Reminder for the week: Use caution when boating icy waters or walking on frozen ponds

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’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Jan. 7-13 made 1,567 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 23 citations. Officers responded to 53 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

• On Jan. 8, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Roy A. Corron, 52, of Magnolia, for one count each of driving with a suspended or revoked license, dumping on a state wildlife area, and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area at the Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area near Viola. Corron was arraigned at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released pending a future court appearance.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Trespassing to hunt (1), unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl except from designated blind sites (3), hunting migratory waterfowl without required wildlife area daily lottery blind permit (1), possession of prohibited lead shot while hunting migratory waterfowl (1), and hunting license forgery or misrepresentation (3).

Boating and Boating Safety: No navigation lights (1) and no boating safety certificate (1).

Public Safety: Failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms season (1), operating a motor vehicle at unreasonable speed (1), and possession of a loaded firearm on a motor vessel (1).

Other: Driving with a suspended or revoked license (1), dumping on a state wildlife area (2), dumping/littering (1), operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (3)*, and possession of marijuana – civil (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 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to http://de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?
With the cold weather, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind anglers, hunters, and winter outdoor enthusiasts of the potential hazards of ice and winter weather, and offer these tips:

• Waterfowlers using a boat while hunting should watch ice conditions and currents carefully to avoid becoming locked in by ice. Drifting ice in tidal marshes and waterways can complicate rescue efforts.
• Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts should exercise extreme caution when venturing onto ice, and should always take along someone who could provide or summon help in an emergency situation.
• Examine ice carefully before walking on it. Freshwater ice should be a minimum of 2 to 3 inches thick, clear and sound, with no thin spots caused by springs or currents. Be wary of snow on the ice, which can hide weak spots. For ice fishing, ice should be at least 4 inches thick. Ice on tidal and salt waters can be very unstable due to tidal currents, so venturing onto ice on these areas is strongly discouraged.
• Driving ATVs, snowmobiles, and passenger vehicles on ice is strongly discouraged. To support the weight of a vehicle, ice must be at least 7 to 10 inches thick. Without an extended period of extreme cold, ice is unlikely to reach this thickness in Delaware.

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

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