs

Operation Game Thief (OGT) pays rewards to citizens who identify poachers by calling our toll-free number or submitting information online.

Have you witnessed a wildlife crime?  Are you aware of a poaching situation?

Call Now  OR  File Report Online

Call the toll-free hotline: 1-800-75ALERT(1-800-752-5378) The toll-free hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to report wildlife violations.

Call anytime the violation is in progress or time sensitive. You can remain anonymous. You do not have to give your name if you do not want to.

What Should I Report?

POACHING (the illegal take of game or fish), trespassing, littering, theft, or destroying property. When making a report provide as much of the following information as possible:

  • Nature of suspected illegal activity
  • Location of suspected illegal activity (e.g. road or route)
  • Date and time of violation
  • Name and/or description of violator
  • Description of any vehicle involved
  • Any other important information that may help in apprehending the violator

Why Should I Report Violators?

Poaching hurts all Vermonters:

  • Poachers steal your opportunity to hunt and fish legally.
  • Poaching interferes with the ability to manage wildlife and wildlife habitat effectively by impacting the department’s revenues.
  • Threatened, endangered and nongame species are also targets of poachers.
  • Poaching negatively impacts the ability to enjoy the outdoors.
 

More About Operation Game Thiefwarden badge and Federation logo

Operation Game Thief (OGT) is a joint non-profit program sponsored by the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and administered by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The program provides a way for people to help protect Vermont’s wildlife resources by reporting wildlife law violators.

Vermont has a limited number of wardens patrolling our fields, forests and waterways. The Fish & Wildlife Departments relies on Vermonters to assist in reducing wildlife violations and rewards are available to those citizens that report information leading to an arrest.

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