Reminder for the week: Hunters should take safety precautions when going
afield by wearing hunter orange and properly transporting firearms

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Sept.17-23 made 1,649 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 644 citations. Officers responded to 42 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 Sept. 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers assisted the Wilmington Police Department in the investigation of a fatal boat accident involving an overturned kayak that occurred on the Brandywine River in Wilmington.
• On Sept. 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Donald V. Andrus 2nd, 67, of Smyrna, for one count of disorderly conduct near Woodland Beach. Andrus was arraigned at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released on a $500 unsecured bond pending a future court appearance.
• On Sept. 19, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers statewide assisted in the investigation and arrest of a commercial waterman for numerous shellfish and boating violations near Delaware City. The following press release was issued regarding the incident:
  DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrest commercial waterman for numerous shellfish and boating violations
• On Sept. 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested two individuals for prostitution-related charges, one of which was also charged with several drug violations, on Port Mahon Road near Dover. The following press release was issued regarding the incident: DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police make arrests for drug and prostitution charges

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized white perch (1), possession of undersized striped bass (1), possession of undersized black drum (1), possession of undersized black seabass (1), and possession of undersized tautog (1). Commercial: Failure to tend commercial crab pots within 72 hours (322), improperly-marked commercial crab pot license number on buoy (171), over-the-limit commercial crab pots (121), crabbing from a vessel not displaying a proper color panel (2), commercial crabbing under a crab pot number not assigned by DNREC (1), and failure to have a commercial license in possession (1). failure to tend commercial crab pots within 72 hours; 171 counts of improperly-marked commercial crab pot license number on buoy; 121 counts of over-the-limit commercial crab pots; two counts of crabbing from a vessel not displaying a proper color panel; and one count each of commercial crabbing under a crab pot number not assigned by DNREC; failure to have a commercial license in his possession;

Boating and Boating Safety: No life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), no fire extinguisher on board (1), no sound-producing device on board (1), reckless operation of a vessel (1), and no boat ramp certificate (1).

Public Safety: Clamming in a prohibited area (2), disorderly conduct (1), possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance/cocaine (1), possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance/heroin (1), possession of drug paraphernalia not marijuana-related (1), prostitution (1), and patronizing a prostitute (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (2), dumping on a state wildlife area (2), operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1)*, and destruction of state property (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?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters that they are required to wear hunter orange for safety during all firearms deer seasons, except when hunting migratory birds. Firearm deer hunters, as well as bow hunters and small game hunters, are required to wear no less than a total of 400 square inches of hunter orange on their heads, chests, and backs combined during firearms deer seasons. Deer hunters concealed inside ground-level blinds also must place 400 square inches of hunter orange within 10 feet outside of the blind and at least 3 feet off the ground during firearms deer seasons.

Current and upcoming hunting seasons include:

• Archery and crossbow deer season, now through Jan. 31, 2019
• Squirrel season, now through Feb. 2, 2019; closed during November shotgun deer season
• Snow goose season, Oct. 3 through Feb. 2, 2019, and Feb. 9, 2019
• Muzzleloader deer season, Oct. 5 through Oct. 14

Hunters also are reminded that transporting a loaded firearm in any motorized vehicle, including ATVs, is prohibited. In the case of a muzzleloader rifle, loaded means that the powder and ball, bullet, or shot is loaded in the bore. A muzzleloader is not considered loaded if the cap, primer, or priming powder (in a flintlock) is removed and the striking mechanism used to ignite the cap, primer, or priming powder is removed or rendered inoperable, or if the muzzleloader is enclosed in a case.

To report hunting violations or accidents please call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24-hour dispatch line at: 302-739-4580 or 1-800-523-3336.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

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

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913

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