Laurel man arrested for multiple deer hunting violations

LAUREL – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police concluded an investigation that began during Delaware’s deer hunting season with the Feb. 18 arrest of a Sussex County man for multiple deer hunting violations.

Ethan G. Cahall, 21, of Laurel, was charged with four counts each of: failure to attach deer tag to antlerless deer, failure to check antlerless deer within 24 hours, failure to retain tag on antlerless deer, and unlawful to remove antlerless deer parts prior to checking.

Cahall was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown where he was released on a $2,000 unsecured bond pending a future court date.

Delaware law requires all whitetail deer to be tagged immediately upon being harvested, registered with the Division of Fish & Wildlife within 24 hours of being harvested, and the field tag must remain on the deer until it is taken to a taxidermist for mounting purposes or taken to a processor for butchering. Delaware law prohibits the removal of deer parts to include butchering before the deer is registered with the Division of Fish & Wildlife.

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

Vol. 48, No. 35

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DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: May 1-7

Reminder for the week: Tautog season closed through July 16; possession prohibited

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 Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between May 1-7 made 4,630 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 32 vessel boardings for boating safety, hunting and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 11 citations.

Officers responded to 22 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 associated recreational trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the CommunityDE F&W Natural Resources Police logo

  • On May 3, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers attended the annual Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony held at Legislative Hall in Dover.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

  • On May 1, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Thomas W. Hendricks, 63, of Frederica following a commercial fisheries compliance check near Bowers Beach, and charged him with one count of exceeding the commercial individual catch quota for striped bass. Hendricks was arraigned at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7 where he plead guilty and was fined $179, including court costs.
  • Also on May 1, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Marion J. Rowan, 56, of Hartly following a commercial fisheries compliance check near Cedar Creek, and charged him with one count of exceeding the commercial individual catch quota for striped bass. Rowan was arraigned at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7 where he plead guilty and was fined $179, including court costs.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (2)*, possession of undersized white perch (2)*, possession of undersized blue crabs (1), and use of recreational crab pots without required turtle excluder (1). Commercial: unlawful for commercial fisherman to exceed individual quota for striped bass (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), and no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1).

Other: Operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1)*.

*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 anglers that landing and possession of tautog in Delaware is prohibited from May 12 – July 16 and again from Sept. 1- 28, regardless of where the fish was caught – whether Delaware waters, another state’s waters or federal waters.

  • Tautog typically spawn in offshore waters in late spring to early summer. Due to their slow reproduction and growth, the species is vulnerable to overfishing, and Delaware’s regulations are based on management guidelines issued by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to protect stocks from overfishing. Regulations include:
    A tautog size minimum of 15 inches for all seasons;
  • A possession limit of five fish from Jan. 1 – March 31, July 17 – Aug. 31, and Sept. 29 – Dec. 31; and
  • A possession limit of three fish from April 1 – May 11.

For a complete anglers’ guide to fishing in Delaware, click Delaware fish species; for specific information on tautog, click here.

Most anglers are required to have a Delaware fishing license. Licenses 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 online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918.

For more information on fishing in Delaware, click on 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

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

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Media contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386

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Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: June 20-26

Reminder for the week: Observe safety precautions when towing water skiers

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 June 20-26 made 1,696 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 169 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 43 complaints and issued 30 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.

An incident of note:

  • On June 25, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Gerard M. Centofanti, 68, of Reading, Pa., Todd Sheridan, 51, of Thomasville, Pa., John Krinex, 70, of Ellenton, Fla., and Bradley Sheridan, 73, of Spring Grove, Pa., for one count each of recreational crab pot tampering on Vines Creek in Indian River Bay. The four men were fined $107 each, including court costs.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (1)*, and operating an unregistered motor vehicle on a state wildlife area (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (6), recreational crab pot tampering (4), use of recreational crab pots without required turtle excluder (1), possession of undersized blue crabs (5), and possession of undersized summer flounder (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of lifejackets (2), no lifejackets on water skiers (2), failure to observe slow-no-wake zone (3), operating an unregistered vessel (1), no fire extinguisher (1), and no boating education certificate (1).

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

Are you AWARE?
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters of some important safety regulations when towing water skiers.

“Water skiing is a three-person sport – the water skier, the boat operator and the observer,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police boating safety coordinator. “Under Delaware law, any vessel towing a water skier must have a person aboard other than the operator to act as the observer. To ensure the skier’s safety, the observer faces backwards, watches the skier and alerts the boat operator of any hand signals from the skier or if the skier goes down.”

