TIP-MONT Board Awards $10,400 To Callers

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The TIP-MONT Program’s Board of Directors awarded $10,400 to 21 individuals who offered tips that led to apprehending violators in 2001. Violations included, among others, shooting from the road; unlawful use of two-way radios; hunting elk in a closed season; and, in one case, 29 counts of possessing unlawfully taken game animals, according to Debbie Bingham, TIP-MONT coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena.  The cases involved a variety of species with furbearers, fish and big game animals being killed unlawfully.

"We logged nearly 1,100 calls in 2001," Bingham said.  In 1996, TIP-MONT received 770 calls and in 2000 the count was up to 1,000 calls.

Bingham said the increase in wildlife- and recreation-violation tips appears to be the result of a Montana public that will not tolerate fish and wildlife poachers or vandals who destroy public property.  "People want to protect our fish, wildlife, parks and forest lands.  We hear that message every day from callers, not just during hunting season," Bingham said.  "We answer a lot more calls today that report violations at fishing access sites, at our State Parks, and even in our national forests than in the past," she said.

The Montana Legislature authorized FWP to establish a toll-free fish and game violation hotline 1-800-TIP-MONT and to offer rewards to those who call in tips on violations of fish and wildlife laws.  Since 1985, use of the line has continued to grow.  In 1997 the legislature expanded the authority of FWP to offer rewards for tips on violations that occur in State Parks.

"It is essential in solving these crimes that callers contact us immediately when they witness a violation and provide us with as much specific information as they possibly can.  The sooner we can begin working on a crime, the better the chance we’ll solve the case," Bingham said.

Over the years, thousands of tips about suspected violations have been received on the hotline from both inside and outside of Montana.  The line operates 24 hours a day and callers can remain anonymous, do not have to testify in court and may receive  a reward for their tip.