The WED program was established in 1991. The program has expanded to involve more wildlife species and genders. The "animal" decoys include turkey, mule deer, blacktail deer, whitetail deer, Roosevelt elk, and Rocky Mountain elk.
The primary goal of the WED program is for wildlife troopers and violators to be in the same place at the same time, thus giving the ability to catch a violator, without the loss of wildlife.
2011 Statistics: 162 WED Operations Statewide
89 Day Operations, 73 Night
432.50 Operation Hours
243 Day Operation Hours, 189.50 Night
1,041.75 Man Hours
923.25 Trooper Hours
118.50 Retired, Volunteer, and Interagency Hours
79 Sworn Troopers
16 Operations Conducted during Closed Season
897 Vehicles Drove by Decoy
391 Vehicles Observed Decoy
60 Vehicles Fired at Decoy
75+ Citations Issued (49% Day, 51% Night)
Examples of charges:
Aiding in a Wildlife Violation
Casting Light on Game Mammal while Armed
Casting Light within 500 Feet of Vehicle
Discharging Firearm on Highway
Fail to Validate
Felon in Possession of Firearm
Hunting for Another
Hunting from Motor Vehicle
Hunting on Enclosed Lands of Another
Hunting Prohibited Area / Hours
No License / Tag
Shooting from Roadway
Taking Deer Closed
