One of the most frequent questions/comments I receive is about reporting poaching. It's typically something along the lines of "I called the poaching hotline and nothing happened, F WDFW!" however typically by the end of the conversation the person realized THEY were the ones who messed up.
First off, the Poaching Hotline, including the texting service is only open during business hours. Mon-Fri 8A-5P excluding holidays. This is in the regs, on the WDFW website but it's amazing how many people call in after hours then blame WDFW for not picking up the phone.
Reporting poaching/violations has changed throughout the years. For most of time it was simply call the local WA State Patrol office. Then it was call the Poaching Hotline during business hours, but WSP outside those hours. Now it's call 911 for violations in progress, Poaching Hotline for violations not in progress (I found a poached deer), and WSP when the Poaching Hotline isn't open for violations not in progress.
Realistically, when you call 911 for a fish and wildlife violation all they will do is transfer you over to WSP (hopefully.) There are horror stories of someone calling 911 the county/city dispatcher takes the info, and hours later calls WSP.
So here's my suggestion: Violation in progress call 911 and say "fish/wildlife violation in progress, State Patrol please" and bam they will send you off. Now the WSP numbers are in the hunting and fishing regs so you can program them into your phone for the areas you frequent, however you then have to wait around through the numerous commands and so forth. A lot quicker to call 911, ask for WSP and bam now your talking to WSP.
Some of you may be asking why WSP? WSP provides dispatch services for WDFW, DNR, State Parks, Liquor Control, Forest Service, and some other federal agencies.
Now WDFW has started their own dispatching program (WILDCOMM) however it's simply to supplement their WSP service. Shockingly enough, it's actually saving WDFW money to staff and run their own dispatch service 8 hours a day, 5 days a week then it is to completely go with WSP 24/7. So when WILDCOMM is up an running, WDFW Officers still tell WSP there out and about, but they will mainly use WILDCOMM for dispatch/communication requests. Then once WILDCOMM goes home for the day, they use WSP for everything.
So to end it, call 911 and ask for WSP for violations in progress.
