PINETOP, Ariz. –– The Arizona Game and Fish Department will be conducting an enforcement effort in eastern Arizona this weekend, checking for individuals involved in the unlawful take of wildlife.

All individuals passing through the checkpoint will be stopped briefly while officers determine if they have been hunting and if they have any wildlife in the vehicle. Officers will be ensuring hunting licenses and tags are valid and that any harvested wildlife is possessed lawfully.

Any wildlife seized will be donated to a local food bank.

“Wildlife violations and blatant poaching threaten wildlife populations and cast a negative stereotype on all hunters,” said Dan Dymond, manager of law enforcement for the Pinetop region. “Game violators are not hunters, and they are stealing the public’s wildlife. This enforcement effort will let those folks know we are looking for them.”

The department closely manages wildlife populations for sustainability and sets hunting regulations for lawful hunting harvest accordingly. Poaching and unlawful take negatively effects this balance.

However, it is important for all hunters to read and know the hunting regulations prior to going into the field. Hunters with questions should contact the department prior to their hunt by going online, calling a department office or talking to a wildlife manager. For a listing of offices and other contacts, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

Compliance with game laws and ethical practices by hunters in the field is critical to the future of the hunting heritage. The majority of the public supports regulated hunting and the role hunters play as wildlife conservationists, when done ethically and legally.

A great way to improve your hunting knowledge is by taking a hunter education class. The department offers a number of courses from introductory to combo a combo course for bowhunters as well as a self-paced online course. To learn more, visit www.azgfd.gov/education.

To report a poaching or wildlife-related violation, call the Operation Game Thief toll-free hotline at (800) 352-0700, 24 hours a day, 7 days week. Callers are eligible for a reward if the information leads to an arrest. Caller identities can remain anonymous upon request. To learn more, visit www.azgfd.gov/thief.