DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife announces this year’s check stations

DOVER – Delaware’s spring turkey hunting season opens Saturday, April 9, and runs through Saturday, May 7, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today. Hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Hunters are reminded that only bearded birds may be taken, and that all harvested birds must be checked at an authorized turkey check station by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt. Bag limit is one bearded bird per turkey hunter per year.

Hunters must have successfully completed a mandatory turkey education class before they can legally hunt wild turkeys in Delaware. Turkey hunters also are required to carry their Hunter Education/Turkey Education card certifying successful completion of the mandatory turkey course.

Hunting on public lands, including state forest lands, is by preseason lottery permit only. Hunters must carry their public lands permit while hunting and may only hunt the designated area and season segment/dates specified in the permit.

DNREC Hunter Education Coordinator Mark Ostroski offered some tips for a safe and successful hunt. “A successful turkey hunt depends on many factors, including skill, careful preparation and attention to safety details,” he said. “Hunters should be sure to pattern their gun, because knowing where and how your gun shoots can be the difference between failure and success at bagging that big gobbler.”

Ostroski noted that hunters also should remember these important safety practices:

• Take time to identify your target and what lies beyond;
• It is illegal and unsafe to wear clothing that includes the colors red, blue, black or white while turkey hunting;
• Never stalk a wild turkey; and
• Do not imitate the male gobbling call while trying to attract another gobbler.

The wild turkey remains one of Delaware’s top wildlife restoration successes after being on the verge of extinction by the early 20th century. In the early 1980s, the Division of Fish & Wildlife partnered with the Delaware chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Delaware Wild Lands to reestablish a wild turkey population in the state. By 1991, the population had grown large enough to permit opening a wild turkey hunting season, and the big birds continue to thrive and multiply.

Last year, 633 birds were harvested, the second highest record to date and only 54 fewer turkeys than the previous seasons harvest of 687. “Over the past four seasons, hunters have harvested more than 600 turkeys each season, which can be attributed to the growing popularity of spring turkey hunting and a healthy turkey population,” said Wildlife Biologist Joe Rogerson.

Authorized turkey check stations for 2016 will be available at the following locations:

New Castle County*

• Ommelanden Hunter Education and Training Center
  1205 River Rd, New Castle, DE 19720
  302-323-5333

*Note: On page 31 of the of the 2015/16 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide, Master Baiters Bait and Tackle in New Castle, is listed as a 2016 Delaware Turkey Check Station, but they will not be participating this season.

Kent County

• McKay Wildlife and Hunter Education Field Office
  6180 Hay Point Landing Road, Smyrna, DE 19977
  (Intersection of Route 9/Shorts Landing Road)
  302-735-3600
• Little Creek Wildlife Area Check Station
  Route 9/Bayside Drive͕, Little Creek, DE 19961
  (Just south of the Town of Little Creek)
  302-739-4610
• Williamsville Store
  3544 Williamsville Road, Houston, DE 19954
  (Intersection of Deep Grass Lane and Williamsville Road)
  302-424-2277
• First State Sporting Goods
  825 Halltown Road, Marydel, DE 19964
  302-343-9696
• Miller’s Butcher Shop
  577 Morgans Choice Road, Wyoming, DE 19934
  302-697-8278
• LP Sports Center
  1 East Street, Spartan Plaza, Harrington, DE 19952
  302-398-6373
• Delmarva Speed & Sport
  689 Warner Road, Milford, DE 19963
  302-424-1179

Sussex County

• Wildlife Recreations
  9641 Tharp Road, Seaford, DE 19973
  302-629-4524
• Hook ‘Em & Cook ‘Em
  3444 Coastal Highway, Unit 3, Bethany Beach, DE 19930
  302-539-6243
• That Place
  30618 Millsboro Highway, Millsboro, DE 19966
  302-934-9260
• Bucks and Ducks Sports Center
  14882 Hardscrabble Road, Seaford, DE 19973
  302-875-5600
• Kelly’s Outdoors
  29920 John J. Williams Highway, Millsboro, DE 19966
  302-934-7517

NOTE: The list of check stations is subject to change without notice. Visit Hunting Information after April 1 for any changes before the season begins. Check station hours may vary, so hunters are advised to call the station where they are likely to check a bird to confirm the hours of operation. Hunters who want to have their bird scored and entered into the National Wild Turkey Federation records are reminded to have their bird’s live weight recorded on a certified scale. If the check station does not have a certified scale, hunters will be directed to another station to have the turkey re-weighed.

