Tell them you will call the DEC if you see them breaking the law.

WA Mtnhunters right. Get the tag # and description and call the law. Some places have "rewards" for turning in these "thiefs".

I would call TIP line. The number is on the back of fishing license. And if they catch the poachers, you get a cash reward for your help and tips.

First, you stake them out, then try to hide along their path of travel, and when you get a chance, you put an NFL tackle on them and take away their stringer of poached trout and beat them senseless with it!

Actually, as I have a limited role in law enforcement duties within my park system (I am not permitted to be armed on duty either), and I work a lot with the local sherrif, the best thing to do is get a description of the person, and especially tag#'s and vehicle description, and document the behavior- treat it like you are filling out a detailed police report, date, time, location, and narrative- if you can get some pictures without being noticed that is even better... as civilian citizens certainly do not put yourself in harm's way- a few fish are not worth being attacked over. Turn in your statement to the authorities adn hopefully they will follow through.

snap a picture if you can, get their plate number and call the d. e. c .

You can warn them and if they don't listen call the police to foreward you to a game warden and then give them the car's i.d.

ID GET THERE PLATE NUMBER IF POSSIBLE,AND TURN IT IN TO FISH AN GAME.I WOULDNT PUT YOURSELF IN HARMS WAY EITHER.THINK OF ALL THE GAME GETTING TOOK WHEN THERES NO ONE SEEING THERE COWERDLY ACTS.HAPPY FISHING!

we have that problem with a certain ethnincity and tautog. We just call DNREC. If none are around they will tell us to tell the park attendant and they will stop the poachers from leaving the park.

here in Wash. St. I will turn you in for a wildlife violation so
fast you'll think a predator drone nailed you. my motivation-you
and your crime are worth 10 Bonus Points for my next wished for
hunt of a lifetime. So please please poach.

report report report, both my neighbors shoot deer year round. Both are employeed and have no need for extra protein. I've reported and reported, I hae no Idea if a game officer has ever responded. I never recieved a follow up call or visit. I did my part how came the state cant do theirs? ONe neighbor shoots bucks weeks before any legal season, his home and barnes are adorned with deer horns. I hear a rifle shot point my attention in the direction of fire and hear "tony" congratulating "earl" on a such a huge buck 4 weeks ahead of legal gun season. SOME PEOPLE.

I always told people to get me as much info as possible. Description of person, clothes, hair color, car color, make , tag no. and call me as soon as possible. Don't confront the people. Even here in WV citizen's arrests are legal, almost all citizens haven't been trained to do this type work. Just being armed isn't being trained to arrest people. People know the law. There are very few people that are ignorant of the law. It does no good to point the law out to them because they don't care anyway. We had limited Conservation Officers and we valued the input from the sportsman about the illegal activity taking place in the woods and along the streams and lakes. Without the responsible and ethical sportsman our wildlife would soon disapear. I had a large group of contacts that regularly contacted me with reports of illegal activity and I made many arrests from the information they provided me. The people are stealing the wildlife from law abiding sportsman and they can be described as common thieves. Some of them didn't like me calling them that but that is what they are. We need to protect our natural resources for our future generations. I have grandsons and I'm sure some of you do too and I hope they will have the wildlife around to hunt when they get older. The bottom line- REPORT THEM.

As above, get all the appropriate information you can and don't try to take the law into your own hands. Some years back some idjits decided to poach a deer out of one of our hayfields. I was very close at the time and during the course of explaining the error of their ways to them, happened to empty a deer rifle in the general vicinity, not in their direction but close enough to make a lasting impression. I also got the license # and turned them in, resulting in charges, fines, etc. Afterwards the local conservation officer and friends in law enforcement told me that in the future, leave it to them and quit playing John Wayne, what I did wasn't overly bright, and they were right. I know, Sarge, not among my better ideas, with age comes wisdom.