Reminder for the week: Commercial horseshoe crab harvest occurring now

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between May 30-June 5 made 2,677 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 112 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 27 complaints and issued 321 citations, one of which was related to the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail, where there is an increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (8)*, possession of undersized blue crab (1), and possession of undersized white perch (1).

Commercial: Possession of undersized knobbed conch (289), possession of unlawfully taken fish (4), and unlawful method of take for summer flounder/dredging (4), and no commercial license in possession (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), failure to observe slow-no-wake zone (1), and operating an unregistered vessel (1).

Public Safety: Possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited (1), possession of ammunition by a person prohibited (1), possession of a deadly weapon during commission of a felony (1), carrying a concealed deadly instrument (1), possession of heroin (2), possession of drug paraphernalia (2), hindering prosecution (1), and failure to stop at a red light (1).

* Citation issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area: no fishing license (1).

Two DNREC press releases were issued related to this week’s citations:

• DNREC Natural Resources Police arrest two Maryland residents on drug, weapons charges at Bowers Beach
• Commercial waterman faces charges for fishing violations including possession of numerous undersized conch

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police News, Training and Outreach
On June 4, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police held their 30th annual Youth Fishing Tournament with more than 170 children attending the event, which was held at Lums Pond in New Castle County, Wyoming Pond in Kent County and Ingrams Pond in Sussex County. The tournament is held annually on Free Fishing Weekend to encourage children to get outdoors and learn about fishing and to teach conservation through catch-and-release fishing practices.

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind visitors to central Bayshore beaches that they may see horseshoe crabs being legally harvested by commercial watermen now through the end of July. Delaware’s hand harvest of horseshoe crabs is permitted annually on weekdays from June 8 through July 31, or until Delaware’s annual quota is reached.

To harvest horseshoe crabs in Delaware, licensed commercial watermen must obtain a permit from the Division of Fish & Wildlife. Delaware adheres to the annual harvest limit set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), under the Commission’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crabs. Harvest of male crabs is permitted only from the public beach at Port Mahon east of Dover and from private beaches with permission of the property owner; no harvest of female crabs is permitted at any time.

Delaware fisheries regulations require commercial watermen to report their horseshoe crab harvest within 24 hours; failure to do so results in a fine and possible suspension of their harvest permit until the report is submitted. The Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Fisheries Section monitors horseshoe crab harvest numbers until ASMFC’s annual quota is reached – this year, 162,136 male crabs – at which time the season closes. If the quota is not reached by July 31, a limited number of dredging permits for taking horseshoe crabs may be issued to commercial watermen.

Horseshoe crabs are harvested in Delaware for use as bait in the whelk (conch) and American eel commercial fisheries. Their copper-based blood also plays a key role in pharmaceutical testing. Through quotas, seasonal/area closures, widespread use of alternative baits and bait-saving devices and other conservation measures, bait landings in Delaware have been reduced.

Horseshoe crabs are vital to the ecology of the Delaware Bay, with visiting migratory shorebirds relying on horseshoe crab eggs to fuel their long distance migrations. The horseshoe crab harvest season opens after the shorebirds’ departure for their Arctic breeding grounds.

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. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Media Contacts: Sgt. John McDerby, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 213

LEWES – DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a commercial waterman June 3 for nearly 300 fishing violations, most of them for illegal take of knobbed conch after boarding his vessel for a no-wake violation near the Lewes Public Boat Ramp on May 31.

Shawn P. Moore, 40, of Georgetown, was charged with 289 counts of possession of undersized knobbed conch measuring less than the legal size limit of 5 inches in length, plus four counts of unlawful method of take for summer flounder, four counts of possession of unlawfully taken fish, and one count each of no commercial license in possession while fishing and failure to observe a slow-no-wake zone. Moore pled not guilty to all charges at Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown and was released on a $15,400 unsecured bond pending a later appearance in the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.

Moore was previously convicted of 30 counts of possession of undersized knobbed conch in 2015, making the current undersize conch charges as enumerated above second offenses and environmental misdemeanors carrying fines of up to $500 per charge if found guilty.

Knobbed conch, also known as whelk, are Delaware’s fourth largest commercial fishery, with recent harvests estimated around 500,000 pounds annually. Most are exported to the European or Asian market and used to make fritters, chowders and salads. Commercial size limits are five inches in length or three inches in width at the whorl. Commercial watermen are permitted to possess five undersized conch by incidental catch per 60 pounds. About 90 percent are harvested by dredging, with dredge season from January 15 through June 15. Channeled whelk also are harvested in Delaware, typically by pot. Egg cases of both species, consisting of long, light tan-colored chains of compartments about nickel- to quarter-size, are a common find along Delaware’s beaches.

