Reminder for the week: Wildlife, fishing, boating area visitors asked to respect natural resources

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 Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Feb. 15-21 made 1,067 contacts with anglers, boaters, hunters and the general public, including 18 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 31 complaints and issued four citations, three 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.

Citations issued this week by offense category included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses:

Wildlife Conservation: Failure to tag antlered deer (1), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (2)*, and damaging state property on a state wildlife area (1)*.

* Citations issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

Are you AWARE?
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind visitors to state wildlife areas, fishing piers and boat launching facilities that these areas are closed to the public from sunset to sunrise unless a person is actively and lawfully engaged in fishing, hunting or boating in accordance with state regulations and individual wildlife area rules. Individuals not meeting these requirements who are found in these areas between sunset and sunrise face fines up to $100 for trespassing after hours.

Wildlife area visitors also are reminded that it is illegal to operate motor vehicles – including motorcycles, cars, trucks and SUVs – off established roadways in state wildlife areas. Violators found to have caused damage also will be cited for destruction of state property. In addition, operating a motor vehicle that is not licensed for use on established public roadways – including ATVs – is prohibited both on and off-road on state wildlife areas.

“With recent heavy rains and changing temperatures, the ground is especially vulnerable to damage from vehicles operating off-road,” said Sgt. John McDerby of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “Doing ‘donuts’ or four-wheeling in wildlife areas is irresponsible and illegal behavior that damages essential wildlife habitat, as well as generating unnecessary work and expense to repair the damage.”

Other noteworthy general rules and regulations to remember include:

• Camping, swimming, fires, target shooting (including paintball) and dumping or littering are prohibited in state wildlife areas.
• Dog training is permitted only within established dog training areas or during open hunting seasons for the game animals that the dog is being trained to hunt.
• Hunting is permitted only in specified areas and only during designated hunting seasons.
• Firearms are prohibited on state wildlife areas from March 1 to Aug. 31, except during legal hunting seasons or as authorized by the Division of Fish & Wildlife.
• All state wildlife areas are designated carry-in, carry-out for trash.

For more information on individual wildlife areas, including the rules and regulations specific to each wildlife area, wildlife area visitors are encouraged to check out Delaware wildlife area maps. These maps are available in hard copy at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps.

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: Cpl. 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. 60

DOVER – A partly cloudy and unseasonably warm Saturday, Feb. 20 seemed to fishing buddies Andrew “A.J.” Klein and Joe Lattis of New Castle a great day to cast a line, so they headed downstate to launch Lattis’ boat on Wagamons Ponds near Milton. Four hours later, their efforts had yielded only a couple of smaller fish, and they were preparing to pack up and go elsewhere when Klein made one last, fateful cast into what he would later recall as the pond’s surprisingly clear water for the time of year.

The treble-hook on Klein’s new spinnerbait caught on what he thought to be either bottom or structure, but it soon became obvious that something big at the end of his line was making a run on him. “It was a very subtle hit. I set the hook and thought I was snagged,” Klein said, “and then it just took off – it was crazy!”

After a brief but intense tussle, Klein reeled in a new state record largemouth bass – an 11-pound, 1.6-ounce lunker 27 inches long with 20.5-inch girth, as measured at Bill’s Sport Shop in Lewes and certified by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Sgt. Troy Trimmer.

Klein, for whom fishing has become a serious hobby the last year and a half, was quick to credit his fishing buddy and mentor Lattis, a seasoned angler, for helping him not only land the trophy but also to secure his prized catch in a water-filled container for the trip to Lewes. “He’s a great fisherman, and he’s caught a lot of big fish,” Klein said.

Their gentle handling of the new record largemouth through the certification process proved later to be of importance to the two anglers and Delaware’s freshwater fishing community. After the excitement from having it certified had subsided, they took the big bass back to Wagamons, where Klein released it back into the water, alive and well. “I watched it swim away,” Klein said, noting that they fished two other areas that afternoon before calling it a day. “It was an awesome day. Nothing could dampen our mood.”

Fisheries Administrator John Clark applauded Klein’s good sportsmanship in releasing his record catch. “We encourage catch-and-release fishing in Delaware, especially with larger fish like this one,” Clark said. “Not only will this fish be back out there for other anglers to enjoy, it should also see another spawning season to pass on its good genes to another generation of largemouth bass and thereby improve our bass stock.”