Other safety requirements for water skiing:

  • Recreational water skiers must wear lifejackets.
  • A water skiing tow line cannot exceed 75 feet in length.
  • Observe all “Slow-No Wake” areas.
  • Avoid traveling at unsafe speeds, including congested areas.
  • If water skiing or tubing behind a personal watercraft (PWC), the PWC must have the capacity to legally carry the operator, observer and the person being towed.
  • Observe marked “No Water Skiing” areas, which include all marked swimming areas, Assawoman Canal, Indian River Inlet, Roosevelt Inlet, Whites Creek, a portion of the channel through Masseys Landing and portions of the Rehoboth-Lewes Canal.
  • Maintain a safe and reasonable distance from shipping lanes, other vessels, persons and property.
  • Water skiing is prohibited at night between sunset and sunrise, and within 100 feet of persons in the water, piers, docks, floats, wharfs, vessels anchored or adrift and private or public boat launch ramps.

For more information, please visit 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.

Contact: 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. 243


DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter: May 21-28; Reminder for the week: Visitors to C&D Canal area encouraged to observe new rules

DOVER (May 31, 2013) – 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 Enforcement agents between May 21 and 28 made 1,936 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 295 boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks. Agents responded to 85 complaints and issued 69 citations, five of which were associated with increased Fish and Wildlife Enforcement presence at the C&D Canal Conservation Area (formerly the C&D Canal Wildlife Area) and the associated recreational trail currently under construction. Incidents of particular note included: 

  • Late at night on May 24, Enforcement agents responded to a boating accident in which a 22-foot Four Winns cabin cruiser collided with a stone jetty at the mouth of the C&D Canal. The severely-damaged vessel was estimated a total loss. The vessel’s operator, Gregory Mount, 46, of Essington, Pa., was cited for one count of negligent operation. A passenger who appeared to have suffered minor injuries received first aid from responding volunteer EMTs from the Delaware City Fire Company, but declined additional medical treatment. The vessel was recovered the next day by a salvage company. 

Citations issued by violation type included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses: 

Wildlife Conservation: Operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway in a state wildlife area (3), and damaging state property in a wildlife area (2), New Castle County; Trespassing after hours in a state wildlife area (2), Sussex County. 

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (24), New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties; Possession of undersized blue crab (1), Kent County; Illegal use of non-circle hooks for fishing during striped bass spawning season (2), possession of undersized weakfish (6), unlawful possession of river herring (2), over-the-limit recreational crab pots (1), and possession of undersized Atlantic croaker (1), Sussex County.

Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets aboard (3), and no ramp certificate (2), New Castle and Sussex counties; Operating an unregistered motor vessel (4), Kent and Sussex counties; Negligent operation of a vessel (1), New Castle County; Insufficient visual distress signals (2), Kent County; No life jacket on child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), operating an unregistered motor vessel (1), water skiing without required observer (1), operating personal watercraft without required fire extinguisher (1), no boating safety certificate (3), and allowing use of non-compliant vessel (1), Sussex County. 

Public Safety: Clamming in polluted area (3), New Castle County.

Other: Lewdness (1), and failure to signal intention (1), Kent County; Littering (1), Sussex County.

Are you AWARE?

The Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section asks visitors to the 5,100-acre C&D Canal Conservation Area (formerly the C&D Canal Wildlife Area) near St. Georges to be patient and comply with new rules – some of which are temporary – while construction on the new Michael Castle Trail proceeds. To ensure public safety, agents are strictly enforcing regulations prohibiting motor vehicle access to the trail and encouraging visitors to park in designated areas and walk. 

Designed primarily for walking, jogging, bicycling, and horseback riding, the Michael Castle Trail has been in the planning phase for more than seven years, during which numerous public comment sessions were held regarding its design and location. 

New permanent gates have been installed to restrict motor vehicle access to the completed portions of the trail. Gates on the north side of the canal are currently closed, restricting access to the lower tier road from the eastern-most point near the branch canal at Delaware City through and including the Summit Marina area. 

Until construction activities are complete, access on the upper tier roads between the Gunning Bedford School and Summit Marina will also be restricted limiting access to the ponds near the railroad bridge. Once construction is complete, vehicles will still be permitted to access most upper level roads for hunting and fishing activities. 

The C&D Canal Conservation Area encompasses the north and south banks of the canal and part of the eastern shoreline of the Delaware River. The conservation area also offers hunting and fishing opportunities, boating access, and the Summit Retriever Training Area. 

The DNREC Division of Fish and 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 and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx.

