Louisiana Operation Game Thief, Inc. (LOGT), a Louisiana wildlife crime-stoppers program, awarded $9,500 to diligent citizens statewide at their quarterly meeting on May 23 in Woodworth.
The LOGT board reviewed a total of 21 cases that included public tips from 23 informants. A total of 31 subjects were apprehended and a total of 236 offenses were written in regards to the reviewed cases. The LOGT has paid out a total of $368,400 since inception in 1984.
The cases reviewed and awarded money to the public for their assistance consisted of 13 deer cases, four turkey cases, and the illegal cutting of trees on the Spring Bayou Wildlife Management Area among a few others.
In the Spring Bayou WMA case agents used a public tip to arrest Rick K. Savoy, 48, of Hessmer, on March 6.
Anyone wishing to report wildlife or fisheries violations should anonymously call LDWF’s 24-hour toll free Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-442-2511 or utilize LDWF's new tip411 program. To use the tip411 program, tipsters can text LADWF and their tip to 847411 or download the "LADWF Tips" iPhone and Android apps from the iTunes or Google Play store free of charge. Texting or downloading the app enables the public to send anonymous tips to LDWF and lets LDWF respond back, creating a two-way anonymous “chat”.
Users of the app or texters can also send in photos to help support their claim and be used as evidence. CitizenObserver, the tip411 provider, uses technology that removes all identifying information before LDWF receives the text so that LDWF cannot identify the sender.
LOGT was instituted in 1984 and provides cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of violators of fish and wildlife regulations. Funds are raised through private donations, court directed contributions and through contributions from cooperative endeavor agreements with organizations such as the National Wild Turkey Federation and Quality Deer Management Association.
To make a donation to the LOGT that can be used for cash rewards, please contact Lt. Will Roberts at wroberts@wlf.la.gov.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at aeinck@wlf.la.gov or 225-765-2465.