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. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Media Contacts: Sgt. John McDerby, Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 212

DOVER –Updated consumption advisories for fish caught in Delaware waterways show some of the most significant improvements in fish tissue contaminant concentrations since the state began assessing contaminants in fish in 1986, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Public Health (DHSS/DPH) announced today. Fish consumption advisories are recommendations to limit or avoid eating certain fish caught in local waters that alert people to the potential health risks of eating contaminated fish. The latest advisories come from recent data collected and analyzed from fish caught in New Castle County waterways.

“Overall, the updated advisories are good news for an area of our state that has historically been challenged by the impacts of legacy contaminants,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “The improvements we’re seeing indicate that collaborative efforts among state, federal, local, and industry partners to address contaminants, along with DNREC’s innovative toxics assessment and restoration projects, are making a difference. This progress is also the result of significant investments in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and cleanup technologies. If we are to achieve our goal to accelerate the cleanup of remaining contaminants and restore our waterways in the shortest time possible, we will need the technical and financial resources to make that happen.”

Less restrictive advisories were issued for seven waterways – the tidal and non-tidal Christina River, Little Mill Creek, tidal Brandywine River, tidal White Clay Creek, and upstream and downstream portions of Shellpot Creek – a result of long-term improvements in reducing contaminants in fish caught in these waterways. A more restrictive advisory was issued for Red Clay Creek due to higher levels of some contaminants, while the advisories for two waterways, the non-tidal Brandywine River and non-tidal White Clay Creek, were unchanged and remain the same as for 2015.

“I applaud DNREC’s continuing efforts to clean up our state’s waterways, which, in turn, reduces the restrictions on fish consumption,” said DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf. “The Division of Public Health would like to remind everyone that consuming fish is an important part of a healthy diet because they contain high-quality proteins along with other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. This updated advice will help all of us make informed healthy decisions about the right amount and right kinds of fish that our families should eat from Delaware’s waterways.”

Many of the contaminants that prompt fish advisories in Delaware are “legacy pollutants” – chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the banned insecticide DDT, and dioxins and furans that were released into waterways in significant quantities in the past. These legacy pollutants are slow to break down in the environment and can accumulate in fish and in bottom sediments of lakes, streams and estuaries.

The improvements in consumption advisories are largely the result of declining PCB concentrations in fish. Tidal areas of the Christina and Brandywine Rivers and Shellpot Creek, historically some of the most contaminated areas in the state, have shown decreases of PCB concentrations of 50 to 60 percent in the last eight years. The reduction in PCB levels is attributed to several efforts, including state-of-the-science testing to identify, prioritize, and control remaining sources of contaminants and to innovative clean-up strategies, including adding activated carbon and quicklime to sediments that bind contaminants and limit their transfer to the water and fish. In addition, DNREC and its partners, including the Delaware River Basin Commission, New Castle County Special Services, the City of Wilmington, state environmental agencies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and industrial facilities, have been working cooperatively on strategies and projects that implement the Delaware Estuary total maximum daily load (TMDL) pollution limits, since first established in 2003.

The latest advisories encompass New Castle County waterways and include:

Tidal Christina River. The advisory for the Tidal Christina River between Smalley’s Dam (near Christiana) to the Delaware River was updated to less-restrictive advice that includes two areas:

• Area upstream of the Peterson Wildlife Refuge to Smalleys Dam. Less restrictive advisory:
  The current advice of “eat no fish” caught from this area has been revised to “eat no more than 12 eight-ounce meals of fish per year.” The advice also applies to Nonesuch Creek, a tidal tributary of the Christina. This increase in allowable fish consumption is significant and can be attributed to improved water quality flowing from the non-tidal portion of the Christina River into the upper tidal portion of the River. PCBs are the primary contaminant of concern.
• Area between the Peterson Wildlife Refuge downstream to where the Christina River empties into the Delaware River. Less restrictive advisory:
  For the general adult population, the current advice of “eat no fish” has been updated to “eat no more than one eight-ounce meal of fish per year.” The modest easing of the advice is largely attributed to falling concentrations of PCBs – approximately 50 percent from 2007 to 2015. The new advice for this area is consistent with the tidal Delaware River, into which the Christina River flows. Despite improvements in PCBs, they remain the primary contaminant of concern.

Non-Tidal Christina River. Less restrictive advisory:

The non-tidal Christina River runs from its headwaters north and west of Newark downstream to Smalleys Dam. The existing advice of “eat no more than six eight-ounce meals of fish” has been doubled to “eat no more than 12 meals per year.” The single contaminant of concern is Dieldrin, a chemical that was used in the past as an insecticide for termite control. PCBs and chlordane are no longer contaminants of concern.

