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Show Report violations I A toll-free number is now available for reporting' wildlife violations from any area in the state. The number is 1-800-662-3337. (Remember the last four letters spell DEEK). All calls will be immediately investigated by a Division officer. Help from the public is essential in protecting Utah's wildlife, says Doug Day, Wildlife Resources director. Utah's abundant wildlife should not be allowed to dwindle due to selfish abuse from man, such as poaching or taking overlimits, he adds. Persons reporting violations may choose to remain anonymous. They will still be eligible for substantial rewards given for the arrest and conviction of wildlife violators. The Division has instituted a reward system for wildlife violations, whereby persons who contact the Division and make a special effort to preserve inf ormation or evidence, may receive a reward if the violator is arrested and convicted. Rewards range from $50 for cases involving fish to $500 for cases involving in-volving bighorn sheep, buffalo, mountain goat or moose. 'The more quickly wildlife violators are reported, the better chance of apprehension," emphasizes Bruce Johnson, law enforcement specialist and coordinator of the toll-free number program. Persons may report anyone suspected of taking wildlife out of season, animals of the wrong sex, or overlimits, keeping .wild animals in captivity and any other wildlife violations. Utahns are encouraged to call about any type of suspicious activities or evidence of a killed animal. Suspicious activities at night, particularly spotlighting or shooting, should be reported immediately im-mediately to the local conservation officer. If the concervation officer is not available, the local police or sheriff should be contacted. Whenever possible, the license plate numbers and the descriptions and number of persons involved should be reported. |