Working in tandem, wildlife officials from Indiana and Illinois got to work on Operation Double Dip over the course of 2015 and 2016 in an effort to uncover cases of hunting license fraud for non-residents.
After multiple years of abuse, officials launched the multi-state investigation to find and fine those that have been claiming residency in either Illinois or Indiana to receive licenses and permits at discounted resident rates.
The laws in both states state that claiming residency in more than one state at the same time for the purpose of purchasing resident hunting or fishing licenses is illegal.
“This is a case that protects the privileges of our legitimate resident hunters and ensures that each state receives the funding needed for Fish and Wildlife projects,” said Sgt. David Hyatt, Illinois Conservation Police.
The state of Illinois yielded 211 counts of falsification and was paired with a one hundred percent conviction rate. In total, Illinois defendants were slapped with over $65,000 worth of fines and restitution charges and 21 years worth of hunting privilege revocations.
“Conservation Law Enforcement is an important component in the protection and continual improvement of our state’s natural resources,” said Colonel Danny L. East, Indiana DNR Law Enforcement Division Director. “The cooperative efforts of both Indiana and Illinois law enforcement divisions were vital to the success of this case.”
Indiana, on the other hand, recorded approximately 57 defendants from the investigation with many of the cases still pending. So far, over $20,000 worth of fines and restitution has been ordered for Indiana’s defendants paired with 12 years of lost hunting and fishing privileges.
