Reminder for the week: Hunters reminded to avoid using railroad tracks for hunting access

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, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Oct. 9-15 made 1,389 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters and the general public, including 54 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 29 citations. Officers responded to 39 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 in the Community

• On Oct. 10, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers attended two civics classes at Georgetown Middle School where they conducted K9 demonstrations.
• On Oct. 12, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers displayed the Operation Game Theft Trailer and discussed hunting, fishing, boating and the Operation Game Theft program during Community Day at the Harrington Fire Department sponsored by the Harrington Police Department.
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On Oct. 11, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Daniel A. Allen, 21, of Seaford, for one count of resisting arrest with force or violence and intentionally fleeing from a peace officer, one count of second-degree assault to injure a law enforcement officer, one count of possession of marijuana for other than personal use, one count of trespassing after hours on state wildlife area, and one count of cause or contributing to the disposal or discharge of solid waste materials as the result of an earlier incident that occurred in the Nanticoke Wildlife Area, near Laurel. Allen was arraigned at Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $12,202 secured bond. An earlier DNREC press release was issued in regards to the incident: http://news.delaware.gov/2017/10/04/dnrecs-fish-wildlife-natural-resources-police-searching-suspect-assault-officer/
Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: Unlawful to hunt on Sundays in Delaware State Forest lands (1), and must wear hunter orange (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (3)*, trespass to fish (2), possession of undersized white perch (3), possession of undersized tautog (2), and possession of undersized blue crabs (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1).

Public Safety: Driving without a valid driver’s license (1)*, failure to have required insurance (1)*, resisting arrest with force or violence and intentionally fleeing from a peace officer (1), and assault 2nd injure law enforcement officer (1).

Other: Operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (2)*, operating an unlicensed or unregistered vehicle on a state wildlife area (2)*, destruction of state property (3)*, failure to transfer title and registration (1)*, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (1), possession of marijuana other than personal use (1), and cause or contribute to the disposal or discharge of solid waste materials (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?
With early fall hunting seasons now open, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters to avoid using railroad tracks for access to hunting areas.

“All railroad tracks are private property, and no one should be walking, driving or parking on tracks without landowner permission. If found on the tracks, violators will be charged with trespassing and fined,” said Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “Those considering using railroad tracks for access to hunt doves or other game also need to consider the safety hazard involved – many railroad tracks throughout the state are still in active use.”

For more information on hunting in Delaware, including specific wildlife area rules, hunters should consult this year’s hunting & trapping guide and wildlife area maps, available online at Delaware Hunting Information. Hard copies of the guide and the hunting maps are also available at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

Effective July 1, 2017, a Conservation Access Pass is required for any registered motor vehicle used to access designated Delaware State Wildlife Areas for any allowable activity, including hunting, birdwatching, hiking and photography. For more information, please click Conservation Access Pass.

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.

Contact: Lt. John McDerby 302-354-1386 or Sgt Brooke Africa 302-382-7167, or DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 302-739-9913

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NEW CASTLE – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police are investigating a personal watercraft (PWC) boating accident in the C&D Canal near Summit Bridge Tuesday afternoon that injured a Middletown man.

The 56-year-old victim was traveling west in the canal when he encountered waves from another vessel’s wake, and was thrown from his PWC into the water. Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers on marine patrol saw him and assisted in getting him to shore. He was flown by Delaware State Police helicopter to Christiana Hospital.

The Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigation into the accident is continuing.

Media contacts: Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 138

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Reminder for the week: Harvest of river herring, use of nets near spillways, retaining striped bass during spawning season unlawful in Delaware

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 April 17-23 made 1,355 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 97 vessel boardings for boating safety, hunting and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 37 citations. Officers responded to 49 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 Community

• On March 25, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer and presented information on Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police careers during the New Castle County Police’s “Casting with Cops” fishing event held at Glasgow Park near Newark.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On April 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited two people for turkey hunting violations near Felton. Wyatt Gross, 18, of Denton, Maryland was cited for unlawful to hunt wild turkey without course of instruction, unlicensed hunting and unlawful to trespass upon land or water without permission. Gross was fined $672, including court costs and released. A juvenile was issued a summons and released to appear at a later date in Kent County Family Court.

