Reminder for the week: Hunters must be aware of restrictions and regulations
when importing harvested deer carcasses or parts from other states into Delaware

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 Sept. 9-15 made 2,076 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 63 citations. Officers responded to 67 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

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

Wildlife Conservation: Trespass to hunt (1), no federal duck stamp (1), and failure to display conservation access pass (2).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized white perch (3)*, possession of undersized striped bass (1), trespass to fish (3), unlicensed fishing (4)*, and no Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (2).

Boating & Boating Safety: Failure to report a motor vessel accident (1), failure to operate a reasonable speed to avoid a motor vessel collision (1), and operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1)*.

Public Safety: Possession of a concealed deadly weapon – firearm (1), possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (1), possession of drug paraphernalia – not marijuana related (2), possession of drug paraphernalia – civil (2), possession of marijuana other than for personal use (1), possession of marijuana – civil (2)*, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (1), possession of heroin (1), possession of a controlled substance with aggravating factor (1), unreasonable speed (2), careless driving (2), excessive speed on a wildlife area (1)*, failure to adhere to learner’s permit restrictions (1), and failure to stop at a red light (1).

Other: Possession of a weapon with an altered serial number (1), conspiracy 3rd degree (2), operating an unregistered motor vehicle (1), driving with a suspended or revoked license (1), escaping load from motor vehicle (1), dumping (2), wildlife area map violation – parking outside of designated zone (2), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (13)*, and trespass closed area on Division lands (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?
It is unlawful to import or possess any carcass or parts of a carcass of any member of the family Cervidae (deer, elk, or moose) originating from areas of another state or Canadian province where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in free-ranging or captive deer or other Cervidae species.

However, the following deer, elk, and moose parts may be imported into the state:

• Boned-out meat that is cut and wrapped
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or skull attached
• Hides or capes with no skull attached
• Clean (no meat or tissue attached) skull plates with antlers attached
• Antlers (with no meat or tissue attached)
• Upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers, or ivories)
• Finished taxidermy products

Regionally, the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia have confirmed the presence of CWD. From these states, hunters are restricted from bringing entire deer carcasses into Delaware and may only bring the above mentioned parts from the counties in which CWD has been found. If hunters are hunting in portions of these states outside of those areas, they are not restricted from bringing a harvested carcass back to Delaware.

CWD is documented in the following counties in neighboring states, and are subject to the import restrictions:

• Maryland – Allegany and Washington counties
• Pennsylvania – Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntington, Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, Somerset, Westmoreland, and York counties
• Virginia – Clarke, Culpeper, Frederick, Madison, Orange, Shenandoah, and Warren counties
• West Virginia – Berkley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, and Morgan counties

CWD has been detected in 26 states and three Canadian provinces. For a complete list of restricted areas within other states, please visit http://cwd-info.org/ or contact the Division of Fish & Wildlife at 302-735-3600.

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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