Urban Hunting Violations: Cities Need an Anonymous Reporting System
This season, a troubling encounter reminded us why safety and
accountability must go hand in hand.
An archer in our area admitted to hunting from a ground-level blind a
direct violation of Joplin’s urban hunting terms, which require hunters to be
elevated at least 10 feet. When my neighbor questioned him, the archer made it
clear he knew where we lived. That’s when the conversation shifted from concern
to fear.
My neighbor told me we couldn’t report him. Not because it wasn’t wrong but
because retaliation felt like a real possibility.
This is exactly why Joplin needs an anonymous reporting system for
urban hunting violations. Residents should be able to:
- Share safety concerns without
fear
- Report violations of hunting
terms
- Document suspicious or illegal
activity
- Help protect pets, children, and
neighbors
All without putting themselves at risk.
A simple website with no name
required could make all the difference. It would empower residents to speak up,
help the city enforce its own rules, and create a safer environment for
everyone.
Because when silence is the only safe option, the system isn’t working.