Reminder for the week: Loaded firearms prohibited in or on motor vehicles, motorboats or farm machinery

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 Nov. 13-26 made 2,586 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, including 102 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing and hunting regulation compliance checks, issuing 100 citations. Officers responded to 111 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 Nov. 14, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Jacob H. Olszewski, 35, of Townsend, for one count of failure to tag antlered deer, one count of failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours, one count of removing antlered deer parts prior to checking, and two counts of possess or transport antlered deer that was unlawfully killed following an investigation into illegal hunting near Middletown. Olszewski was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on a $5,000 unsecured bond pending a future court appearance in New Castle County Court of Common Pleas.
• On Nov. 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited commercial waterman John R. Moore, 55, of Magnolia, for six counts of failure to attach an oyster harvest tag to a bushel of oysters near Bowers Beach. Moore was fined $642, including court costs and released.
• On Nov. 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Glenn W. Browning, 60, of Georgetown, for three counts of firearm/weapon possession by person prohibited, one count of failure to tag antlered deer, one count of failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours, one count kill any antlered deer without first purchasing a hunters choice tag, two counts of possess or transport antlered deer that was unlawfully killed, one count of license forgery or misrepresentation, one count of unlicensed hunting, and one count must wear hunter orange following an investigation into illegal hunting near Springfield Road in Georgetown. Browning was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on a $2,969 unsecured bond pending a future court appearance in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas. Brown was also ordered by the Court to relinquish all firearms and/or deadly weapons to the State.
• On Nov. 19, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested John E. Tomeski II, 26, of Bridgeville, for one count of firearm/weapon possession by person prohibited, two counts of impede lawful hunting, one count of trespassing to hunt, and one count of possess or transport antlerless deer that was unlawfully killed following an investigation into illegal hunting near Georgetown. Tomeski was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on a $7,000 unsecured bond pending a future court appearance in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.
• On Nov. 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Jeremy Virdin, 18, of Dover, for one count of failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours following an investigation into the falsifying of deer registry information neat Smyrna. Virdin was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released, pending a future court appearance in Kent County Court of Common Pleas.
• On Nov. 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Michael A. Payton, 36, of Harrington, for two counts of possess or transport antlered deer that was unlawfully killed, two counts of trespassing to hunt, and one count of hunt deer during unlawful hours (nighttime) following an investigation into illegal hunting near Newark. Payton was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on a $1,700 unsecured bond pending a future court appearance in New Castle County Court of Common Pleas.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Failure to tag antlered deer (2), failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours (3), removing antlered deer parts prior to checking (1), removing antlerless deer parts prior to checking (1), possess or transport antlered deer that was unlawfully killed (11), hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (5), impede lawful hunting (2), possess or transport antlerless deer that was unlawfully killed (1), license forgery or misrepresentation (1), kill any antlered deer without first purchasing a hunters choice tag (1), must wear hunter orange (6)*, failure to tag antlerless deer (2), trespassing to hunt (12), hunting on a refuge (5), hunt deer during unlawful hours (nighttime) (1), possession of unlawfully taken geese (2), possession of prohibited shot size while hunting migratory waterfowl (1), possession of prohibited lead shot while hunting migratory waterfowl (2), hunting migratory waterfowl without required HIP number (2), and unlicensed hunting (2).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: unlicensed fishing (1), possession of undersize tautog (1), and possession of undersize black seabass (1).
Commercial: Failure to attach an oyster harvest tag to a bushel of oysters (6).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating an unregistered vessel (1), no boating safety certificate (1), obstructing use of a public boat ramp (1), and operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1)*.

Public Safety: Firearm/weapon possession by person prohibited (5), possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle (3), carrying a loaded firearm in a motor vessel (1), hunting within a safety zone (1), possession of marijuana-civil (1), possession of marijuana-criminal (1), and possession of drug paraphernalia (3).

Other: Wildlife area map violation (1), operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1)*, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4)*, parking violation for unattended vehicle (1), and littering/dumping on a state wildlife area (2).

*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?
Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police reminds hunters that it is illegal when engaged in activities related to hunting to have a loaded firearm or ammunition in the magazine or chamber of such firearm in ones’ possession in, against or on any automobile, other vehicle or any piece of farm machinery; these loaded firearm and ammunition restrictions also apply to motorboats and sailboats under power. The only exception is when it is otherwise lawful to hunt crippled migratory birds from a motorboat, as permitted by federal law.

Note the following restrictions on transporting specific firearms:

• Muzzleloader: You cannot transport a muzzleloader with a charge in the barrel unless the cap or primer is removed and the gun is enclosed in a case or the striking mechanism is removed.
• Crossbow: Must not be in the cocked position.

The above also applies to Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons (CCDW) Permit holders when they are engaged in activities related to hunting.

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Contact: 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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