On October 26, 2016, a Lane County Sheriff Deputy stopped a pickup truck being operated by Hunter Dillen JOHNSON, age 19, of Noti, Oregon. The Deputy discovered the carcasses of a Black-tailed deer doe and a Black-tailed deer spike in the bed of the pickup. JOHNSON produced a hunting license and tag issued to another person. The Deputy called the Oregon State Police to investigate.
Trooper Todd Cutsforth, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife, responded to investigate. The investigation revealed that JOHNSON had shot and killed both deer that date, one with a .22 caliber rimfire rifle. JOHNSON had already filled his valid tag earlier in the season and had no right to be hunting additional deer.
On January 18, 2017, JOHNSON plead guilty to five charges: Unlawful Borrowing of Deer Tag, Unlawful Taking of Black-tailed Deer Doe without Valid Tag, Unlawful Taking of Black-tailed Deer Doe (Exceeding Bag Limit), Unlawful Taking of Black-tailed Deer Spike without Valid Tag, and Unlawful Taking of Black-tailed Deer Spike (Prohibited Method-Rimfire Rifle).
JOHNSON was sentenced to three years court probation, a three-year suspension of all hunting privileges, four days in the Lane County Jail with a recommendation it be served on the Road Crew, $2,000 restitution to the State of Oregon for the taking of the deer, and a special condition of probation that he not participate in any hunting excursions during the period of probation.
Oregon State Police donated the seized deer to a local church in the Florence area for dispersal to families in need. Additionally, OSP seized two rifles in JOHNSON's possession which were ordered forfeited to OSP.
By law, wildlife is the property of the State of Oregon. No person shall angle for, take, hunt, trap or possess, or assist another in angling for, taking, hunting, trapping or possessing any wildlife in violation of the wildlife laws and established rules.
Information on the TIP Reward Program:
The Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) reward program is sponsored by the Oregon Hunters Association. Rewards are paid for information leading to the arrest/conviction of person(s) for the illegal possession, killing, taking, and/or waste of deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar, big horn sheep, mountain goat, moose, and/or game birds.
TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statute as a game fish.
In addition, a reward may be issued for information that results in an arrest/conviction of a person who has illegally obtained Oregon hunting/angling license or tags. People who "work" the system and falsely apply for resident licenses and/or tags are not legally hunting and/or angling and are considered poachers.
Increasing damage to wildlife habitat by off-road vehicles prompted the Oregon Hunters
Association (OHA) in 2009 to create the Natural Resources Reward Program that offers a $200 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone causing natural resources damage by the illegal use of motorized vehicles and is similar to its highly successful TIP program.
* $100 Game Fish
* $100 Upland Birds
* $200 Habitat
* $250 Deer, Bear, Antelope, and Cougar
* $500 Elk, Big Horn Sheep, Moose, and Mountain Goat
How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 (24/7)
TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM - 5:00PM)
Trooper Todd Cutsforth, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife, responded to investigate. The investigation revealed that JOHNSON had shot and killed both deer that date, one with a .22 caliber rimfire rifle. JOHNSON had already filled his valid tag earlier in the season and had no right to be hunting additional deer.
On January 18, 2017, JOHNSON plead guilty to five charges: Unlawful Borrowing of Deer Tag, Unlawful Taking of Black-tailed Deer Doe without Valid Tag, Unlawful Taking of Black-tailed Deer Doe (Exceeding Bag Limit), Unlawful Taking of Black-tailed Deer Spike without Valid Tag, and Unlawful Taking of Black-tailed Deer Spike (Prohibited Method-Rimfire Rifle).
JOHNSON was sentenced to three years court probation, a three-year suspension of all hunting privileges, four days in the Lane County Jail with a recommendation it be served on the Road Crew, $2,000 restitution to the State of Oregon for the taking of the deer, and a special condition of probation that he not participate in any hunting excursions during the period of probation.
Oregon State Police donated the seized deer to a local church in the Florence area for dispersal to families in need. Additionally, OSP seized two rifles in JOHNSON's possession which were ordered forfeited to OSP.
By law, wildlife is the property of the State of Oregon. No person shall angle for, take, hunt, trap or possess, or assist another in angling for, taking, hunting, trapping or possessing any wildlife in violation of the wildlife laws and established rules.
Information on the TIP Reward Program:
The Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) reward program is sponsored by the Oregon Hunters Association. Rewards are paid for information leading to the arrest/conviction of person(s) for the illegal possession, killing, taking, and/or waste of deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar, big horn sheep, mountain goat, moose, and/or game birds.
TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statute as a game fish.
In addition, a reward may be issued for information that results in an arrest/conviction of a person who has illegally obtained Oregon hunting/angling license or tags. People who "work" the system and falsely apply for resident licenses and/or tags are not legally hunting and/or angling and are considered poachers.
Increasing damage to wildlife habitat by off-road vehicles prompted the Oregon Hunters
Association (OHA) in 2009 to create the Natural Resources Reward Program that offers a $200 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone causing natural resources damage by the illegal use of motorized vehicles and is similar to its highly successful TIP program.
* $100 Game Fish
* $100 Upland Birds
* $200 Habitat
* $250 Deer, Bear, Antelope, and Cougar
* $500 Elk, Big Horn Sheep, Moose, and Mountain Goat
How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 (24/7)
TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM - 5:00PM)