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

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. 21-27 made 1,976 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 254 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 53 citations. Officers responded to 64 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. 26, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer, provided a K-9 demonstration and discussed hunting and fishing enforcement during a National Wild Turkey Federation “Jake” event hosted by the Old Drawyers Creek Longbeard’s chapter of the NWTF in Odessa.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On Aug. 21, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Cassie M. Lynch, 32, of Felton after finding her asleep in a vehicle in the Blairs Pond parking lot near Milford. Lynch was charged with one count each of: possess, consume a controlled or counterfeit substance except human growth hormone without a prescription with an aggravating factor, possession of drug paraphernalia (non-marijuana) and trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area. Lynch was arraigned by video phone and received a $900 unsecured bond pending a hearing in the Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date. Lynch was then committed to Baylor Correctional Institute on $2,500 cash only bond for failing to appear at a previous Kent County Superior Court ordered hearing.

• On Aug. 25, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Patricia L. Wood, 55, of Claymont following a traffic stop in the Biddles Point parking lot of the Michael N. Castle Trail, near Delaware City. Wood was charged with criminal possession of marijuana and trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area. Wood was ordered to appear in New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 9 at a later date. The operator of the vehicle, Kenneth A. McCalop, 33, of Wilmington was cited for driving without a valid license and trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area and was ordered to appear in New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 9 at a later date.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (3), trespass to crab (1), possession of undersized summer flounder (2), possession of summer flounder parts (2), possession of undersized weakfish (1), possession of undersized croaker (8), illegal method of take- conch (1), possession of over the limit blue crab bushel (2), possession of undersized blue crabs (1), over the limit of recreational crab pots (2), improperly marked recreational crab pots (2), and no crab pot bycatch reduction device (turtle excluder) (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (3), failure to observe slow no wake zone (1), operating an unregistered vessel (1), improper vessel registration marking (1), and no throwable life preserver as required for vessels 16 feet long or longer (1).

Public Safety: Operate a motor vehicle with excessive speed in a wildlife area (1), possession of marijuana- civil (1)*, possession of marijuana- criminal (1)*, possession of drug paraphernalia (non-marijuana) (1), and possess, consume a controlled or counterfeit substance except human growth hormone without a prescription with an aggravating factor (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (11)*, operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1)*, and drive without a valid license (1).

*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?
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 Lt. 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.”

For more information on hunting in Delaware, including specific wildlife area rules, hunters should consult this year’s hunting & trapping guide and wildlife area maps, 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.

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.

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

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