Report All Poachers (RAP)

What is RAP (Report All Poachers) Program?
RAP provides people the opportunity to report game and fish violations and to receive monetary rewards upon convictions which are based on the caller's information. The program is a cooperative project between the ND Wildlife Federation, the ND Game and Fish Department and the State Radio Communications Department. The reward fund is donated money received donated money received from concerned people and organizations, and from monies derived from auctioning off confiscated guns, vehicles and other equipment as ordered in criminal judgments.

Why Do We Need RAP?
North Dakota has readily available and a great variety of wildlife resources; so much that some people take advantage of it. Each field warden covers over 2,900 square miles on the average! Poachers take over their limits, hunt or fish out of season or without a license, chase wildlife with motor vehicles, destroy property and litter. Our wildlife resources belong to all North Dakotans. It is up to all of us to protect them.

How Does RAP Work?
If you know of or see a hunting or fishing violation, call the toll-free number 1-800-472-2121. You can call from anywhere in North Dakota free of charge, 24 hours a day. You can also call any district warden, sheriff's office or Fish and Wildlife Service refuge or office. If you do not wish to give your name but would like to be eligible for a reward, you will be given a special code number and a phone number to call in four weeks. By calling the phone number you were given and providing the code number, and if your information has led to a conviction, arrangements for paying the reward will be made. You do not have to give your name throughout the process. If callers are willing to talk with a game warden about the case to provide clarification or more information, it would be a great help to successful completion of the case. The caller's identity can still be kept confidential.

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A muley buck with the antlers cut off.

What Are The Rewards?
Rewards range from $50 up to $1,000. Rewards for small game and fishing violations are $200, while reporting a deer violation could earn the caller up to $500. Based upon the RAP Committee's recommendation, up to $1,000 maybe awarded for violations dealing with commercialization of wildlife, for violations involving trophy species, or for multiple violations.

Funding
You can help the RAP program by contributing to the reward fund. Your contributions will be greatly appreciated by the wildlife, landowners, businessmen and sportsmen of North Dakota. Send donations to: RAP, Box 188, Valley City, ND 58072-0188.

What To Look For? If you see a violation, record the details listed below:

• View and print a violation reporting form here.
• What the violation was or what you heard about the violation.
• Make note of the place, time and date the violation occurred.
• If you saw a person or vehicle involved, a description is important. A license number and the make of vehicle will help. A physical description of those involved, number of people involved and what the people were wearing or look like will also be a great help.
• Call the information in as soon as possible. The sooner the information is called in, the better the chances of apprehension.

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Exceeding the limit on walleyes will negatively impact the future fishing for everyone.

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A boat load of illegally harvested clams (freshwater mussels) taken for commercial purposes.

Some Common Fishing And Hunting Rules to Remember

• Anyone hunting or fishing must shoot or catch their own game' Party hunting and fishing is not legal in North Dakota. It is unlawful to catch or shoot someone else's game.
• It is unlawful to have a cartridge in the chamber of a firearm while in or on a motor vehicle.
• You must have permission to hunt on posted land. You must also have permission to hunt within 440 yards of occupied buildings on private land, regardless if it is posted or not.
• It is unlawful to drive off an established trail during deer gun season while hunting deer, fox or coyote.
• It is unlawful to shine any wildlife at night (except raccoon with a flashlight no larger than a 2 cell with no more than 4 volts; a red or amber filter is also required unless the raccoon is treed).
• It is unlawful to remove fish or wildlife from or tamper with a Game and Fish Department or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service net used for capturing or netting fish or wildlife.
• It is unlawful to go afield with a firearm while intoxicated or to operate a motorized boat while intoxicated.
• Anyone born after December 31, 1961, must complete a Hunter Education course and present a certificate to the license vendor before purchasing any hunting license.
• If game birds are cleaned in the field and are to be transferred, a fully feathered head or wing must be left on waterfowl, dove, snipe or crane and a leg and foot or fully feathered head left on pheasant, grouse and partridge.
• Be sure to receive and read the hunting and fishing guides when you purchase a license. A complete proclamation is published in each county newspaper before each hunting season. Seasons and regulations change each year.
• If you have any questions about the RAP program, call 845-1693 or write RAP, Box 188, Valley City, ND 58072-0188.

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