Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
Purpose
The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact is an agreement that
recognizes suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses
in member states. This means that illegal activities in one
state can affect a person’s hunting or fishing privileges in all
participating states. Any person whose license privileges or
rights are suspended in a member state may also be suspended in
Oklahoma. If a person's hunting, fishing, or trapping rights are
suspended in Oklahoma, they may be suspended in member states as
well. This cooperative interstate effort will enhance the
Wildlife Department’s ability to protect and manage our wildlife
resources.
The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact also establishes a
process whereby wildlife law violations by a non-resident from a
member state are handled as if the person were a resident,
meaning they can be served a ticket rather than being arrested,
booked, and bonded. This process is a convenience for hunters,
fishermen, and trappers of member states, and increases
efficiency of Game Wardens by allowing more time for
enforcement duties rather than violator processing procedures.
Oklahoma honors all similar wildlife violation suspensions from
other member states. This would include Failure to Appear in
court violations. One of the benefits to sportsman who violate
wildlife laws is if they are from a member state game warden can
write them a simple citation instead of taking them to jail and
having them post a cash bond. If a non-resident sportsman is
issued a wildlife citation fails to comply with the citation or
appear in court, the Wildlife Department will notify their home
state of a Failure to Comply. The home state will then suspend
that person's resident hunting or fishing license. Once the
sportsman complies with the Oklahoma violation, their home state
will be notified and their resident license will be reinstated.
History
The concept of a wildlife violator compact was first advanced in
the early 1980s by member states in the Western Association of
Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Law enforcement administrators and
Wildlife Commissioners from several states began discussing the
idea of a compact based on the format of the existing Drivers
License Compact and Non-Resident Violator Compact, both of these
related to motor vehicle operator licensing and enforcement.
In 1985 draft compacts were developed independently in Colorado
and Nevada. Subsequently, these drafts were merged and the
Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact was created.
During the 1989 Legislative session compact legislation was
passed into law in Colorado, Nevada and Oregon. These three
states formed the nucleus of the Compact.
Member States
Other states are in the process of joining the compact. This list will be updated as this occurs.
Contact Information
For questions and information, please contact
David Deckard
Wildlife Violator Compact Coordinator
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
PO Box 53465
Oklahoma City OK 73152
(405) 522-0871