Little Mill Creek. Less restrictive advisory:

A tributary of the Christina River, Little Mill Creek’s headwaters are in Greenville. The Creek flows southward through Elsmere, Canby Park, and the Peterson Wildlife Refuge and empties into the tidal Christina south of Wilmington.

The existing fish consumption advisory is to “eat no fish.” New data and assessment found that the current advice can be less stringent and has been revised to “eat one eight-ounce meal of fish per year.” The chemicals of concern include PCBs and chlorinated pesticides. Revising the advisory to “one meal per year” is consistent with the recommended advice for the lower reach of the tidal Christina into which the Little Mill Creek flows.

Tidal Brandywine River. Less restrictive advisory:

The Brandywine River is the largest tributary of the Christina River. The tidal Brandywine covers the area between Baynard Boulevard in Wilmington downstream to its confluence with the Christina River.

The existing fish consumption advisory is to “eat no fish.” The advice is being increased to “eat no more than two eight-ounce meals of fish per year.” The primary chemical of concern continues to be PCBs, however, PCB concentrations in fish have dropped significantly – approximately 59 percent from 2007 to 2015. The reduction is the result of steady cleanup efforts at the Amtrak former fueling facility in Wilmington and other projects. DNREC and the EPA are working with Amtrak on a plan to fully remediate the site, with the goal of further easing the fish advisory in the future.

Non-Tidal Brandywine. No change in existing advisory:

The non-tidal Brandywine runs from the Delaware/Pennsylvania state line to the head of tide near Baynard Boulevard in Wilmington. The data and assessment supports keeping the existing advice to “eat no more than six eight-ounce meals of fish per year.”

Tidal White Clay Creek. Less restrictive advisory:

The lower three miles of the White Clay Creek are tidal between the mouth of the creek and Route 4 in Stanton. Hershey Run, which has a history of contamination, flows into the tidal White Clay Creek. The advisory was updated from “eat no fish” to “eat no more than one eight-ounce meal of fish per year.” PCBs remain the primary contaminant of concern.

Non-Tidal White Clay Creek. No change in existing advisory:

The non-tidal White Clay Creek originates in Chester County, Pennsylvania and flows into Delaware north of the City of Newark. The existing advice of “eat no more than 12 eight-ounce meals of fish per year” is being retained and the primary contaminant continues to be PCBs.

Red Clay Creek. More restrictive advisory:

The Red Clay Creek, which has a long history of contamination in Pennsylvania and Delaware, flows into Delaware south of Kennett Square, Pa. and north of Yorklyn, Del. New data and assessment found that the recommended meal advice needs to be more stringent – from “eat no more than six meals per year” to “eat no more than three meals per year.” PCBs and dioxins and furans are retained as contaminants of concern and chlorinated pesticides added.

In recent years, fish caught near the Pennsylvania/Delaware state line have shown an increase in the concentration of the banned insecticide, DDT, and its breakdown products, suggesting the source or sources of this contamination may be in Pennsylvania. DNREC and environmental officials in Pennsylvania are working cooperatively to assess and control the contamination. Follow-up actions will include sampling areas for contamination to confirm that sources are being controlled.

Shellpot Creek. The headwaters of Shellpot Creek are located near Talleyville and its outlet is in the far eastern portion of Wilmington, just north of the Cherry Island landfill. The advisory was updated to less-restrictive advice that includes two areas:

• Upstream of Governor Printz Boulevard. Less restrictive advisory:
  The current advice of “eat not more than one eight-ounce meal of fish per year” has been revised to “eat not more than two eight-ounce meals per year.” The contaminant of concern is Dieldrin and its presence in the creek upstream of Governor Printz Boulevard is likely the result of heavy usage of Dieldrin in the past, primarily as an insecticide to control termites.
• Downstream of Governor Printz Boulevard. Less restrictive advisory:
  The current advice of “eat no fish” has been revised to “eat no more than one eight-ounce meal of fish per year.” Although PCBs continue to be the primary chemical of concern, concentrations of PCBs have dropped significantly in waters downstream of Governor Printz Boulevard, a result of less pollution entering the Creek and improvements in the Delaware River.

In addition to the advisories mentioned above, DNREC and DHSS remind the public of the general statewide fish consumption advisory issued in 2007:

• Eat no more than one meal per week of any fish caught in Delaware’s fresh, estuarine and marine waters. This advisory applies to all waters and fish species not otherwise explicitly covered by an advisory.