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

Vol. 43, No. 222

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DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter: April 16-23; Reminder for the week: As season starts, crabbers need be attentive to regs and rigs

DOVER (April 26, 2013) – 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 Enforcement agents between April 16-23 made 597 contacts with hunters, anglers and boaters, and other members of the public, including 57 boardings for boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks. Agents responded to 33 complaints and issued 22 citations for violations of fish, game, traffic and criminal regulations. Of particular interest were: 

  • The arrest of a Townsend man for trespass and theft on the Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area. A Fish & Wildlife agent investigating vandalism and illegal entry into buildings on the wildlife area noticed a man attempting to remove a lightning rod from the roof of a barn behind a DNREC-owned 19th century property known as the Chabbott House. Charles J. Bachman, 70, was cited for one count of trespass and one count of theft under $1,500.
     
  • Agents charged two Seaford men with illegal possession of river herring during a closed season. One of them, Brice M. Smart, 54, was hit with a third charge of illegal possession since a ban on river herring went into effect last year in Delaware. Smart was transported to Justice of the Peace Court #3 and arraigned on one count of unlawful possession of river herring and one count of failing to produce a fishing license. He was released on $150 unsecured bond with the special condition that he not fish in Delaware waters until the case is adjudicated. Michael J. Schaffers, 25, was cited at the same time for illegal possession of river herring.
  • Increased Fish & Wildlife enforcement presence on the new C&D Canal Trail under construction resulted in six of the citations mentioned above: two for illegal dumping, three for fishing without a license, and one for driving without a license.

    Also on the C&D Canal Wildlife Area, an enforcement agent checking a complaint of illegal hunting near the new trail was approached by citizens who reported four pit bull dogs running loose in the area. The agent contacted the SPCA for assistance, and SPCA officers located and captured the dogs, then took them to a shelter.

Citations issued by violation type included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses:

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting wild turkey over bait, Sussex County (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Illegal possession of river herring, Sussex County (2); Fishing without a license, New Castle County (3), Sussex (1).

Public Safety: Illegal dumping, New Castle (2), Kent (1) and Sussex (1) Counties; Operating a motor vehicle without a license, New Castle (1); Trespassing on state property, New Castle (1); Theft of state property less than $1,500 in value, New Castle (1).

 Inside Enforcement: 

  • Agents throughout the state are continuing to prepare patrol boats stored over the winter for the start of the upcoming spring boating season. 
     
  • Half of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents have completed spring firearms training and recertification.  All are expected to be recertified by the end of May.  
     
  • Agents noted an increase in complaints related to nuisance/injured wildlife; on April 22, Fish & Wildlife Dispatch documented seven calls related to foxes alone.

 Are you AWARE?

The Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section reminds recreational crabbers who are setting up for the season about state regulations for catching blue crabs:

  • A Delaware recreational fishing license is required for crabbing.
  • Recreational crabbers may not use, place, set or tend more than two crab pots.
  • Recreational crab pots must be tended by the owner at least once every 72 hours and must be marked with white buoys with the owner’s name and permanent mailing address.
  • A turtle by-catch reduction device is required to be attached in the funnel entrance of recreational crab pots to reduce the possibility of diamondback terrapins entering the pots and drowning. The device is a rigid rectangular frame made of metal or plastic that measures 1.75 inches by 4.75 inches. By-catch devices are available at local tackle shops or may be handmade of heavy wire.
  • Recreational crabbers may use any number of hand lines or traps.
  • Minimum “keeper” size for male blue crabs and immature female crabs with the V-shaped apron is 5 inches, measured across the shell from point to point.
  • Mature female crabs, identified by the U-shaped apron, are exempt from the minimum size of 5” because many females reach maturity at a smaller size. 
  • Mature female blue crabs bearing eggs, known as sponge crabs and recognizable by the orange eggs visible under the apron, may not be taken and should be returned to the water immediately.
  • The recreational daily limit on blue crabs is one bushel per person.

Recreational anglers and crabbers also are reminded that fishing or crabbing off of courtesy docks at state-owned boat ramps is prohibited. Anglers and crabbers also should remember that these areas are “carry in, carry out,” and gather up leftover bait, bait containers, crab lines and other trash for proper disposal; those who do not can be cited for littering. “When left behind, crabbing lines are not only an eyesore for other anglers, crabbers and area visitors, they present a danger of entanglement to wildlife attracted to leftover bait,” said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement. This reminder also serves recreational notice to crabbers and anglers, as the Division of Fish & Wildlife has in the past restricted access to areas where littering and dumping become a constant problem, and will do so again if warranted.

With spring finally warming our waterways, anglers also are reminded that using any type of net to catch fish within 300 feet below a dam or spillway is illegal, with the exception of using a landing net on a fish caught with hook and line.

The DNREC Division of Fish and 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 and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx.

Contact: Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement, 302-739-9913 or 302-542-6102, or Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No.172

 

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