The previous state record was set in 2012 – a 10-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass measuring 26 inches long and 18.75 inches in girth, also caught in Wagamons Pond, by James D. Hitchens of Georgetown, and which Mr. Hitchens also released back into the pond by the increasingly popular sporting gesture of catch-and-release of trophy fish.

For more information on state-record fish, both fresh and saltwater, please see the 2016 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and from license agents throughout the state.

The annual Delaware Sportfishing Tournament is sponsored by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife to promote recreational fishing opportunities and recognize anglers for outstanding catches in Delaware waters. The tournament’s origins date back to the late 1930s, when the Board of Game and Fish commissioners set up a state fishing contest to increase interest in fresh and saltwater fishing. Today’s tournament includes 14 freshwater categories and 29 saltwater categories, plus a live release award for conservation-minded anglers who choose to release their catches, unharmed, immediately after landing. Each species must meet a minimum weight or length (live release only) designated by the tournament director in order to receive recognition. For anglers who want to enter a big catch in the tournament, nearly 40 participating weigh stations are located throughout the state. For more information, including rules, species, record holders and participating weigh station locations, click Delaware Sportfishing Tournament or call DNREC Fisheries at 302-735-2960.

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

Vol. 46, No. 59

DOVER – The judges’ decisions are in, with five top entries chosen for the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s 2015/16 Delaware Hunting Photo Contest. First place was awarded to Lance Barrowcliff of Wilmington for “A Day to Remember,” featuring his brother, Brian Barrowcliff, and Brian’s four-year-old son Brody Barrowcliff waterfowl hunting with their dog Cocoa in Townsend. The second place winner was “Calling the Ducks In,” taken by Smyrna resident Paul Garcia, of his 10-year-old son Dominic Garcia waterfowl hunting at the Little Creek Wildlife Area in Little Creek.

Other entries receiving honorable mention were:

• “Setting up Dekes,” by Rob Hossler of Smyrna, featuring his 15-year-old daughter Laurel Hossler setting up waterfowl decoys at Augustine Wildlife Area near Port Penn.
• “Hunting Buddies,” taken by Paul Garcia, featuring his son Dominic and their hunting dog Cali waterfowl hunting at the Little Creek Wildlife Area in Little Creek.
• “Love Their Dog Daisy,” taken by Barbara Greer of Middletown, featuring her grandchildren Ryan and Lauren Greer with their dog Daisy waterfowl hunting near Middletown.

The winning photos will appear in the 2016/17 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The hunting guide will be available online, at the DNREC license desk in Dover, and at hunting license agents statewide in July 2016.

Three judges – Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis, and local photographers Tony Pratt and Freda Barrett, both DNREC employees – reviewed the entries and narrowed them to the top five. The contest specified that photographs must have been taken in Delaware. This year’s “Hunters in Action” theme carried a lot of photographic consideration from the judges in selecting winning entries.

“Our hunting photo contest theme was ‘Hunters in Action,’ and this year’s winner captures two generations of hunters sharing a goose hunt,” said Director Saveikis. “The Division’s annual hunting photo contest provides a great opportunity for hunters to capture and share their hunting experiences with other hunters.”

For more information about future Division of Fish & Wildlife photo contests, please visit http://de.gov/fwphotos, or contact Lynne Pusey at 302-735-3600, or email lynne.pusey@delaware.gov.

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

Vol. 46, No. 50

DOVER – Delaware hunters harvested 14,681 deer during the 2015/16 season – the highest number since the state’s first modern-day deer season was held in 1954 and harvest record-keeping began, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today. The total number of deer taken in Delaware this season topped the previous record of 14,669 set in 2004/05, and also eclipsed last season’s harvest of 14,269 deer which had been the second-highest on record.

“We anticipated that hunters would have a successful season this year due to overall favorable hunting conditions experienced during most of the season,” said Joe Rogerson, Division of Fish & Wildlife biologist.

During the 2015/16 season, hunters harvested more females than males, with 54.3 percent does (7,975) and 45.7 percent bucks (6,706) taken, he said. Antlerless deer – does, juvenile bucks without antlers known as button bucks, antlered bucks with antlers measuring less than three inches, and bucks that had already shed their antlers when harvested – represented 71.3 percent of the total harvest.

