Hi Garrett, actually, YES - I do know how you can maybe get some more bonus points. WDFW has a reward program for turning in poachers; however, it is not just money, the individual who turns in hard evidence leading to a big game poaching conviction may be awarded up to 10 points for the species of their choice. Far better than cash I say, and a real shame I can't participate (darn those ethical conflicts). Just kidding, that would not be right. Perhaps a project for after I retire..
A couple ways to do this. The labor-easy, emotionally anguishing way is to turn in that buddy/neighbor/coworker/in-law/relative whose poaching ways you have disliked (but not reported), and who you are finally fed up with enough that you're willing to take the peer pressure outcome. MOST of us know one or more of these folks. It's NOT enough to pass on a verbal tip without some additional evidence ("Joe Schlabotny's a poaching SOB" doesn't cut it. "It's January 5, and Joe S. has a fresh deer in the back of his pickup, WA license plate 105148A, parked at 3030 Energy Lane" - that works.) We've got good game cops, and they depend a great deal on information from sportsmen. If you can provide evidence the informed officer can "discover" without needing you as a source, you can even remain anonymous; you get the points, and Joe'll never know how that @#$^& wildlife officer happened to look through the window of his pickup canopy and see the deer.
The other way is a lot more labor-intensive, but VERY emotionally gratifying. If you like to go out on the winter range and watch bucks anyway, it's not even that much of a chore. Cruise the roads until you find a good buck within rifle shot of the road. Instead of getting as close a look as you can, back off to an inconspicuous location as far away as possible where you can watch the road and the buck with a good quality spotting scope. In the last 11+ years working for WY and now WA, I've done this MANY times. Only seen the buck/bull poached a handful of times, but boy is it gratifying. The most important pieces of information are: 1) be able to find the location again, after you contact a GW; 2) GET THE VEHICLE PLATE NUMBER. The more details the better, but those are the minimums. DON'T make contact at all - these SOBs are dangerous. Usually, you can drive past them going the opposite way and get the plate #, if you can't get it from your vantage.
If you can provide a factual written statement to the effect of: "At 3:30pm January 5, I was watching a 4x4 mule deer buck west of the Notellum Ridge Road bridge over Buck Creek. A two-tone gray 1987-91 Ford Pickup, WA license number 882567, was headed north on Notellum Ridge Road and stopped on the bridge. I observed a person point a rifle out the passenger side window, heard a single shot, and saw the buck fall. A heavyset man with a grey beard and glasses, wearing a navy blue stocking cap, green jacket and blue jeans, exited the passenger side. The driver, a taller, slender clean-shaven man wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans, also exited. Both subjects ran over to the buck, cut off the head, and carried it back to the truck, where they put the head inside the toolbox on the passenger side. They then drove off, headed north on Notellum Ridge Road" - you'll get all 10 points!
I know you were just kidding, but we've all got to get more vigilant about self-policing the slobs out of our ranks. If you can get some drawing advantage for doing so, even better.
I'll hop off my soap box now. You might think the scenario absurd - I assure you this plays out many times all over mule deer winter ranges, every year. OK, NOW I'll hop down.
