Operation Game Thief, Pennsylvania Game Commission

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Operation Game Thief, Pennsylvania Game Commission

Wildlife crimes affect everyone. Calls to the Operation Game Thief telephone number are always answered by a secure recording device.

Be a conservation hero and help to protect Pennsylvania’s wild birds and wild mammals by reporting wildlife crimes to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001 or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief program serves to protect wild birds and wild mammals by encouraging those who have information related to a

wildlife crime to report details as soon as possible. Call the Operation Game Thief’s toll-free hotline – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – at 1-888-PGC-8001 or fill out a form online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT. Although it is beneficial to provide contact information in case state game wardens have follow-up questions, callers may remain confidential.

06/11/2026

The Pennsylvania Game Commission- Southwest Region is seeking information related to the illegal dumping of garbage and household goods that was found near Cove Run Road on State Game Lands 203, located in Indiana Township, Allegheny County, on the afternoon of Monday, June 8, 2026.

The state game warden’s investigation suggests that the pictured man is suspected of dumping garbage along Cove Run Road in Indiana Township. The truck is believed to be a 1994-2004 Chevrolet S10, tan or silver in color.

Anyone with information related to this incident or can identify this person is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southwest Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001 or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

05/22/2026

THANK YOU to the concerned citizens of Perry County!

Your information led to the successful apprehension of two subjects responsible for the dumping of household building materials on State Game Lands 281 in Perry County last month.

Perry County State Game Warden Michael Smith issued citations to both individuals and required them to remove and properly dispose of all materials at a landfill.

To ensure the debris was not illegally dumped elsewhere, they were also required to provide a copy of the disposal receipt.

Thank you, as always, for your conservation concerns and vigilance when it comes to Pennsylvania’s wildlife and public land.

Pennsylvanians are reminded, if you witness suspicious activity or wildlife crime, call the Operation Game Thief’s toll-free hotline — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year — at 1-888-PGC-8001 or report online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

05/08/2026

The Pennsylvania Game Commission-Northwest Region is seeking information related to the illegal taking of a turkey near Greiser Road and State Route 285, located in Sadsbury Township, Crawford County.

On May 2, 2026, an unknown subject shot a male turkey, which was only a short distance off the roadway, from inside their vehicle. After shooting, the subject abandoned the bird and attempted to avoid neighbors and main roadways.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northwest Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001 or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

04/27/2026

The Pennsylvania Game Commission-Southcentral Region is seeking information related to the illegal discarding of rubbish/litter that was found along Lower Bailey Rd. on State Game Lands 281, located in Miller Township, Perry County.

The state game warden’s investigation suggested the trash was discovered in the Newport area of Perry County in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 25, 2026. The materials are consistent with a home remodeling project.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southcentral Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001 or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

12/04/2025

The Pennsylvania Game Commission-Northwest Region is seeking information related to the illegal taking of two trophy-class antlered white-tailed deer.

The deer were found along Bob’s Creek Road, located in Kingsley Township, near the village of Mayburg, in Forest County on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

The state game warden’s investigation suggests the two antlered deer were shot sometime between Saturday evening, November 29 and Sunday morning, November 30 and were found on the Collins Pine property in Kingsley Township. The 10-point buck was dragged approximately 60 yards to the edge of a hill, possibly to conceal it, then the second buck, an 8-point, was found about 60 yards from the road.

The two deer were less than 400 yards apart from each other and had the same boot prints next to both.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northwest Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT, the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001, or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

12/03/2025

The Pennsylvania Game Commission- Southeast Region is seeking information related to the illegal taking of a white-tailed deer from an ATV by firearm with a spotlight.

The incident occurred and the deer was found along Cider Press Road, near the Williams Township Elementary School located in Williams Township, in Northampton County.

The state game warden’s investigation suggests around 3 a.m. on Sunday, November 30, 2025, two ATVs were observed driving, and shooting at deer on school property along Cider Press Road.

This incident not only occurred within safety zones of the Williams Township Elementary School, but also numerous private residences.
Video footage obtained shows the suspects and their ATVs driving, spotlighting, and shooting at deer, but positive identification cannot be made from the videos.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southeast Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT, the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001, or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

11/26/2025

The Pennsylvania Game Commission- Northeast Region is seeking information related to the illegal taking of an 8-point white-tailed deer that was found near the intersection of Wolf Lake Road and Richardson Road located in Harford Township, in Susquehanna County, on the evening of Friday, November 21, 2025.

The state game warden’s investigation suggested the deer was killed around midnight from the road with a crossbow at close range. The deer was left to waste.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northeast Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001 or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

10/30/2025

The Pennsylvania Game Commission- Southwest Region is seeking information related to the illegal taking of a white-tailed deer on Cornwall Drive, North Huntingdon Township, in Westmoreland County. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 26, 2025 around noon.

The state game warden’s investigation suggested the deer was shot over bait on a private property between Colonial Manor Road and Cornwall Drive. The witness indicated that the individual in question (pictured), along with three other individuals, were dragging a deer carcass through his property.

When confronted and asked to leave, the four individuals quickly loaded the carcass into a red, two-tone Ford pickup truck parked along Cornwall Drive and left the area.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Central Dispatch at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001 or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

10/28/2025

The Pennsylvania Game Commission-Northwest Region is seeking information related to the illegal taking of an 8-point white-tailed deer that was found in the front yard of a residence on Hill City Road located in Cranberry, in Venango County, on the early morning of Saturday, October 25, approximately at 2:45 a.m.

The state game warden’s investigation suggested that on Saturday, October 25, 2025, approximately 2:45 a.m., three individuals shot an antlered 8-point deer in the front yard of a residence on Hill City Road, Cranberry Township.

The suspects are described to be three young males, possibly early 20's, wearing black clothing, driving a light colored, small SUV (possibly silver Ford Escape). It is believed the license plate starts with HPV-79. The deer was illegally killed in several safety zones of occupied homes and was shot from the roadway.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northwest Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001 or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

10/21/2025

The Pennsylvania Game Commission- Southeast Region is seeking information related to trespassing and damage to a home that occurred near Allentown Blvd. located in West Hanover Township near the Pine Acres Community in Dauphin County, on the evening of Saturday, October 4, 2025.

The state game warden’s investigation suggests that on the evening of October 4, 2025, at approximately 4:23 p.m., a dark-colored Ford pickup entered and parked in the Comfort Inn parking lot, off Allentown Blvd.

Two people dressed in camo exited the vehicle and entered the adjacent field. At approximately 7:33 p.m. two people returned to the truck, got in, and then shortly after proceeded to drive into the field; they had just left.

During the time the two were in the field (approximately between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.), a crossbow bolt went through a window, entered a neighboring home, and became lodged in an interior door.

A witness also observed the truck parked in the field and two head lamps/ lights were seen.

Surveillance video shows the suspects and their vehicle entering and exiting the hotel parking lot, as well as driving into the field.

It’s also noted that the arrow is a TenPoint ProElite400 crossbow bolt. They are carbon arrows that are compatible with both TenPoint and Wicked Ridge crossbows that require Alpha-nocks, which is the standard for most modern TenPoint and Wicked Ridge models.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southeast Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001 or online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife!

Address

2001 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA
17110

Telephone

+18887428001

Website

http://bit.ly/PGCOGT, https://www.pa.gov/pgc

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