Reminder for the week: Hunters and residents encouraged to review Delaware hunting and wildlife area regulations

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 Oct. 30-Nov. 5 made 1,988 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters and the general public, including 52 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 46 citations. Officers responded to 46 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 Actions

Incidents of note:

• On Oct. 31, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Anthony Harmon, 43, of Millsboro, for one count of possession of firearm/weapon by person prohibited, one count of failure to attach deer tag to antlered deer, one count of unlawful to remove antlered deer parts prior to examining deer by division, two counts of possess or transport antlered deer that was unlawfully killed, one count of driving while suspended or revoked, and one count of unlawful method of deer hunting by baiting lands after contacting him while hunting off Piney Neck Road bear Dagsboro. Harmon was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on $8,500 unsecured bond pending a future court appearance in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.
• On Nov. 4, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Matthew Schuler, 32, of Seaford, for eight counts of possession of firearm/weapon by person prohibited, one count of unlawful to remove antlerless deer parts prior to examining deer by division, and one count of must wear hunter orange after contacting him while hunting off Raccoon Ditch Road near Georgetown. Schuler was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on a $55,200 unsecured bond pending a future court appearance in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Failure to attach deer tag to antlered deer (1), unlawful to remove antlered deer parts prior to examining deer by division (1), possess or transport antlered deer that was unlawfully killed (2), unlawful method of deer hunting by baiting lands (3), unlawful to remove antlerless deer parts prior to examining deer by division (1), must wear hunter orange (3)*, trespass to hunt (1), hunt on state game refuge (1), and federal laws and regulations adopted (2), and unlawfully hunting on the dog training area of the C&D Canal (3)*.

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: possession of undersized stripe bass (1) and possession of undersized tautog (1).

Public Safety: Possession of firearm/weapon by a person prohibited (9), possession of marijuana-civil (2)*, and driving without a valid license (1)*.

Other: Driving while suspended or revoked (1), operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1)*, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (11)*, and littering (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 de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?

With hunting season in full swing, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind both hunters and residents who live near hunting areas to become familiar with Delaware hunting regulations. Those who are visiting our state wildlife areas are also reminded to become familiar with established rules and regulations.

General hunting and wildlife area rules and regulations include:

• Hunting is permitted only in specified areas and only during designated hunting seasons.
• During all firearms deer seasons, all hunters on both private and public lands, except those hunting migratory waterfowl, are required to wear hunter orange for safety reasons in the form of no less than 400 square inches of hunter orange material on the head, chest and back.
• After harvesting a deer, an appropriate tag must be attached to the animal before it is field dressed or moved from the place of kill.
• All successful deer hunters must register their deer within 24 hours of harvest.
• Prior to registering a deer, hunters may not cut the meat or remove any part of the deer except the internal organs (known as viscera).
• State wildlife areas are open from sunrise to sunset and closed to public access from sunset to sunrise, with the exception of those lawfully engaged in hunting or fishing. Anyone not engaged in these activities when found in state wildlife areas between sunset and sunrise will be cited for trespassing after hours.
• Operating vehicles off-road, including ATVs, is prohibited; all vehicles must be licensed, remain on designated roads and not exceed a speed of 20 mph.

For more information on the 2017/2018 hunting seasons – including hunter education, licensing, hunting and trapping seasons, limits, regulations, wildlife area information and more, with sections devoted to deer, small game, turkey and migratory birds – click on 2017-2018 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide. Newly updated wildlife area maps with area-specific regulations are available online at Wildlife Area Maps.

Printed copies of the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide and the wildlife area maps are also available at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912. The printed guide also is available from license agents throughout the state.

Media Contacts: Lt. John McDerby 302-354-1386 or Sgt. Brooke Africa 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 302-739-9913

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