• On April 21, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested two people after an investigation for deer hunting violations near Laurel. Christian J. Ellsworth, 20, of Laurel was arrested for hunting antlerless deer with a shotgun during archery season, failure to display required hunter orange and unlicensed hunting. Ellsworth was arraigned at Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 3 where he plead guilty and was fined $482, including court costs. Leslie S. Riggleman III, 20, of Laurel was arrested for hunting antlerless deer with a shotgun during archery season. Riggleman was arraigned at Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 3 where he plead guilty and was fined $180, including court costs. An associated juvenile was issued a written warning for the same violations for which Ellsworth was arrested.

• On April 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited two people for two counts each of failure to comply with possession limit of blueback herring and/or river herring possession near Laurel. Sonya S. Harris, 45, and Jonathan A. Harris, 46, both of Seaford were fined $214, including court costs and released.

• On April 23, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited three men for striped bass possession violations near Seaford. Miguel Jaimes-Baltazar, 34 and Mario Jamiez-Perez, 59, both of Milford were each cited for two counts of possession of striped bass during spawning season and one count of possession of undersized striped bass; both were fined $495, including court costs and released. Mario Jamies-Baltazar, 19, of Milford was cited for two counts of possession of striped bass during spawning season and fined $330, including court costs and released.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Unlawful to hunt wild turkey without course of instruction (2), unlicensed hunting (3), unlawful to trespass upon land or water without permission (2), and hunting antlerless deer with a shotgun during archery season (2).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Failure to comply with possession limit of blueback herring and/or river herring possession (4), possession of striped bass during spawning season (6), possession of undersized striped bass (3)*,unlicensed fishing (2), tend crab pot of another (1), and possession of undersized white perch (1)*.

Public Safety Charges: Failure to display required hunter orange (1), possession of drug paraphernalia (1), and operate a vehicle at unreasonable speed (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (2), dumping solid waste (1), unregistered motor vehicle (1), and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (4).

Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to DNREC’s Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

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

Are you AWARE?
With spring fishing season gearing up, Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police reminds recreational anglers that it is unlawful in Delaware to harvest river herring for any purpose and that they need to use an alternate type of bait. Signs giving notice of the fishery closure are posted at fishing spots known to hold river herring. Fines for illegal possession of river herring begin at $50 for a first offense, and increase to $100-$500 for a second offense. For more information, click on river herring.

Anglers are also reminded that during spawning season for striped bass in Delaware, which begins April 1 and continues through midnight on May 31, it is unlawful for any person to take and retain any striped bass from the Nanticoke River or its tributaries, the Delaware River and its tributaries to the north of a line extending due east beginning at and including the south jetty at the mouth of the C&D Canal, or the C&D Canal or its tributaries. Anglers are required to practice catch and release fishing during this season with no harvest allowed in these areas.

In addition, regulations require anglers fishing with natural bait on any striped bass spawning ground during the closed spawning season to use a non-offset circle hook. The Division of Fish & Wildlife recommends that circle hooks always be used when fishing natural baits because of their proven ability to reduce hook-and-release mortality for striped bass and other fish species. The circle hook’s design usually results in fish being hooked in the mouth, simplifying hook removal and reducing injury to the released fish.

Also, as fish begin entering the spillways this spring, anglers are reminded that using any type of net to catch fish in tidal water 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.

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, 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.

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

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

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Reminder for the week: Boaters urged to check gear before putting vessels in the water

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, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between April 10-16 made 1,036 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 67 vessel boardings for boating safety, hunting and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 10 citations. Officers responded to 31 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 Actions

Incident of note:

• On April 15, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited an individual for possession of over the limit wild turkey near Hartly. The individual was fined $342, including court costs and released.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Unlawful to purchase, sell, attempt to sell, transport antlerless deer or antlerless deer parts (1), and possession of over the limit wild turkey (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (3)*, trespass to fish (2), and improperly marked crab pot (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: No throwable life preserver aboard as required for vessels 16 feet long or longer (1).

Other: Excessive speed on a state wildlife area (1)*.

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

Are you AWARE?

