Additional Delaware Hunting Seasons Opening in October

A couple of participants in a Delaware youth waterfowl hunt head out from the duck blind to check their decoys.

Youth Waterfowl Hunt Set for Saturday, Oct. 16

Additional Delaware hunting seasons are set to open in October, including snow goose, duck, other migratory bird and firearm deer seasons, as well as the one-day, youth-only waterfowl hunt on Saturday, Oct. 16, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. Deer hunting is allowed on all Sundays through Jan. 31, 2022, using only those hunting methods legal for the respective established deer hunting seasons, with additional information available at de.gov/sundayhunt.

Hunting season dates opening in October:

Snow goose: Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, 2022; Feb. 5, 2022
Antlerless deer: Oct. 1 through 3, Oct. 18, Oct. 22 through 25 and Oct. 29 through 31, including Sundays
Muzzleloader deer: Oct. 8 through 17, including Sundays
Youth Waterfowl Hunt: Oct. 16
Ducks, coots and mergansers: first season split Oct. 22 through Nov. 1

Continuing hunting seasons include:

Mourning dove: through Oct. 4
Moorhen, gallinule, sora, Virginia rail, king rail and clapper rail: through Nov. 24
Common snipe: through Nov. 27
Archery and crossbow deer: through Jan. 31, 2022, including all Sundays
Gray squirrel: through Feb. 5, 2022 (closed during November shotgun deer season)
Coyote: through Feb. 28, 2022
Crows: through March 26, 2022 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only)
Groundhog: through June 30, 2022

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife offers many hunting opportunities on state wildlife areas. For more information, visit de.gov/wamaps.

A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is required to hunt, and most waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp. Migratory bird hunters, except crow hunters, also need a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, which can be obtained through the DNREC ePermitting website or by calling toll free 855-DEL-HUNT (855-335-4868). If using the DNREC ePermitting system, hunters should either create a profile or use the “Quick Hunting Registration” option.

Registered motor vehicles used to access designated wildlife areas owned or managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife are required to display a Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Hunters can opt to receive one free annual CAP with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license. To obtain a CAP, hunters will need the registration card for the vehicle to which the pass will be assigned.

Delaware hunting licenses, Delaware waterfowl stamps and Conservation Access Passes can be purchased online at de.gov/huntinglicense or from hunting license agents statewide. Hunters obtaining a LEN are reminded that they should create a profile using the DNREC ePermitting system portal or obtain a LEN at a hunting license agent if they have not already done so. Federal Duck Stamps can be purchased at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges, and online at 2021/2022 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.

Additional information on hunting seasons and wildlife areas is available in the 2021/2022 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide or by calling the Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. Information on hunting licenses, the state waterfowl stamp and the Conservation Access Pass is available at de.gov/huntinglicense or by calling the Recreational Licensing office at 302-739-9918.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov, or Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Renovated Garrisons Lake Boat Ramp Officially Open

With today’s ribbon cutting at Garrisons Lake near Smyrna, the fishing and boating public is officially invited to enjoy the popular angling destination with its newly-renovated concrete boat ramp and added amenities of a courtesy dock and freshly repaved parking lot. Managed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the new ramp can easily accommodate vessels from hand-launched jon boats to trailered bass boats up to 20 feet long.

Garrisons Lake is one of Delaware’s five most-fished ponds, with good populations of sunfish, largemouth bass and black crappie sport fish most frequently caught by anglers. The recreation spot south of Smyrna is also among the state’s top 10 most popular ponds and lakes for largemouth bass tournaments, attracting both local and out-of-state fishing clubs.

“DNREC’s public service mission includes providing and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities for Delawareans and visitors, as well as supporting local communities by providing facilities like this new boat ramp at Garrisons Lake,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Anglers have a good chance of catching a 4- or 5-pound bass here, so these renovations will enhance the lake’s appeal and popularity as a tournament destination as well as a great place to fish.”

The $353,700 project was funded by federal Sport Fish Restoration grants administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), combined with matching funds from Delaware recreational fishing license fees through the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. The federal funds come from fishing tackle excise taxes paid by recreational anglers and fuel taxes paid by boaters. The new facility replaces a deteriorated 30-plus-year-old boat ramp.

Other improvements made at Garrisons Lake in partnership with USFWS have included a nearly 140-foot-long, handicapped-accessible aluminum footbridge completed in 2012. The popular footbridge makes Garrisons Lake a safer and more accessible place to fish. Previously, anglers and visitors had to walk along the shoulder of a busy highway. The footbridge also provides safe and convenient fishing access to the spillway.

Garrisons Lake is one of 65 boating access areas managed and maintained by DNREC throughout the state.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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DNREC Seeks Entries for Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest

Snowy egrets engage each other on the water/Photo credit: Kimberly Barksdale.