The statewide advisory is issued in an abundance of caution to protect against eating large amounts of fish or fish that have not been tested, or that may contain unidentified chemical contaminants. Delaware issues more stringent advice for specific waters when justified by the data. One meal is defined as an eight-ounce serving for adults and a three-ounce serving for children.

People who choose to eat fish caught in Delaware waters in spite of the consumption advisories can take steps to reduce exposure. Contaminants tend to concentrate in the fatty tissue, so proper cleaning and cooking techniques can significantly reduce levels of PCBs, dioxins, chlorinated pesticides and other organic chemicals. Larger fish tend to have higher concentrations. To reduce the amount of chemical contaminants being consumed:

• Remove all skin
• Slice off fat belly meat along the bottom of the fish
• Cut away any fat above the fish’s backbone
• Cut away the V-shaped wedge of fat along the lateral line on each side of the fish
• Bake or broil trimmed fish on a rack or grill so some of the remaining fat drips away
• Discard any drippings; do not eat drippings or use them for cooking other foods.

However, consumers are cautioned that these techniques will not reduce or remove unsafe levels of mercury from fish.

A chart which shows all fish consumption advisories for Delaware waters, including the revised advisories issued today, can be found on DNREC’s web site. The revised advisories will be reflected in the 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide available at tackle shops and fishing license dealers.

For more information, contact Dr. Richard Greene, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, 302-739-9939.

Visit the following U.S. government websites for information on federal fish consumption advisories, on mercury in fish and shellfish, and on how to safely select and serve fresh and frozen fish.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
  www.epa.gov/ost/fish
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration:
  http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm110591.htm
  http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/BuyStoreServeSafeFood/ucm077331.htm

Media Contacts:

• DNREC: Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902, Melanie.Rapp@delaware.gov
• DHSS: Rita Landgraf, Secretary; Jill Fredel, Director of Communications, 302-255-9047,
  Pager 302-357-7498, Email: jill.fredel@delaware.gov

Vol. 46, No. 209

Reminder for the week: Paddle boards are vessels – and boating regulations apply

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between May 23-29 made 3,450 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 659 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 109 complaints and issued 87 citations, 12 of which were related to the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail, where there is an increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence.

Incidents of note:

• On May 29, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Andrey Pristatskiy, 38, of Philadelphia, for crab pot tampering and no fishing license in Little Assawoman Bay. Pristatskiy was fined $272, including court costs.
• On May 28, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, following a routine safety check, cited Jeremy S. Halter, 44, of Odessa, for one count each of operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (OUI), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets and no throwable life preserver aboard as required for vessels 16 feet long or longer, in the Delaware River south of Augustine Beach. Halter was released pending a mandatory appearance in Justice of the Peace Court 9 in Middletown.
• On May 27, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Michael P. McKinley, 53, of Newark, for one count each of inattentive operation of a vessel and operating an unregistered vessel following an investigation into a boating accident in which a 53-foot vessel ran aground on the north shore of the C&D Canal. McKinley was fined $214, including court costs. No injuries were reported.
• On May 23, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Mikel A. Couch, 22, of Newark, for one count each of possession of marijuana, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area and damaging state property on a wildlife area in connection with an incident in which a vehicle got stuck off-road in the dog training area of the C&D Canal Conservation Area. Couch was issued a mandatory appearance in Justice of the Peace Court 9 in Middletown, and then taken to the Kent County Court of Common Pleas, where he was wanted on cash-only bail for an unrelated warrant. A passenger in the vehicle, Elias R. Cruz, 19, of Clayton, N.C., was charged with possession of marijuana and fined $131, including court costs.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1)*, and damaging state property on a wildlife area (1)*.

Fisheries Conservation: Unlicensed fishing (25), possession of undersized blue crabs (4), tending more than the limit of two recreational crab pots (1), improperly marked recreational crab pot (1), crab pot tampering (1), possession of undersized white perch (5), and possession of undersized summer flounder (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol/OUI (1), inattentive operation of a vessel (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (16), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (5), no throwable life preserver aboard as required for vessels 16 feet long or longer (1), non-serviceable life jacket (1), failure to observe slow-no-wake zone (5), no boating education certificate (8), no sound-producing device on board (2), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (1), and operating an unregistered vessel (2).

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana (2)*, operating a motor vehicle without insurance (1)*, and parking in a no stopping/no standing zone (1).

* Citations issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area, along with unlicensed fishing (3), and possession of undersized white perch (4).

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind paddle boarders – especially those new to the increasingly popular sport – to review Delaware’s boating laws and regulations and how they apply to paddle boards before heading out on the waterways.

