Reminder for the week: Hunters should pay attention to property lines, hunting rules

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 Oct. 14-20 made 2,040 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 45 citations. Officers responded to 44 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 Oct.17, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and reviewed safe hunting, hunting laws, and what to expect when checked by an officer in the field with attendees at a Hunter Education Class held at the Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center.

• On Oct.19, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered hunting, fishing and boating questions, and assisted attendees with fishing at a Boy Scout Family Fishing Day at the Akridge Scout Reservation near Dover.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

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

Wildlife Conservation: Kill antlered deer without purchasing a hunter’s choice tag (1) and possess/transport unlawfully taken game – antlered deer (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized striped bass (12), possession of undersize white perch (9), possession of undersized flounder (1), possession of over-the-limit striped bass (1), illegal method of take – using a net for striped bass (7), net marking violation (1), trespass to fish (2), unlicensed fishing (1), and no Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (1).

Boating & Boating Safety: Failure to observe slow no wake (1) and inattentive operation of a motor vessel (1).

Public Safety: Failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season (1).

Other: Operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (1), driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license (1), fictitious motor vehicle tags (1), and operating an unregistered motor vehicle (1).

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 that hunting game on private property without permission of the owner and/or residents is considered trespassing to hunt. Tracking or recovering game on another’s property, shooting on another’s property, or crossing another’s private property to reach a hunting area without permission are examples of trespassing to hunt.

Other rules and general hunting information:
• If hunting on public wildlife areas, hunters should review wildlife area maps and rules, including hunting times, specific rules for each wildlife area, and any permits they may need. Wildlife area maps and rules are available at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk or online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps.
• For more information on hunting in Delaware, including a summary of hunting rules and regulations, click on 2019-2020 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk and from license agents throughout the state.

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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