Submissions This Year Focus on Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control invites photographers of all ages and skill levels to enter this year’s Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest. Hosted by the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, the contest aims to share the beauty of Delaware’s diverse environment while acting as a vivid reminder that everything that happens on land directly affects what happens in our waterways.

A watershed is all the land that water moves across or under while flowing to a specific body of water. Only images from Delaware’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed will be accepted this year. Contest judges will be looking for striking photographic images of Delaware’s waterways, landscapes, sustainable watershed practices, native plants and animals, and agricultural practices.

Registration for the Delaware Watersheds photo contest opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28. All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26. A judging panel consisting of DNREC staff — a photographer, an educator and an environmental scientist — will determine finalists whose entries are voted on at the Delaware Watersheds Facebook page. Facebook voting will pick the winning photograph.

The winning photographer will receive a prize pack consisting of a $250 Visa gift card, a Delaware State Parks Annual Pass for 2022, a signed certificate from Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, a print of the winning photograph, a feature published in Outdoor Delaware online magazine, and additional goodies.

To enter the Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest, participants should fill out the online submission form, which includes providing a description with the entrant’s name, phone number, address, email address, and the location where the image was taken. Those submitting photos will click on the map in the submission form or use their device’s GPS locator to show where the photo was taken within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A legal parent or guardian must complete the form for contestants under the age of 18. Images must be at least 1650 by 2100 pixels (but no larger than 10MB) resolution, and the digital image must be submitted in .jpeg or .png format. Only photos that meet the criteria, along with a completed form, will be accepted.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov, or Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and Trout Stamp Art Winners Announced

State Artist Claims 1st Prize in Trout Stamp Contest for Fourth Time

The results are in, and two artists have won top honors in Delaware’s Waterfowl Stamp and Trout Stamp art contests. A painting of a tundra swan by Broderick Crawford of Tiger, Ga., will grace the 2022/23 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp. In the 2022 Delaware Trout Stamp art contest, George Bradford of Georgetown, Del., took the top prize with his painting of a brown trout. Mr. Bradford also won second place in the Trout Stamp contest for his painting of a rainbow trout.

The annual stamp art competition drew seven entries for the 2022/23 Waterfowl Stamp and 12 entries for the 2022 Trout Stamp. The Waterfowl Stamp contest specified that submitted artwork must include a tundra swan. Trout Stamp artwork entries could depict a rainbow, brown or brook trout. Both contests are sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

As the 2022/23 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp winner, Broderick Crawford receives a $2,500 cash prize and 150 artist’s proofs of the limited edition print series of his first-place entry. Crawford, a lifelong resident of Tiger, Ga., is a self-taught artist who enjoys painting nature, wildlife and outdoor sporting art. Previously, Crawford took home a first-place win in Delaware’s 2019 Trout Stamp competition. Crawford also placed first in Iowa’s 2019/2020 duck stamp competition and as high as fourth in the national Federal Duck Stamp contest. He also is also an award-winning carver of waterfowl, shorebird and songbird species.

As the 2022 Delaware Trout Stamp winner, Delaware artist George Bradford receives a $250 prize and retains the rights to reproduce and sell prints of the stamp artwork. Bradford has entered the state’s Trout Stamp competition annually since its inception, placing multiple times with artwork that has depicted each of the three eligible trout species. Bradford’s success this year marks his fourth first-place win for the Delaware Trout Stamp and the second time that he has been honored with both first and second place in the same year for his entries.

Other winners were:

2022/23 Waterfowl Stamp — Second place: John Stewart, Wilmington, Del,; third place: Diane Ford, Bethesda, Md. Honorable mentions: Jane Jordan, Volant, Pa.; Jeffrey Klinefelter, Etna Green, Ind.; and Buck Spencer, Junction City, Ore.
2022 Trout Stamp — Third place: Tory Farris, Dover Foxcroft, Maine, brook trout. Honorable mentions: Broderick Crawford, Tiger, Ga., rainbow trout; Eric Jablonowski, Suwanee, Ga., brown trout; and Jeffrey Klinefelter, Etna Green, Ind., brown trout.

The art in each contest were judged by a different set of five judges, with each judge separately evaluating and scoring the respective contest entries in person as part of COVID-19 safety precautions, rather than convening in the customary judging panel format. Videos depicting the artwork, judging and winning entries can be viewed on DNREC’s YouTube channel at Waterfowl Stamp and Trout Stamp.

The winning 2022/23 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp will be available for purchase July 1, 2022, and the winning 2022 Delaware Trout Stamp will be available for purchase Jan. 1, 2022.

DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, started the Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and print program in 1980 to raise funds for waterfowl conservation, including acquiring and improving wetland habitats vital to migratory waterfowl. To date, more than $3.6 million has been raised. A Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and hunting license are required for most waterfowl hunters.

