Did you know that Operation Game Thief was begun 35 years ago in New Mexico, modeled after a tip system used by the Albuquerque Police Department?

From that start, states agencies across the country began their own telephone tip hotlines to help law enforcement personnel catch wildlife violators. Some offer rewards, other just the satisfaction of the caller for helping possibly nab a criminal.

Check out this background on Operation Game Thief and how the New Mexico officials figured out they needed to get a program in gear to alert the public to be on the lookout.