Most hunters are required to have a Delaware hunting license. Hunting licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

To hunt wild turkeys on public land in Delaware, hunters must enter a lottery from which public lands permits are drawn. Delaware’s wild turkey season is broken down into four week-long segments, this year spanning April 9-May 7. Turkey hunters are drawn via the lottery system and issued a permit that enables them to hunt a designated public land area, such as the C&D Canal Conservation Area or Redden State Forest, for example, during a specified one-week segment.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, including the application for the public land permit lottery and information about turkey season segments, click on 2015-2016 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. For more information about public lands that allow turkey hunting, click Wildlife Area Hunting Maps or State Forest Maps.

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

Vol. 46, No. 94

DOVER – DNREC’s Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails Program, formerly known as the Delaware Land & Water Conservation Trust Fund, has awarded $1.29 million to 14 parks and trails projects throughout the state, the department announced today.

“Parks and trails are an essential component of the fabric of our communities, contributing to our quality of life and our appreciation of the natural world,” said Governor Jack Markell. “Building new parks and trails or adding to those we have is a good investment both now and in the future. It means recreational opportunities and health benefits, and enhances the appeal of our communities as good places to live and raise our families, while making our state an even more attractive destination for visitors.”

“For nearly 30 years, the Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails grant program has supported many of Delaware’s municipalities as well as county government and state agencies by helping fund projects that enhance residents’ quality of life and their enjoyment of nature and recreational activities,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “These grants continue that tradition, from projects such as the Town of Millville’s first public park to a new playground specially designed for children with autism and special needs at Glasgow Regional Park near Newark, to several additions and improvements to trails throughout the state.”

Of the seven park projects receiving grants, five involve replacing or upgrading playground equipment. The two largest grants were awarded to the Town of Millville to purchase property for the Sussex municipality’s first public park, and to New Castle County’s Glasgow Regional Park to design and build a new playground geared towards children with autism and special needs.

Millville, a 110-year-old town of just under 600 residents located west of Bethany Beach, purchased 4.9 acres to construct a park. Plans for the park include two playgrounds geared to ages 2-5 and 6-12, a fitness trail, a small community center, community garden and a fitness challenge course including an obstacle course and 40-yard dash with timer.

Glasgow Regional Park is a 300-acre park south of Newark on Route 40 that currently features a skate park with rails, steps and bowls; basketball and tennis courts; bark park areas for small and large dogs; four pavilions; a 2.75-mile walking trail; a stocked fishing pond, a sledding hill, and a large ADA-accessible playground with activities for ages 2-15.

Designed with input from Delaware autism groups and extensive research by New Castle County parks staff, the new half-acre playground area for children of all ages with special needs will be fully enclosed on a base of primarily artificial turf. Areas are specially designed for individual and group play, with emphasis on developing motor skills and providing sensory experiences. Pathways and seating for parents are included, along with special quiet areas for children who prefer more solitary participation, naturalized planted areas for play and a polished stainless steel sphere as a centerpiece to reflect faces and fun.

The seven trail projects receiving grants include the City of Milford’s project to construct an education pavilion and three nature overlooks along the city’s Gary L. Emory Nature Trail on Goat Island. Other projects include a bridge over White Clay Creek in Newark’s Curtis Mill Park; design for a boardwalk and elevated observation area on Slaughter Beach’s Marvel Saltmarsh Preserve; a multi-use concrete path through the City of Dover’s Mallard Pond Park to the new Dover High School, and a restroom and other amenities for the City of Lewes’ trailhead.

A complete list of the parks and trails projects that have received 2015 Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails Program grants is included below.

