Reminder for the week: Purchase your 2017/2018 Delaware hunting license, waterfowl stamps now

DOVER  – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Aug. 14-20 made 3,012 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 457 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 52 citations. Officers responded to 83 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

• On Aug. 19, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed boating safety, search and rescue, and hunting and fishing enforcement during Middletown’s annual Peach Festival. Officers displayed the Operation Game Theft Trailer, which was very popular.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On Aug. 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers responded to a medical emergency on board a recreational fishing vessel in the Atlantic Ocean eight miles east of the Indian River Inlet. The victim was suffering from heat stroke and was transferred to the Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police patrol vessel for transportation to the US Coast Guard Station where they were evaluated by the Rehoboth Beach Fire Company.

• On Aug. 20, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers responded to an overturned PWC in the Indian River Inlet. The operator was able to self-rescue by swimming to shore after he lost control in rough water causing his PWC to overturn and stall. The operator refused treatment and only minor damage was caused to the PWC.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (2)*, possession of undersized summer flounder (10), possession of summer flounder parts (3), possession of undersized hard clams (1), possession of over the limit hard clams (1), possession of undersized blue crabs (2), tend the recreational crab pot of another (1), and fishing in a closed area of a state wildlife area (2)*. Commercial: Possession of undersized blue crabs (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (6), failure to observe slow no wake zone (2), equipment violation- no navigation lights (1), equipment violation-no sound producing device (1), operating an unregistered vessel (2), no tidal boat ramp certificate (1), and no boating safety certificate (6).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (7)*.

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

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.

Are you AWARE?

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters to purchase their 2017/2018 Delaware hunting licenses and waterfowl stamps. A resident annual hunting license costs $39.50 for ages 16 through 64. A resident junior hunting license costs $5 for ages 13 through 15.

Residents younger than 13 or those 65 and older who have resided in Delaware for one year or longer are not required to purchase a Delaware hunting license; residents younger than 16 or those 65 and older are not required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl stamp. Higher license prices apply to non-resident hunters, and no exemptions are made for non-residents age 65 and older on purchasing a hunting license or waterfowl stamp.

To hunt waterfowl in Delaware, residents age 16 through 64 who have lived in the state for one year or longer are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl stamp and a federal migratory bird hunting stamp. Federal duck stamps may be purchased at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges and online at www.fws.gov/duckstamps. For more information, call 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).

Hunters who are exempt from purchasing a license must obtain an annual, free License Exempt Number (LEN). Both exempt and non-exempt hunters of migratory gamebirds, including waterfowl, dove, woodcock and rail, also must obtain a free Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Both are available online or by calling 855-335-4868 toll-free.

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

Effective July 1, 2017, a Conservation Access Pass is required for any registered motor vehicle used to access designated Delaware State Wildlife Areas for any allowable activity, including hunting, birdwatching, hiking and photography. For more information, click Conservation Access Pass.

Delaware hunting licenses, lottery permits and waterfowl stamps are sold online, at the licensing office 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 lottery 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.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click 2017-2018 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

For more information on individual wildlife areas, including the rules and regulations specific to each area, visitors are encouraged to give close attention to Delaware wildlife area maps published by the Division of Fish & Wildlife. The maps are available in hard copy at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and also can be found online at Wildlife Area Maps and Regulations.

Media Contact: Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386

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