Reminder for the week: Conservation Order allows snow goose harvest

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. 21-27 made 1,209 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 56 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 in the Community

• On Jan. 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers joined other first responders at Lake Forest Central Elementary School near Felton at the invitation of the school’s Kindness Club to greet students as they arrived at school.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

• On Jan. 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Angelo J. Rispoli Sr., 51, of New Castle, for one count each of conspiracy third degree, failure to have hunting license in possession, failure to attach deer tag to an antlerless deer, failure to retain tag on an antlerless deer, failure to check an antlerless deer within 24 hours, and unlawful removal of antlerless deer parts prior to checking; two counts of possess or transport an antlerless deer that was unlawfully killed; and four counts each of hunt on a state game refuge and possess or transport an antlered deer that was unlawfully killed near Wilmington. Rispoli was video arraigned at Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on unsecured bond pending a future court appearance.
• On Jan. 21, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested an individual for multiple deer poaching violations near Millville, issuing the following press release regarding the incident: DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrest Frankford man for deer poaching

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

Wildlife Conservation: Failure to have hunting license in possession (1), license forgery or misrepresentation (1), unlawful possession of a game animal (white-tailed deer) (1), hunt deer during closed season (1), hunt deer at nighttime (1), possess or transport an antlered deer that was unlawfully killed (4), possess or transport an antlerless deer that was unlawfully killed (3), failure to attach deer tag to an antlerless deer (3), failure to retain tag on an antlerless deer (1), failure to check an antlerless deer within 24 hours (3), unlawful removal of antlerless deer parts prior to checking (2), hunting migratory waterfowl without required state waterfowl stamp (1), impede lawful hunting (1), and hunt on a state game refuge (4).

Boating and Boating Safety: Allow the use of a non-compliant vessel (1) and personal watercraft (PWC) rental without written acknowledgment of PWC educational materials (1).

Public Safety: Unlawfully loaded firearm in/on a motor vehicle (3), intimidation of a witness (1), failure to stop at the command of a police officer (1), failure to stop at a stop sign (4), driving a vehicle at unreasonable speed (1), operating off highway vehicle (OHV) on the roadway (1), failure to signal turn (1), and driving while suspended or revoked (1).

Other: Damage state property (2), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4)*, operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (3), trespass on division lands (1), littering/dumping on a state wildlife area (1), no Conservation Access Pass (1), conspiracy third degree (1), and no proof of vehicle registration (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?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters that the 2019 Snow Goose Conservation Order to harvest snow geese will be open Monday, Feb. 4 through Friday, Feb. 8, closing for the youth waterfowl hunting day on Saturday, Feb. 9, and reopening Monday, Feb. 11 through Friday, April 12, excluding Sundays.

The Snow Goose Conservation Order allows use of unplugged shotguns and electronic calls, with no daily bag and possession limits. Legal shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Federal and state hunting regulations otherwise apply.

To participate in the Conservation Order, hunters must obtain and keep in their possession while hunting snow geese a free Snow Goose Conservation Order permit number, available at https://egov.delaware.gov/htr. Individuals needing assistance in obtaining the permit number should call 302-735-3600 during business hours Monday through Friday.

Conservation Order participants are also required to have a valid Delaware hunting license or license-exempt number (LEN) or a Maryland resident hunting license (unless exempt in Maryland), a 2018/2019 Delaware waterfowl stamp (unless exempt), and a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. A federal waterfowl stamp is not required.

The LEN and HIP number are available, and participants in the Conservation Order are required to report their hunting activity and success to the Division of Fish & Wildlife by Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at the website above or by calling 855-DELHUNT (855-335-4868).

For more information on the Snow Goose Conservation Order, please call 302-739-9912 or visit https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/.

For more information on the 2018/2019 hunting seasons, click on 2018-2019 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide. Newly updated wildlife area maps with area-specific regulations are available online at Wildlife Area Maps.

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: Lt. John McDerby, 302-354-1386, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913

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