North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Search

wildtip

Web TIP Online Form

NC TURN - IN - POACHER (TIP)

The NC Legislature created the Wildlife Poacher Reward Fund Rule in the 2013-2014 Session to encourage any concerned citizen who witnesses a conservation offense to report the violation.  

The NCWRC established NC Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) program as a silent witness, anti-poaching program that encourages the public to report any suspicious activity or knowledge about poaching violations.  The multi-optioned reporting system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

About the Reward Program

The TIP Program was created to pay rewards to persons who provide information that result in the arrest and conviction of persons who have committed certain wildlife offenses.  These rewards range from $100 to $1000 depending on the severity of the crime and the fines assessed by the court.  To see a complete list of eligible violations, click here.

All tips will remain anonymous however to be eligible for the reward, you must provide the NCWRC with your name and contact information. The following individuals are not eligible to receive reward money: any current Wildlife Resources Commission employee or members of his or her 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.  

How to Submit a Tip

  • To report a violation on-line click here to complete and submit our confidential web form. Fill out as much information as possible. 

  • To install this free app, tipsters can search for "TipSoft" or "TipSubmit" in the Google Play store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iPhone).

  • To submit an anonymous tip through text messaging, type WILDTIP and your message, then send it to 274637 (CRIMES on most cell phones).   Message and data rates may apply.
  • Texting WILDTIP removes all identifying information from a text so tips are completely anonymous unless senders want to identify themselves to claim a reward.


  • Wildlife officers can’t be everywhere at once. The hotline is available 24 hours a day to handle calls from concerned citizens. 
  • Caller’s names are kept anonymous however you must provide your name and contact information to be eligible for a reward.
  • NOTE: This phone number is only for these specific violations. For all other wildlife violations, questions and concerns call 1-800-662-7137.
    • iTunes Apple Store Google Play App Store NCWRC Web Tip Form Android App on Google Play iTunes App Store

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.