2015 Grant Awards through the Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Trails Program

Grants awarded to Parks:

• New Castle County, Glasgow Regional Park – design/construction of new playground for children with autism and special needs, $200,000
• Village of Arden – construct a mound slide, $8,000
• City of Delaware City, 4th Street Park and 7th Street Park – replace playground equipment, $53,895
• City of Dover, Mallard Pond Park – new playground equipment, $31,350
• Town of Ellendale, Ellendale Town Park – replace playground equipment, $20,000
• Town of Millville – acquire 4.9 acres on Dukes Drive for the town’s first public park, $200,000
• Town of Fenwick Island, Fenwick Island Community Park – new playground equipment, $21,293

Grants awarded to trails:

• New Castle County, Jester Park – design and construct a one-mile paved perimeter trail with community connections, $275,000
• City of Newark, Curtis Mill Park – design and construct a bridge over White Clay Creek near Paper Mill Road, $200,000
• City of Dover, Mallard Pond Park – construct a multi-use concrete path to provide a safe route to the new Dover High School, $50,000
• Sussex County, James Farm Ecological Preserve – design, engineering and permitting work for parking, trails and signage improvements, $37,500
• City of Milford, Goat Island – construct an education pavilion and three nature overlooks along the trail, $50,000
• Town of Slaughter Beach, Marvel Saltmarsh Preserve – design a boardwalk and elevated observation area on Delaware Nature Society property, $17,750
• City of Lewes, Lewes Trailhead – design and construct a restroom, pathways and amenities, $125,000

The Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails Program formerly known as the Delaware Land & Water Conservation Trust Fund as created by the Delaware General Assembly, is a grant program assisting local governments in public park land acquisition and outdoor recreation facility development. Eligible recipients are municipalities, counties, park districts and state agencies. Since the first grants were awarded in 1988, the program has assisted 44 of 57 municipalities, three counties, one park district and state agencies, resulting in 320 completed projects involving parkland acquisition, planning and development. The grant program has provided more than $27 million to these projects, leveraging $51 million in local and other eligible investments. These open spaces provide close-to-home outdoor recreation opportunities, gathering places for public events, activities and programs and directly conserve Delaware’s natural and cultural resources. Lands purchased or developed with assistance from the program must remain public parkland in perpetuity.

For more information about the Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails Program, formerly known as the Delaware Land & Water Conservation Trust Fund, please visit Delaware State Parks/Outdoor Recreation Grants.

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

Vol. 46, No. 90

Alternate approach to proposed conservation access pass to be considered

DOVER – The Delaware Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish will consider an alternate approach to the proposed conservation access pass that will be presented by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife at the council’s next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 at DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. The previously proposed conservation access pass approach was developed with extensive public and council input to establish a fee for accessing state wildlife areas.

Agenda items include:

• Approval of minutes
• Migratory game bird seasons review and approval (for 2016/2017 season)
• Future council meeting schedule – date and time
• Tundra swan hunting (season consideration)
• Bobwhite quail season extension (of existing hunting season)
• Proposed conservation access pass – alternate approach
• Division of Fish & Wildlife director’s update

In January, the Division of Fish & Wildlife held a series of public workshops on wildlife program services and associated revenues that included discussion of increasing hunting and trapping license fees and establishing a conservation access pass and associated fee for admission to state wildlife areas. At its January meeting, the wildlife advisory council considered and approved these changes. Any license fee increases or new fees require approval of the Delaware General Assembly before becoming effective.

For more information, please contact the Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912.

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

Vol. 46, No. 89

DOVER – DNREC is proceeding with a Statewide Activity Approval permitting process that would enable the start-up of limited commercial shellfish aquaculture in Delaware’s Inland Bays by authorizing the permitting of activities in specifically-designated areas intended to help improve water quality and provide new business opportunities.

DNREC Secretary David Small said the Statewide Activity Approval (SAA) is the final step that DNREC needs to complete before it can begin accepting applications from aquaculturalists seeking to lease lands for their operations. “The SAA process is designed to help bring more certainty to applicants and the public through the use of maps that identify areas that are appropriate for aquaculture operations,” Sec. Small said. “The Inland Bays are some of the most intensively used waterways in the region and the areas that have been selected represent locations intended to support shellfish aquaculture compatible with boaters and property owners.”