With warm weather finally here, Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters to make sure their vessel is ready for a trouble-free day enjoying Delaware’s waterways by performing a pre-departure check. Before hooking up your boat trailer, you should have:

• All current required licenses and registrations, including fishing license(s), boat registration, boating safety certificate if the operator was born on or after Jan. 1, 1978 and, for vessels registered out-of-state launching at a Division of Fish & Wildlife tidal boat ramp, a boat ramp certificate;
• Enough lifejackets for everyone on board, including children age 12 or younger who are required by Delaware law to wear them at all times while underway; for vessels 16 feet or more in length, an USCG approved throwable flotation device is also required;
• Checked the local weather forecast;
• Left a float plan with a responsible friend, family member or local marina, including a description of your boat, when you plan to head out, who is going with you, where you plan to go and when you plan to return;
• Checked for working navigation lights, steering and throttle controls;
• Checked oil, fuel and fluid levels;
• Checked for fuel leaks, including hose clamps and connections;
• Drained all water from the engine compartment or bilge, and replaced and secured the bilge plug;
• A fully charged engine battery and fire extinguishers;
• Emergency flares and a fully charged cell phone or marine radio; and
• Plenty of water to stay hydrated and sunscreen to protect against sunburn, which can be severe on the water.

“Boaters are encouraged to remember the importance of lifejacket use,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “Delaware law requires that all children 12 years old and younger aboard a vessel and all personal watercraft operators wear a lifejacket while underway”.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, please visit Delaware Boating Safety, pick up a copy of the Handbook of Delaware Boating Laws and Responsibilities at the DNREC licensing desk, or visit Delaware’s Boating Regulations and Boating Laws.

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.

• Like 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.

Reminder for the week: Recreational boaters need to watch out for gillnets in tidal waters

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, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Jan. 30-Feb. 5 made 1014 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including three vessel boardings for boating safety, hunting and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing nine 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 Community

• On Jan. 31, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officer AFC Chelsea Allen gave a presentation regarding the career of a Fish & Wildlife Natural Resource Police officer and K-9 Officer River performed a K-9 demonstration to students at Caravel Academy near Bear.
• On Feb. 1, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers SCpl. Richard Blaasch & Cpl. Dan Carrow gave a boating safety presentation to a group of Cub Scouts working on their Salmon Run merit badge at the Natural Resources Police’s Delaware City office.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions
Incident of note:

• On Feb. 5, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Tyler A. Damon, 21, of Magnolia, for one count each of failure to tag antlered deer, failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours, failure to retain antlered deer tag, hunt deer after special antlerless season, removing antlered deer parts prior to checking, possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer and kill antlered deer without purchasing hunters choice tag. Damon was arraigned at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released on $700 unsecured bond to appear in Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Failure to tag antlered deer (1), failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours (1), failure to retain antlered deer tag (1), hunt deer after special antlerless season (1), removing antlered deer parts prior to checking (1), possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer (1), and kill antlered deer without purchasing a hunters choice tag (1).

Public Safety: Possession of drug paraphernalia (1)*, and excessive speed on a state wildlife area (1)*.

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

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters that Wednesday, Feb. 15 is the opening day of the commercial striped bass fixed gillnet season on most tidal waters in Delaware.

“A commercial fixed gillnet is an upright net made of fiber or monofilament measuring up to 200 yards in length and attached to a single pole or anchored on each end. These nets are designed to catch fish by their gills,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “To help ensure the safety of other vessels, the location of fixed gillnets must be well-marked for visibility from the water’s surface.”

Delaware law requires commercial watermen to mark fixed gillnets as follows:

• A red or international orange flag measuring 12 inches by 12 inches must be placed on each of the net’s two end poles from April 1 through Nov. 30.
• Red or international orange floats measuring a minimum of eight inches in diameter may be substituted for the required end flags on fixed nets from Dec. 1 through March 31.
• Each of these flags or floats must be marked with the commercial waterman’s assigned license number.
• Flags or floats must include a minimum of 24 square inches of reflective material in order to be visible for nighttime navigation.
• White floats measuring four inches in diameter must be placed along the net inside each of the required red or international orange flags or floats, beginning within 20 feet of each end pole.

“Even with these marking requirements, gillnets are not always easy to spot, especially at night and during adverse weather conditions,” said Sgt. McDerby. “Boaters and anglers need to be aware of the size of these nets. If they are set in a series with shared rigging, they can be up to 500 yards long – and they are not necessarily placed in a straight line. Because of the length of the nets and their abundance, particularly in the Delaware Bay and River during striped bass season, navigation can be challenging, even for a seasoned boater.”

All boaters should slow down and use caution when operating in areas where nets have been set, McDerby added. Slowing down will help make navigation much less challenging and decrease the risk of crossing the nets and a potential accident.

For more information on safe boating practices, click 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.

Like 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.

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

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