Reminder for the week: Hunters should review wildlife area maps and their regulations before hunting these areas

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. 12-18 made 3,342 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 48 citations. Officers responded to 105 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. 17, 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 Peach Festival in Middletown.

• On Aug. 17, 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 a town event in Frederica.

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 (3), possession of undersized white perch (1), possession of a prohibited shark (1), use of crab pot without required turtle excluder (1), improperly marked crab pots (2), trespass to fish (2), fishing a closed area (1)*, and unlicensed fishing (8)*.

Boating & Boating Safety: No life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (3), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (3), improper towing with a personal watercraft (1), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (1), no boating safety certification (4), and operating a vessel without a vessel registration card in possession (2).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (9)*, operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (2)*, damaging state property on a wildlife area (2), and no stopping, standing, or parking (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. The public is 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 using Division of Fish & Wildlife wildlife areas to review area maps and regulations prior to the upcoming hunting seasons.

Wildlife area maps are available online at maps and provide a detailed overview of wildlife areas, where hunting is permitted, to include Sunday hunting maps, and regulations pertaining to each individual wildlife area.

For more information on hunting and wildlife areas in Delaware, click on 2019 Delaware Hunting Guide. Copies of the guide, as well as the wildlife area maps, are also available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk or by calling 302-739-9912.

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

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.

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