Reminder for the week: Hunters reminded to avoid using railroad tracks for hunting access

Officers responded to 72 complaints and issued 41 citations, five of which were related to the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail, where there is an increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence.

An incident of note:

• On Sept. 1, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited two New Castle County men for illegal deer hunting activities at the C&D Canal Conservation Area. One was cited for hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area and littering; he was fined $214, including court costs. The other was cited for hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area, possession of unlawfully taken deer and littering on a state wildlife area; he was fined $379, including court costs. K-9 River, a Labrador retriever deployed by NRP, aided the investigation, using her tracking skills to lead Fish & Wildlife officers to a wooded area baited with corn and evidence that a deer had been harvested there.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area (2)*, possession of unlawfully taken deer (1)*, hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required HIP number (1), hunting doves on a wildlife area without a permit (1), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4), and littering on a state wildlife area (2)*.

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (2), possession of undersized blue crabs (8), improperly marked recreational crab pots (3), and trespassing to fish (1).
Commercial: Unlawful transfer of commercial tags/striped bass (9).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of lifejackets (1), no lifejacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (2), operating a personal watercraft after sunset (1), and no boating education certificate (1).

*Citations issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

Are you AWARE?
With early fall hunting seasons now open, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters to avoid using railroad tracks for access to hunting areas.

“All railroad tracks are private property, and no one should be walking, driving or parking on tracks without landowner permission. If found on the tracks, violators will be charged with trespassing and fined,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “Those considering using railroad tracks for access to hunt doves or other game also need to consider the safety hazard involved – many railroad tracks throughout the state are still in active use.”

With dove, resident Canada goose and archery deer seasons now open, teal season opening today and squirrel season opening Sept. 15, hunters also are reminded that early-season hunting opportunities are offered on many wildlife areas throughout the state. Non-toxic shot must be used for all dove hunting on state wildlife areas during the month of September.

Season dates and legal hunting hours are as follows:
• White-tailed deer: Archery and crossbow seasons, Sept. 1, 2016-Jan. 31, 2017 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Doves (early season): Sept. 1-Oct. 1 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Resident Canada Geese: Sept. 1-24 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Teal: Sept. 9-27 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset).
For later season dates and other migratory game bird seasons, hunters should consult the 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide.

Hunters also are reminded to purchase their 2016/2017 hunting license if they have not already done so. A Delaware resident annual hunting license costs $25 for ages 16 through 64. A resident junior hunting license costs $5 for ages 13 through 15. To hunt waterfowl in Delaware, including teal, residents age 16 through 64 are required to purchase a state waterfowl (duck) stamp, which costs $9. Higher license prices apply to non-resident hunters, and no exemptions are made for non-residents age 65 and older on purchasing a Delaware hunting license or waterfowl stamp.

Hunters who are exempt from purchasing a license must obtain an annual, free License Exempt Number (LEN). Teal, dove and goose hunters also must obtain a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Both are available online at https://egov.delaware.gov/htr or by calling 855-335-4868 toll-free.

If hunting waterfowl on a state wildlife area from a blind that was selected through a lottery, all hunters in the blind are required to carry the $20 annual blind permit, available for purchase online or where hunting licenses are sold. This requirement is waived for hunters participating in Division of Fish & Wildlife-designated youth hunting days.

Delaware hunting licenses, blind permits and waterfowl stamps are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating hunting license agent, to purchase a license or blind permit or to obtain a HIP or LEN number online, click Delaware Licenses and Permits. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp, available for purchase online, at U.S. Post Offices and at Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges, is required for all waterfowl hunters age 16 and older; no exemptions are made for persons 65 years or older for purchasing federal stamps.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, including specific wildlife area rules, hunters should consult the 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide along with this year’s newly-revised wildlife area maps. Both are available online at Delaware Hunting Information. Hard copies of the guide and the hunting maps are also available at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Like Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 330

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