Reminder for the week: Purchase your 2019/2020 Delaware hunting license, waterfowl stamp now

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 Aug 5-11 made 3,755 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 80 citations. Officers responded to 120 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A 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 Aug. 6, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered hunting, fishing and boating questions, and displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer during the annual Night Out in Wyoming.
• On Aug. 6, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered hunting, fishing and boating questions, and displayed the Marine Patrol vessel Oscar during the annual Night Out in Milford.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized blue crabs (16), possession of undersized striped bass (6)*, possession of over-the-limit striped bass (1), possession of over-the-limit bluefish (3), possession of flounder parts (1), possession of oysters (1), use of crab pots without required turtle excluder (1), unlicensed fishing (8)*, no Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (7), and trespass to fish (1).

Boating & Boating Safety: No life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (5), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), failure to observe slow no wake (1), negligent operation of a motor vessel (2), operating an unregistered vessel (2), operating a personal watercraft after sunset (1), and no boating safety certification (4).

Public Safety: Possession of drug paraphernalia not marijuana related (2), possession of marijuana – civil (1), and slow moving motor vehicle on a highway (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (14)* and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway 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. The public 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 to purchase their 2019/2020 Delaware hunting licenses and waterfowl stamps (See graphic below).

Resident hunters younger than 13 or 65 and older are not required to purchase a Delaware hunting license. Non-resident hunters 13 and older are required to purchase a Delaware hunting license.

To hunt waterfowl in Delaware, residents age 16 through 64 and non-residents age 16 and older are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl stamp. Resident and non-resident hunters age 16 and older also need a federal migratory bird stamp to hunt waterfowl.

Hunters who are exempt from purchasing a license must obtain an annual, free License Exempt Number (LEN). Both exempt and non-exempt hunters of migratory gamebirds, including waterfowl, dove, woodcock, and rail, must also obtain a free Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Both are available online or by calling 855-335-4868 toll-free.

Delaware hunting licenses and waterfowl stamps are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating hunting license agent, purchase a Delaware hunting license or waterfowl stamp or obtain a HIP or LEN number online, click Delaware Licenses & Permits. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918. Federal migratory bird stamps may be purchased at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges, and online. For more information, call 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click 2019-2020 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

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, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913, or 302-382-7167.

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