In addition to the new harvest record for Delaware, hunters helped establish several other harvest records during the past season:

• Sussex County: 7,960 deer harvested (Though not record-setting, New Castle County’s harvest totaled 2,548 while Kent County’s deer harvest was 4,173.)
• Adult does harvested in a single season: 6,869
• Antlered bucks taken: 4,218

“Many hunters enjoyed success this year as indicated by the total harvest as well as several other new records set, and we fully expect hunters to continue to enjoy Delaware’s deer hunting opportunities for years to come due to the sustainable deer population,” said Wildlife Section Administrator Rob Hossler. “As we continue to analyze the harvest data, we anticipate finding other harvest records that were broken this past season and will share those on our website when they become available.”

For more information about the Delaware deer harvest or any other deer-related issue, please contact Joe Rogerson at 302-735-3600, or visit the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Delaware Deer Information webpage.

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

Vol. 46, No. 55

Division of Fish & Wildlife to hold training workshops March 5 and 6

DOVER – Delaware’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is seeking volunteers to participate in this year’s Delaware Citizen Osprey Monitoring Program. Ospreys build distinctive nests on nesting platforms, utility and other tall poles or trees, the nests often prominently visible along many Delaware waterways, especially Sussex County’s Inland Bays. These majestic raptors depend on a healthy and abundant food supply, and since their diet consists primarily of fish, annually monitoring their population and activities statewide provides a good indication of water quality and the general health of Delaware’s waterways.

This year, the Division of Fish & Wildlife is merging Delaware’s Citizen Osprey Monitoring Program with OspreyWatch, a worldwide osprey monitoring program operated in the U.S. through the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) in Virginia. Volunteers will monitor osprey nesting activity at assigned nest sites throughout the breeding season, which lasts from mid-March through the end of August, and will enter their data online using the CCB OspreyWatch website.

For those interested in helping to collect osprey nesting data, the Division of Fish & Wildlife will hold two training workshops for volunteer osprey monitors:

• Saturday, March 5, 1-3 p.m. – Nature Center at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, located off Route 9 east of Smyrna at 2591 Whitehall Neck Road, Smyrna, DE 19977
• Sunday, March 6, 1-3 p.m. – DNREC Shoreline & Waterway Services Facility, 901 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958

Volunteers need attend only one of the training workshops.

Osprey populations throughout the United States suffered serious decline in the 1950s and 60s, largely due to the effects of DDT, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and other chemical contaminants. DDT and most PCB uses were banned in the 1970s, and – despite some residual contamination in the environment – osprey populations have recovered markedly. In the early 1990s, to assist their recovery, the Delmarva Ornithological Society partnered with the Division of Fish & Wildlife and other organizations and took the lead in constructing, installing, repairing and replacing osprey nesting platforms throughout the state.

Before 2003, the Division of Fish & Wildlife conducted osprey surveys in the Inland Bays and Nanticoke River areas where osprey populations were traditionally the highest. That year, statewide surveys began as a result of an increase in osprey sightings.

“Delaware’s osprey population is on the rise, so volunteer assistance with nest monitoring is definitely needed,” said Wildlife Biologist Kate Fleming of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Species Conservation and Research Program. “The contributions of our volunteer monitors allow us to document breeding activity and milestones that we wouldn’t be able to collect otherwise.”

Ospreys will become a common sight beginning around mid-March, with nesting pairs returning and starting to rebuild their nests. Veteran monitors anxiously await the first signs of the ospreys’ return to begin recording data at least every other week. Observers note osprey activities from nest building to the juveniles’ first flight to the departure of adults and juveniles in late summer.

“Ideally, volunteers should monitor nests near their work or home or be willing to drive to their monitored nest often,” Fleming said, noting they also need internet access to report their findings as well as to receive updates about the project and details about other nesting sites throughout the state. “We are so excited to be merging with the CCB program to help us improve our data management capabilities, and we expect it to be a lot more fun for the volunteers too.”

Volunteers who know of an existing nest that they would like to monitor are encouraged to bring location information with them to the osprey monitoring training workshop. Volunteers will be matched with nests via email the week following the training workshop. Nest assignments will be based on preferences provided at the training workshop.

Preregistration for the orientation is required. To preregister, or to find out more about volunteering for the Citizen Osprey Monitoring Program, please contact Vickie Henderson at 302-735-8657, or email Vickie.Henderson@delaware.gov. Information is also available by visiting Citizen Osprey Monitoring Program.

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

Vol. 46, No. 47