Louisville, KY -(Ammoland.com)- For more than a decade, the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) has supported the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) Turn in Poachers (TIPs) program, and QDMA is now proud to serve on the advisory board of the new Ranger Hotline program.
“We are essentially enlisting all the citizens of Georgia with our new Ranger Hotline Program,” said Col. Eddie Henderson, director of DNR’s Law Enforcement Division. “If you see a poacher, call the hotline number 1-800-241-4113 or send an e-mail to RangerHotline@dnr.state.ga.us and report it. The call or e-mail is anonymous, and if your tip leads to an arrest, you get a cash reward for certain violations. It’s as simple as that.”
Having been involved with the TIPs board for more than a decade, QDMA was asked to serve as one of four groups currently on the advisory board of the new Ranger Hotline program. Additionally, QDMA is an annual financial contributor to help pay the rewards to informants for tips resulting in poaching convictions.
“QDMA is pleased to actively participate in and financially support the new Ranger Hotline program that will build upon the highly successful Turn In Poachers program,” said QDMA CEO Brian Murphy. “This is a good day for Georgia’s hunters and anglers and a bad one for game thieves who wish to steal Georgia’s precious wildlife resources.”
The Ranger Hotline program is housed in the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Therefore, anyone who would like to make a tax-deducible donation to support this worthwhile program can visit http://gadnrle.org/node or send an e-mail to RangerHotline@dnr.state.ga.us.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal issued a proclamation declaring October 18, 2014, to be Ranger Hotline Day.
Per the proclamation:
“Ownership of all wildlife is by the State of Georgia, held in trust by all its citizens. A poacher is one who takes wildlife illegally, and as such, is a thief who steals from all Georgians.”
With the original signing of the proclamation postponed, Governor Deal and members of the Ranger Hotline advisory board gathered for the signing of the proclamation on December 17, 2014.
Pictured Above – Left to right:
- Ben Stowers, Executive Director, Georgia Natural Resources Foundation
- Homer Bryson, Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Mark Williams, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Philip Wilheit, Jr., Chairman, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Greg Brown, National Wild Turkey Federation representative
- Nathan Deal, Georgia Governor
- Tom Jones, Izaak Walton League of America representative
- Glen Wilkins, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation
- Brian Murphy, Quality Deer Management Association representative
- Mike England, Law Enforcement Division Coordinator, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Eddie Henderson, Director of Law Enforcement, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
The Georgia DNR’s Law Enforcement Division reminds hunters to always put safety first, use courtesy, to respect the property where you hunt, and to obey the laws of the state because a lot more eyes may be watching.
About QDMA
Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call 800-209-3337 or visit QDMA.com.