How to Report Poaching and Polluting

January 28, 2021

Question: I recently watched two guys hunting at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge shoot and kill three pintails. I’m positive all three were pintails and I know the limit is one each. Then I saw them at the parking lot and they only had two pintails, so I think they got rid of one before leaving the blind. What’s the best way to report something like this?

Answer: Let’s start with the best way to report what you saw. You’re right, the daily limit for ducks is seven, but within that limit of seven a hunter may only take one pintail. A summary of those regulations is at wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Waterfowl. If you saw two hunters shoot three pintails, whether or not it was done by accident, one of them is in violation of an overlimit. That alone justifies a call to CalTIP, our 24-hour poaching and polluting tip line. Be prepared to include the exact location of where you saw the violation occur. National Wildlife Refuges, state Wildlife Areas, and even private duck clubs are big and a detailed location description will help a wildlife officer make contact with the appropriate persons. Otherwise, the physical description of the suspects is usually “waders and full waterfowl hunting camouflage” and that’s what everyone out there looks like! You’ll help us maximize the probability of a wildlife officer making a case if you remain available by phone to help vector them in on the alleged violator.

California Fish and Game Code section 4304 states “No person shall at any time capture or destroy any deer and detach or remove from the carcass only the head, hide, antlers, or horns.” However, it continues to include other acts of waste by stating, “nor shall any person at any time leave through carelessness or neglect any game mammal or game bird which is in his possession, or any portion of the flesh thereof usually eaten by humans, to go needlessly to waste.” Intentionally leaving behind an extra pintail even if accidentally shot would be well within the definition of “carelessness or neglect.” Thus, the situation you described would possibly involve two violations, both misdemeanors.

In the future, if you witness a poaching or polluting incident or any fish and wildlife violation, or have information about such a violation, immediately dial the toll-free CalTIP number (888) 334-CALTIP or (888) 334-2258, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CalTIP also accepts tips via text and the CalTIP app. If you hunt and fish regularly, we encourage you to use any of these tools to report poachers and polluters. You can find more information about CalTIP here: wildlife.ca.gov/enforcement/caltip.