Sportsmen Determine Effectiveness of Department

By Mike Demick - Idaho Fish and Game It's no secret. In order to preserve, perpetuate and distribute Idaho's consumptable wildlife resource equally, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) needs support from the hunters and anglers of the State. It's also no secret that the vast majority of these hunters and anglers are law abiding and supportive of the State's hunting and fishing regulations. Likewise, their support and subsequent compliance is largely a result of department programs designed to inform and educate the public. A continuing project is the preventative law enforcement program designed to stop violations before they occur. Preventative enforcement measures are designed to deal with three different types of fish and game violators. These include people totally ignorant of current regulations, the "opportunist," and the habitual violator. Television and radio programs are often used to publicize department issues and regulations in order to reach as many people as possible. News releases and newspaper columns do the same - to inform and educate. More reaching, however, are the Department's 100 conservation officers who work very hard to discuss these same regulations and issues when contacting hundreds of thousands of hunters and anglers in the field each year. Other means used to reduce these types of violations include placing "reminder signs" near waters that have special regulations or marking big game unit boundaries. However, the lack of signs does not remove a person from the responsibility of knowing the regulations, but such efforts do result in reduction of violations in problem areas. The "opportunist" sportsman includes those who are familiar with the laws but violate anyway because of an opportunity they can not resist. A good example would be the angler who finds a spot at a local reservoir that has just been stocked with nice, fat rainbow trout. He knows the daily limit is only six, but he cannot resist catching and keeping a whole cooler full. This problem takes a special solution, usually patrols by the local conservation officer in uniform and driving a marked state vehicle. Conservation officer presence on a regular basis does wonders to reduce violations by the opportunist, who for most of the time, is basically law abiding. The third segment of the public is the hardest to deal with. He is the habitual violator who goes out of his way to violate the law. These are the unethical minority who routinely exceed the bag limit, shoot animals and leave them to waste, or kill game out of season. Routine officer patrols can reduce some violations by this class of people, but largely it is ineffective. However, patrols by officers wearing plain clothes and operating in unmarked vehicles often help. The violator, no matter how cautious, must always be on the look out for any person he might encounter. It is not usual to encounter Fish and Game officers working the backcountry on horseback or sitting in a boat on a local reservoir, just looking like another hunter or angler. Concerned citizens themselves are also very important in discouraging others from breaking the laws. By calling the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hot-line of 1-800-632-5999 with detailed information of a violation they witnessed, ethical sportsmen can discourage other potential violators. Rewards are available and callers can remain anonymous. When any citizen can quickly call a number, day or night, to report illegal activity, unethical sportsmen may think twice before breaking the law. Another important aspect of the preventative program is support through the local magistrate courts. The prospect of receiving a heavy fine and possible license revocation are strong incentives to obey the rules. Seeing their name and sentencing in the court records section of the local newspaper is another. We are fortunate that local courts do an excellent job with far- reaching benefits. Sportsmen must not only be aware of the regulations, but also need to support the basic concepts for the rules and be willing to cooperate with Fish and Game personnel, whether it be at a checkstation or officers on routine patrol. In this way, the department's preventative law enforcement program will be a success, wildlife will benefit and violation numbers will be kept in check. After all, sportsmen themselves ultimately determine the effectiveness of IDFG through their support and cooperation. Mike Demick is the regional conservation educator for IDFG working in Lewiston. He has worked for the department since 1994.