Report All Poachers (RAP)

With continued cooperation between sportsmen, landowners, and concerned citizens, opportunities to view and hunt an animal like this will be available in the future.

What is RAP (Report All Poachers) Program?
RAP provides a person the opportunity to report game and fish violations and to receive monetary rewards upon convictions based on the information provided. The program is a joint effort of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, and North Dakota State Radio Communications Department.

The RAP reward fund is supported by donations from concerned individuals and organizations, and from monies derived from the auction of confiscated guns, vehicles and other equipment as ordered in criminal judgments.

Why Do We Need RAP?
North Dakota's wildlife resources belong to all of us.  When poachers take over the limit or hunt or fish during a closed season they reduce the opportunity for the law-abiding to enjoy those resources. 

North Dakota has fewer game wardens than any other state, each of whom covers more than 2,900 square miles.  To help conserve our wildlife resources it is up to each of us to help out by reporting game and fish violations. 

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 US 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.

A muley buck with the antlers cut off.

What Are The Rewards?
Rewards can be as large as $1,000, depending on the nature and seriousness of the crime. 

Funding
You can help the RAP program by contributing to the reward fund. 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.
• Nature of the violation 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, the number of persons involved, and what they were wearing will also be a great help.
• Call the information in as soon as possible. The sooner the information is reported, the better the chances of apprehension.
  
  

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

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

To report violations (not for general information) call 1-800-472-2121 (State Radio Communications) any time of day, free of charge.

Some Common Fishing And Hunting Rules to Remember:

• Hunters and anglers must shoot or catch their own game.  Party hunting and fishing is not legal in North Dakota.
• 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 more than a 6 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.
• Persons born after 1961 must complete a certified hunter education course and show proof of certification when buying or applying for hunting licenses (official courses offered by other states and Canadian provinces meet these requirements).  Exceptions: Persons under age 12 who hunt only with their parent or legal guardian; persons who hunt exclusively on land of which they are the record title owner or operator; and those who obtain an Apprentice Hunting License. 
• One fully feathered wing or the fully feathered head of all waterfowl, snipe, crane, and woodcock, and dove; and one leg and foot, or the fully feathered head, or the fully feathered wing of pheasant, Hungarian partridge, and all grouse shall remain attached to such game during transportation or shipment to its final place of storage
• 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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