DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Dec. 9-15

Reminder for the week: Hunting and fishing licenses and Conservation Access Passes help fund Delaware conservation and outdoor recreation facilities

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Dec. 9-15 made 1,360 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 16 citations. Officers responded to 43 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions
Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:
Wildlife Conservation: Hunting on a refuge (1), removing antlered deer parts prior to checking (1), possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer (1), failure to tag antlered deer (1), failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours (2), failure to check antlerless deer within 24 hours (1), and no License Exempt Number (LEN) (1).
Boating & Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2).
Public Safety: Possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vessel (1) and possession of drug paraphernalia (2).
Other: Damaging state property – cutting plants (2) and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1).

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. The Public are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to http://de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?
Did you know that your purchase of fishing and hunting licenses and Conservation Access Passes helps fund fish and wildlife conservation and public outdoor recreation facilities? Revenue from fishing and hunting licenses supports statewide fish and wildlife surveys, management, and conservation, as well as habitat management and fishing and hunting access on state lands managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife to include boat ramps and state wildlife areas. Conservation Access Pass revenues also help fund management and maintenance of state wildlife areas.

Delaware fishing and hunting licenses and Conservation Access Pass are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license or Conservation Access Pass online, visit Delaware licenses. For additional information on Delaware fishing or hunting licenses and Conservation Access Passes, call 302-739-9918.

-End-

 

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: June 10-16

Reminder for the week: Ponds in dog training areas of C&D Canal Conservation
Area are closed to fishing and boating

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between June 10-16 made 2,329 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 78 citations. Officers responded to 85 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

• On June 11, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested a commercial shell fisherman for 22 counts of failure to tend commercial crab pots within 72 hours on the Delaware Bay. Christopher Potter, 35, of Rehoboth Beach, was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on his own recognizance pending a future court date.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized blue crabs (1), possession of sponge blue crabs (1), tending over-the-limit crab pots (1), possession of undersized striped bass (3), possession of undersized weakfish (1), possession of undersized white perch (1)*, possession of herring (1), trespass to fish (1), fishing at a C&D Canal Conservation Area dog training area (1)*, unlicensed fishing (3)*, and no Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (1).
Commercial: Failure to tend crab pots within 72 hours (22).

Boating & Boating Safety: No life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2), operating a personal watercraft without required life jackets (1), no navigation lights (1), negligent operation of a motor vessel (1), failure to observe slow no wake (1), no boating education certificate (2), and operating an unregistered vessel (1).

Public Safety: Operating a motor vehicle at an unreasonable speed (1), and possession of marijuana – civil (2).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4)*, trespassing on division lands in a closed area (3), damaging state property on a wildlife area (1)*, loitering (1), and no stopping, standing or parking (19).

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

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 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to http://de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?
Fishing and boating are prohibited in the ponds within the dog training areas west of the Summit Bridge on the C&D Canal Conservation Area to prevent interference with dog training activities. Fishing and boating opportunities are available on other areas of the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

To report boating, fisheries, and wildlife violations, please call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24-hour dispatch line at: 302-739-4580 or 1-800-523-3336.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Media contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913.

-End-

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police make deer poaching arrests near Harrington

DOVER – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a Marydel, Md. man Oct. 30 for multiple hunting and traffic charges, and also arrested a Harrington juvenile for multiple hunting charges following an investigation into deer poaching that occurred Oct. 26 on Fox Hunters Road near Harrington.

Joshua P. Dorrell, 21, was arrested for one count each of hunting deer during a closed season; hunting at nighttime; having an unlawfully-loaded firearm; discharging a firearm within 15 yards of a public road; conspiracy 3rd degree; driving without a valid license; failure to have insurance identification in possession; expired tags; and fictitious or cancelled registration card, number plate or tag. Dorrell was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover and released on a $2,400 unsecured bond pending a future court appearance.

A 15-year-old juvenile was arrested in connection with the same incident and charged with one count each of hunting deer during closed season; hunting at nighttime; and conspiracy 3rd degree. The juvenile was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover, where the case was transferred to the Court of Common Pleas, and released to a parent.

Citizens are encouraged to report wildlife 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 contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9086 or 302-382-7167; or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 48, No. 304

-End

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Oct. 22-28

Reminder for the week: Hunters should pay attention to established blinds, property lines

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Oct. 22-28 made 1,436 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 32 citations. Officers responded to 37 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions
Incident of note:

• On Oct. 26, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited three individuals following an investigation into illegal waterfowl hunting near Middletown. All three were charged with one count each of prohibited hunting device – bait, federal rules adopted – hunting with live decoys, and possession of unlawfully taken game – ducks. One of the three individuals was additionally charged with hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, and was issued citations totaling $602, including court costs and released. The other two individuals were issued citations totaling $437 each, including court costs and released.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:
Wildlife Conservation: Prohibited hunting device – bait (5), federal rules adopted – hunting with live decoys (3), possession of unlawfully taken game – ducks (2), possession of over-the-limit ducks (2), trespass to hunt (1), hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1), possession of unlawfully taken game – ducks (5)*, and federal rules adopted – no federal waterfowl stamp (3)*.
Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (1), possession of flounder parts (1), and possession of undersized striped bass (1).
Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1)*.
Public Safety: Possession of drug paraphernalia (1).
Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (1), prostitution (1), patronizing a prostitute (1), and knowingly operate off highway vehicle on private property without permission (2).
*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

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.

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters participating in waterfowl hunting season that hunting from a vessel within 1,500 feet of an established waterfowl blind without permission is prohibited.

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

Other rules and general hunting information:
• Hunters should check daily bag limits and possession limits, as well as types of arms and ammunition permitted for the game they are planning to hunt.
• If hunting on public wildlife areas, hunters should review wildlife area maps and rules, including hunting times, specific rules for each wildlife area, and any permits they may need. Wildlife area maps and rules are available at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk or online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps.
• Waterfowl hunters should make sure they have their hunting licenses, state and federal stamps and Harvest Information Program number (HIP) before they head for their blinds. To conveniently obtain your free HIP number online from your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop, click www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt. Hunters also may call 1-855-335-4868 (1-855-DELHUNT) toll-free.

Delaware 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.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click on 2018-2019 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.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.
Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

-End-

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrest Marydel man for multiple turkey hunting violations

DOVER – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a Kent County man April 28 for multiple turkey hunting violations that occurred near Marydel.

Seven Nye, 19, of Marydel, was charged with one count each of: possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle; hunting from a vehicle; trespassing to hunt; discharging a firearm within 15 yards of a road; shooting a wild bird or animal on or across a roadway; unlawful possession of a game bird; discharging a firearm within 100 yards of a dwelling while hunting; and failing to wear camouflage clothing while hunting wild turkey.

Nye was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover where he plead guilty, was fined $360, including court costs, and released. Nye also was given six months’ probation, any violation of which could result in his incarceration.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Media contact: Sgt. Brooke Africa 302-382-7167, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 48, No. 106

-30-