He noted that the Statewide Activity Approval also enabled DNREC to address the concerns of residents that came to light after the state’s shellfish aquaculture regulations had been adopted. “Likewise, we believe that enough shellfish aquaculture areas will be authorized through the SAA process to give the industry a chance to establish itself,” Sec. Small said.

The number of areas now being proposed for SAAs has been reduced from the areas originally adopted as part of the regulations that provide for program oversight. Specifically, areas in Beach Cove will not be subject to the SAA process and the number of sites in Little Assawoman Bay has been reduced. “We feel this approach gives consideration to property owners who had concerns about aquaculture in their area and also considered permitting for aquaculturists – who now have a more efficient and expedient approach through the SAA for establishing their operations.”

DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis, whose division has regulatory purview for shellfish aquaculture, recently wrote in the SAA application that “The Fisheries Section is hereby requesting that the Division of Water, Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section establish a Statewide Activity Approval (SAA) to facilitate the issuance of permits for commercial shellfish aquaculture activities on public subaqueous lands in Delaware’s Inland Bays to be leased pursuant to 7 DE Admin Code 3800 Shellfish Aquaculture” – the regulation that calls for implementing a commercial aquaculture program in Delaware. DNREC’s Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section is charged with oversight for any Department decision that involves use of subaqueous lands.

The impetus for Delaware’s aquaculture initiative originated with the Center for the Inland Bays, which assembled a team of interested parties that developed a program framework and recommendations that led to enabling legislation. As oysters also filter high volumes of water, they also are catalysts for improving water quality, as they eat hundreds of microscopic species that live in water, while also consuming nitrogen pollution, algae, dirt and other detrimental elements to better water quality.

DNREC also has applied for an expedited federal permit process from the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is needed before it can begin accepting applications for leases in designated shellfish aquaculture areas. Maps of the shellfish aquaculture areas as delineated by the Statewide Activity Approval permit can be found on the DNREC website on the SAA Shellfish Aquaculture Package at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries/Pages/ShellfishAquaculture.aspx.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 91

DOVER – Prior to the start of Delaware’s 2016 spring wild turkey season, youth ages 10-15 and non-ambulatory disabled hunters will have a special one-day turkey hunt opportunity on Saturday, April 2, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today. Youth and disabled hunters will be able to hunt wild turkeys on private property, state wildlife areas and state forest lands.

Hunters ages 13-15 must have a valid Delaware junior hunting license and must have completed a hunter education course, as well as a Division of Fish & Wildlife-approved turkey education class. Hunters age 10-12 are exempt from these requirements. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older who is licensed to hunt in Delaware, and who has taken a Division of Fish & Wildlife-approved turkey education class. Adult companions may not possess a firearm during the hunt. For more information on hunter education classes, click Delaware Hunter Education.

As with the regular turkey hunting season, hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. All birds taken must be checked by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt at an authorized turkey check station. A list of 2016 check stations can be found online at Hunting Information. The bag limit for all turkey hunters is one bearded bird per year; birds without beards may not be taken.

All state wildlife areas normally open for hunting during the regular turkey season are also open for the youth/non-ambulatory disabled turkey hunt. No special turkey hunting permits are required for hunting on state wildlife areas on this day. Areas are open on a first-come, first-served basis with no registration required. For wildlife area-specific regulations, click Delaware Hunting Maps.

All state forest lands that are open during the regular turkey season will be open for the special hunt, including Redden State Forest, Blackbird State Forest and Taber State Forest. For specific areas, check Forest Maps. For more information, call one of these state forest offices: Redden State Forest, 302-856-2893; Blackbird State Forest, 302-653-6505; and Taber State Forest, 302-698-4549.

For more information, including a list of eligible public lands, consult the Wild Turkey Hunting Section on page 26 of the 2015-2016 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. Hard copies of the guide are available at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and from license agents statewide.

Delaware hunting licenses are sold online, at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

Delaware’s regular spring turkey hunting season opens on Saturday, April 9 and runs through Saturday, May 7.

This program is part of Delaware’s Children in Nature Initiative, a statewide effort to improve environmental literacy in Delaware, create opportunities for children to participate in enriching outdoor experiences, combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. Delaware’s multi-agency initiative, which partners state and federal agencies with community organizations, is part of the national No Child Left Inside program.

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

Vol. 46, No. 88