Reminder for the week: Where to find Sunday deer hunting area maps and information

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 Nov. 5-11 made 1,443 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 20 citations. Officers responded to 78 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 Nov. 8, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers presented information on the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, safe hunting, hunting laws, and what to expect when being checked by an officer while hunting to attendees of a Hunter Education Class held at the Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On Nov. 8, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited an individual for inattentive operation of a motor vessel following an investigation into a property damage boat accident on the C&D Canal. The individual was fined $82, including court costs, and released.
• On Nov. 11, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited an individual for one count each of trespassing to hunt, possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer, and possession of unlawfully taken antlerless deer following an investigation into trespassing to hunt deer on private property near Townsend. The individual was fined $1,557, including court costs and released. The two deer seized as part of the investigation were donated to the Sportsmen Against Hunger program.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1), failure to tag antlered deer (1), failure to tag antlerless deer (1), hunting deer over bait on a state wildlife area (2), failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms season (2), unlicensed hunting (1), trespass to hunt (1), hunting on a refuge (1), hunting in a closed area on a state wildlife area (1), possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer (1), and possession of unlawfully taken antlerless deer (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Inattentive operation of a motor vessel (1).

Public Safety: Having an unlawfully loaded firearm (2) and discharging a firearm within 15 yards of a public road (1).

Other: Destruction of state property (1)*, failure to have drivers’ license in possession (1)*, and trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (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?
Sunday deer hunting is allowed in Delaware during the 2018/2019 deer hunting season on all Sundays that occur from Sept. 1, 2018 through Feb. 3, 2019, using those weapons legal for the respective established hunting seasons.

For more information, to include Sunday deer hunting opportunities on public wildlife areas, please visit this link.

For more information on the 2018/2019 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 2018-2019 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide.

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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