Delaware began requiring trout stamps for anglers in the 1950s. A Delaware Trout Stamp and a general fishing license are required for most anglers to fish in designated trout waters during certain seasons, with the funds from the sale of the stamps used by DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife to purchase and stock trout in two downstate ponds and seven streams in northern New Castle County.

Delaware hunting and fishing licenses, as well as Waterfowl Stamps and Trout Stamps, are sold online and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase licenses or stamps online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware hunting and fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918.

For more information on Delaware’s Waterfowl Stamp and Trout Stamp art competitions, visit Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and Delaware Trout Stamp.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Increased West Nile Virus Activity Occurring in Delaware

The Asian Tiger mosquito is among mosquito species that can transmit West Nile virus

Public Urged to Take Precautionary Measures from Biting Mosquitoes

An increase in mosquito-transmitted West Nile Virus (WNV) activity is occurring in many areas in Delaware as indicated in sentinel chickens used by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to monitor for certain mosquito-transmitted diseases. Twenty sentinel chicken stations are sampled weekly throughout the state each summer and fall to help track WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), the primary mosquito-transmitted human health threats in Delaware. Mosquito-transmitted virus occurrences in these sentinel chickens are unrelated to Delaware’s poultry industry.

A statewide total of 40 sentinel chickens have tested positive for WNV to date, with over half of these findings, 25, having occurred in the last few weeks. WNV has been detected from a total of 10 sentinel chicken stations, involving 32 chickens in New Castle County from six stations, four chickens in Kent County from two stations, and four chickens in Sussex County from two stations. This typically higher initial gradient of WNV detection upstate is followed in most years with increased WNV occurrences downstate in mid-fall. EEE has not been found this year in the sentinel chickens.

There has been one WNV-human case to date in 2021, reported Sept. 3 by the Delaware Division of Public Health. No EEE human cases have been reported this year.

Staff from DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife humanely care for DNREC’s sentinel chickens. Blood samples collected from sentinel chickens by the DNREC Mosquito Control section are tested for evidence of WNV and EEE by the Delaware Public Health Laboratory.

This is the peak time of year for mosquito-transmitted disease activity, which will continue well into October or beyond until the onset of colder weather. While these recent WNV findings are not cause for excessive alarm, Delaware residents and visitors are urged to be vigilant over the coming month and weeks to avoid or reduce exposures to mosquito bites. Common-sense precautions when outdoors in mosquito-prone areas include wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, applying insect repellent containing 10 to 30% diethyl toluamide (DEET) or other EPA-approved insect repellents in accordance with label instructions and avoiding mosquito-infested areas and times of peak mosquito activity around dusk, dawn and at night.

More measures can be taken by property owners to reduce mosquito-breeding habitat and mosquito populations and the chances for disease transmission. DNREC’s Mosquito Control section recommends draining or removing outdoor items that collect water, a lengthy list that includes discarded buckets or containers, uncovered trashcans, stagnant birdbaths, uncovered rain barrels or cisterns, old tires, upright wheelbarrows, flowerpot liners and saucers, depressions in boat tarps, clogged rain gutters, corrugated downspout extenders and unused swimming pools. All these items from the home landscape can become mosquito habitat very quickly and abet WNV activity.

Both WNV and EEE can adversely affect people and horses, and there are no human vaccines for WNV or EEE. About 80% of people infected with WNV show no symptoms, while about 20% of those infected will develop mild symptoms such as low fever, headache, body aches, a skin rash on chest or back and swollen lymph glands. Only about one in 150 people infected with WNV might develop severe infection indicted by high fever, disorientation, tremors or convulsions, encephalitis or meningitis, all possibly leading to hospitalization and very rarely death. Some survivors of severe cases of WNV can have long-lasting medical complications, including lingering paralysis. EEE can be a more severe disease than WNV, typically with more serious symptoms and a human fatality rate greater than 30%, though EEE is much rarer than WNV.

In response to WNV activity as has been recently detected or future EEE occurrences, the Mosquito Control section has increased mosquito population surveillance efforts in the vicinity of virus-positive findings and initiated targeted mosquito control actions as warranted, based on biting mosquito species and the numbers of them encountered.

Additional information about mosquitos and mosquito-borne diseases is available from the following resources:

For mosquito biology/ecology and control, contact the Mosquito Control section office in Dover at 302-739-9917
For requests for mosquito relief in upstate areas from Dover north, contact Mosquito Control’s Glasgow field office at 302-836-2555.
For requests for mosquito relief in downstate areas south of Dover, contact Mosquito Control’s Milford field office at 302-422-1512.
For animal health questions, contact the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section at 302-698-4500.
To report suspected cases of human WNV, call the Division of Public Health Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology toll-free at 888-295-5156.
For more information on West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis, visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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