In recent years, the sport of paddle boarding has grown immensely in popularity in Delaware. Paddle boarders can often be seen on many of Delaware’s waterways throughout the summertime.

So just what is a paddle board? A paddle board is configured similarly to a surfboard, but is usually longer and thicker. The operator of a paddle board stands upright on the board and propels it through the water using a long paddle.

The United States Coast Guard and the State of Delaware recognize a paddle board as a vessel when operated outside the confines of a surfing or swimming area. Therefore, many of the same vessel requirements for personal flotation devices, visual distress signals, sound producing devices and the use of a navigational light during low light conditions apply when paddle boards are operated in Delaware waters.

A paddle board less than 16 feet in length** must meet the following safety equipment requirements when operated in Delaware waters:

• All paddle boarders must have a United States Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board.
• Any child age 12 and younger must wear a USCG-approved life jacket at all times while on a paddle board.
• Paddle boarders must carry a whistle, horn or some other sounding device capable of making an efficient sound signal.
• When operating between the hours of sunset and sunrise, paddle boarders must carry a visual distress signal – an electric distress light or flares – suitable for night use. This applies to all boards operated on coastal waters and directly-connected waters (bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc.) which are two miles wide or wider.
• When operating between the hours of sunset and sunrise, a paddle boarder also must have an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light ready at hand for use as a navigation light, which must be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

**Paddle boards longer than 16 feet may have additional safety requirements.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, including more details on life jackets and other safety equipment, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Delaware_Boating_Safety.

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. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Media Contacts: Sgt. John McDerby, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 207

DOVER – Delaware’s month-long spring turkey season, which ended May 7, yielded 706 birds – a new state record, surpassing the previous record of 687 in 2014, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today. Delaware allows only the harvest of turkeys with beards – almost always males – during the spring season, the only time of year turkeys may be hunted here.

“The recovery of the wild turkey in Delaware is a remarkable conservation success, made possible by the stewardship of hunters and the Delaware Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis. “Such stewardship includes the Division using hunting license revenues and federal funds derived from the purchase of hunting equipment to restore and sustain the state’s wild turkey population, which helped establish the sport of turkey hunting in Delaware.”

“The turkey harvest really started climbing in 2005, and we have experienced a five-fold increase in harvest over the last decade,” said Joe Rogerson, Division of Fish & Wildlife biologist and program manager with Species Conservation and Research. “The growing popularity of turkey hunting combined with a robust turkey population and abundant habitat has provided a fantastic spring hunting opportunity.”

Highlights of the 2016 season included the harvest of 36 “non-typical” turkeys, consisting of gobblers with more than one beard and one turkey with two spurs on each of its legs. Since Delaware opened turkey hunting in 1991, this was the first turkey harvested in Delaware that had multiple spurs on a leg, as nearly all male turkeys have one spur on each leg. Of the birds with multiple beards, the majority – 36 – had two beards, 10 had three beards and three had four beards.

Birds were harvested in 17 of 18 wildlife management zones. Three zones stood out as turkey “hot spots” – zones 4 and 6 in western Kent County, and zone 11 between Seaford and Georgetown in Sussex County – accounting for 38 percent of the total statewide harvest. Zone 1A, which is in New Castle County north of I-95/295, was the only zone where no birds were harvested.

This year, nearly nine out of 10 birds harvested in Delaware came from private land – 86.3 percent of the 706 turkeys harvested. Hunters also were successful on public lands, with 92 birds bagged. Quality hunting opportunities on public land were available statewide as evidenced by turkeys being harvested from 20 different public land areas.

For hunters planning ahead, the 2017 wild turkey season will start Saturday, April 8 and run through Saturday, May 6, with the special youth and disabled hunter day set for Saturday, April 1. Also, before hunting wild turkeys in Delaware, hunters are required to take a turkey hunter education class. For more information, go to Delaware Hunter Education Courses.

In addition to setting overall turkey harvest records, Delaware hunters also harvested a record 14,681 deer during the 2015/16 hunting season.

“To set records for the overall harvest of both deer and turkeys during the same hunting season is certainly a testament to effective wildlife management and the great opportunities available to hunters for these two important game species,” Rogerson said.

For more information on wild turkeys in Delaware, please contact Joe Rogerson, Division of Fish & Wildlife, at 302-735-3600.

The wild turkey: A Delaware conservation success story
Beginning in early 1984, with support from the National Wild Turkey Federation, DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists released 34 wild-trapped turkeys from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Vermont into Sussex and Kent counties. Reintroductions continued through the 1990s, and once the population had established a foothold in Delaware, a hunting season was opened in 1991. Today, Delaware has a healthy statewide population estimated at 6,000 birds.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 205