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November 9, 2005
WILDLIFE DIVISION EXTENDS HOTLINE HOURS DURING DEER-GUN HUNTING SEASONS
Ohioans encouraged to report wildlife violations, illegal activity
 COLUMBUS, OH - Ohioans seeking information about the upcoming white-tailed deer hunting seasons or individuals seeking to report violations of state wildlife laws can take advantage of extended call center hours from November 19 to December 4, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) general hunting information hotline will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 and from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 20, for the third annual youth deer-gun season.
Staff will also be available to answer calls prior to and during the popular deer-gun season, which begins Monday, November 28 and ends Sunday, Dec. 4:
- 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 25
- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 26-27
- 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, November 28-December 2
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 3-4.
The hotline will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
“We anticipate nearly 400,000 hunters will be out enjoying Ohio’s popular deer-gun season, and the Division of Wildlife will be ready and available to assist hunters. People should feel free to contact us with any question that may arise,” said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife.
Ohioans are encouraged to help enforce state wildlife laws by reporting wildlife violations to the division's Turn-in-a-Poacher (TIP) hotline at 1-800-POACHER (762-2437). The TIP hotline will also be open extended hours during the upcoming hunting seasons. Established in 1982, the TIP program allows individuals to anonymously call toll free from anywhere in the state to report wildlife violations.
The 1-800-POACHER hotline is now open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day through December 30, with the exception of Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Callers may be eligible to receive a cash award for information and are encouraged to leave a message during closed hours with as much information about the suspected violation as can be provided. Tips can also be submitted online at the division's web page at ohiodnr.com/wildlife/contact/TIPform.htm
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