NC WILDTIP-Turn In Poachers Reward Program
The NC WILDTIP reporting system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. After the N.C. legislature’s inception of the Wildlife Poacher Reward Fund Rule, the NCWRC established the NC WILDTIP (Turn-In-Poachers) program as a silent witness, anti-poaching program that encourages the public to report any suspicious activity or knowledge about poaching violations.
The TIP Program pays rewards to persons who provide information that result in the arrest and conviction of persons who have committed certain wildlife offenses. Rewards range from $100 to $1000 depending on the severity of the crime and the fines assessed by the court. A complete list of eligible violations are listed further down on this page.
All tips will remain anonymous, however, to be eligible for the reward your name and contact information must be provided to NCWRC.
Please note, the following individuals are not eligible to receive reward money:
Any current Wildlife Resources Commission employee or members of their immediate family;
Any current Wildlife Resources Commissioner;
Any sworn law enforcement officer;
The perpetrator of the crime for which the information has been given and any accomplice or accessory to that crime; and
Any individual who refuses to provide the Commission with his or her name and contact information.
Three Ways to Turn In Poachers
Text a Tip, WILDTIP
- To send an anonymous tip via text message to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, text the keyword WILDTIP and your tip to TIP411 (847411). Message and data rates may apply. Texting WILDTIP removes all identifying information from a text so tips are completely anonymous unless you want to identify yourself to claim a reward.
- To report violations in progress call 800-662-7137. Violation reports can be submitted via this number or the NC WILDTIP reporting system, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with three options for turning in poachers or reporting a violation. Violation reports may remain anonymous.
With the WILDTIP app
The WILDTIP app provides citizens the ability to submit anonymous tips to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The app also displays organization web and social media content.
Eligible Violations
Unlawful sale, possess for sale or purchase of any wildlife.
Unlawful take, possession or transportation of wild turkey.
Unlawful take, possession or transportation of black bear.
Unlawful take, possession or transportation of cougar.
Unlawful take of deer between ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise with the aid of an artificial light. (Night Deer hunting)
Unlawful take of any wild animal or wild bird from or with the use of a vessel equipped with a motor or with motor attached.
Willfully making any false or misleading statement in order to secure from himself or another any license, permit, privilege, exemption or other benefit which the person in question is not entitled.
Any person who violates any provision of GS 113-291.6 regulating trapping.
Unlawful taking of any fox by unlawful trapping or with the aid of any electronic calling device.
Unlawful take, possession, transport, buy or sale any bald eagle or golden eagle, alive or dead, or any part, nest or egg of any bald or golden eagle.
Unlawful take of any migratory game bird with a rifle, with the use and aid of live decoys, over bait or during the closed season.
Unlawfully restricts access by vehicle on game lands to a person who holds a special vehicular access identification card and permit issued by the Commission to persons who have a handicap that limits physical mobility
Willful transportation or attempt to transport live coyotes into this state for any purpose.
Willful importation or possession of black-tailed or mule deer.
Unlawful placing of process food products as bait in any area of the State where the NCWRC has established an open season for taking black bears.
Unlawful removing feral swine from a trap while the swine is still alive or by transporting such swine after the removal
Unlawful take, possess, transport, sell, barter, trade, exchange, export, or offer for sale, barter, trade, exchange or export, or give away for any purpose including advertising or other promotional purpose any animal on a protected wild animal list, except as authorized according to the regulations of the Commission, including those promulgated pursuant to G.S. 113-333(1)
Reported Violations
Reported violations are usually prioritized based on the severity and/or the legitimacy of the information provided. Due to limited resources and personnel, it is not possible to have an immediate response to every call. All violations receive the highest priority and every attempt is made to immediately dispatch an officer to the scene. With extraordinarily large patrol areas, it is not always possible for an immediate response to a violation. That is why it is extremely important that you act as a good witness so that a follow-up by an officer may be conducted. Although an immediate response is not always possible, rest assured that your call and assistance are still important.
All reported violations are logged, tracked, and analyzed for trend data to determine violation hot-spots. Special details, patrols, or criminal investigations are conducted directly as a result of the pattern of data. Regardless of the degree of the reported violation, your tip usually makes the difference on whether a violator will be apprehended.