Entries to be accepted now through Jan. 31

DOVER – With many of Delaware’s hunting seasons already open or opening soon, plan on pointing your camera afield in the months ahead and perhaps catching a hunter in a duck blind or deer stand or otherwise pursuing their favorite game animal or bird. DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife invites you to enter your hunting photographs in the 2016/17 Delaware Hunting Photo Contest. The winning photo will be featured on the cover or inside of the 2017/18 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide to be published next year.

A judging panel comprised of DNREC staff will be looking for photos that best portray this year’s contest theme, “Hunting with Family or Friends.” Judges also will look at technical criteria including resolution, clarity and composition.

“The hunting photo contest is a great chance to showcase and share adventures with other hunters,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis. “The theme helps reinforce and capture the fun of a shared outdoor hunting experience.”

The contest is open to all Delaware residents, with a maximum of three entries per person. To be eligible, photographs must have been taken in Delaware. Portrait orientation is preferred; landscape photos, if chosen among contest winners, may be cropped for presentation.

Entries may be mailed to the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Photo Contest, Attention: Jennifer Childears, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. All entries must be postmarked or delivered by Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, and must include a completed and signed entry form. A photo release form is also required for photos that include images of children younger than 18. Information and forms are available on the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s website or may be requested by calling Jennifer Childears at 302-739-9910, or email jennifer.childears@delaware.gov.

Photographs must be submitted as 8×10-inch photo quality prints, with no frames or mats and no markings or signatures on the front or back. Winning entries must be available in a digital version with resolution of 300 dpi or greater (when enlarged to 8×10 inches).

Normal processing of RAW image files, minimal cropping and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable. HDR and focus stacking are permitted as long as manipulation is disclosed upon entry. Nothing should be added to the image or, aside from dust spots, taken away. The entrant must hold all rights to the photograph and must not infringe on the rights of any other person. Images that involve unlawful harm to wildlife or damage to the environment should not be submitted and will not be accepted. Entries will not be returned. For more information, please visit the Fish & Wildlife photo contest page on the DNREC website.

The Division’s 2016 Fishing Photo Contest is still accepting entries through Monday, Oct. 31, with similar guidelines. This year’s fishing photo contest theme is “Fishing with Family or Friends.”

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

Vol. 46, No. 352

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Reminder for the week: Purchase your 2016/2017 Delaware hunting license, waterfowl stamps now

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 Sept. 12-18 made 1,349 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 78 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 38 complaints and issued 20 citations. This week, with an expanded Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continuing to be deployed as a deterrent, no citations were issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail.

Incidents of note:

• On Sept. 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a commercial waterman on 15 counts of improper display of commercial crab pot markings in the Delaware Bay near Woodland Beach. The waterman was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover, where he pled guilty to seven counts and was fined $854, including court costs.
• On Sept. 14, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police located a Lincoln man reported overdue on a jet ski. Scott O’Neal, 44, was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant from Sussex County Family Court for failure to pay $65,000 bond. In lieu of bond, O’Neal was remanded to the Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Failure to attach antlerless deer tag (1), and destruction of state property on a wildlife area (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized blue crabs (1), and possession of summer flounder parts (1).
Commercial: Improper display of commercial crab pot markings (15), and failure to report commercial catch of striped bass (1).

Two press releases about a boating accident also were issued this week:

• DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigating fatal boating accident in Sussex County
• UPDATE: Victim identified from Saturday’s fatal boating accident in Sussex County

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police News, Training and Outreach

• On Sept. 17, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers spoke to the Potomac Irish Setter Club at the C&R Center near Felton about current and new hunting regulations.
• On Sept. 15, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers joined other Delaware police, fire and emergency response agencies for 911 Awareness Day at the Sussex county Emergency Communications Center, attended by more than 100 children.
• On Sept. 14, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers gave a presentation about their jobs and how to become a Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officer to a group of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in Harrington. The presentation assisted the scouts with earning their law merit badge.

Are you AWARE?
With fall hunting seasons underway, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters to purchase their 2016/2017 Delaware hunting licenses and waterfowl stamps. A resident annual hunting license costs $25 for ages 16 through 64. A resident junior hunting license costs $5 for ages 13 through 15.

Residents younger than 13 or those 65 and older who have resided in Delaware for one year or longer are not required to purchase a Delaware hunting license; residents younger than 16 or those 65 and older are not required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl stamp. Higher license prices apply to non-resident hunters, and no exemptions are made for non-residents age 65 and older on purchasing a hunting license or waterfowl stamp.

To hunt waterfowl in Delaware, residents age 16 through 64 who have lived in the state for one year or longer are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl stamp. For hunters age 16 and older, a federal migratory bird hunting stamp is required to hunt waterfowl. Federal duck stamps may be purchased at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges and online at www.fws.gov/duckstamps. For more information, call 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).

Hunters who are exempt from purchasing a license must obtain an annual, free License Exempt Number (LEN). Both exempt and non-exempt hunters of migratory gamebirds, including waterfowl, dove, woodcock and rail, also must obtain a free Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Both are available online or by calling 855-335-4868 toll-free.

If hunting waterfowl or deer on a state wildlife area from a blind or deer stand that was selected through a lottery, all hunters in the blind or stand are required to carry their $20 annual lottery permit. This permit is waived for hunters participating in Division of Fish & Wildlife-designated youth hunting days.

Delaware hunting licenses, lottery permits and waterfowl stamps are sold online, at the licensing office in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating hunting license agent, to purchase a license or lottery permit or to obtain a HIP or LEN number online, click Delaware Licenses and Permits. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click 2016-2017 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.

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.

Media Contacts: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 350

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Reminder for the week: Hunters and residents encouraged to review Delaware hunting regulations

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 Sept. 5-11 made 1,787 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 96 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 38 complaints and issued 27 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.

Incidents of note:

• On Sept. 9, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested two Sussex County men for one count each of loitering to engage in sex at Redden State Forest near Georgetown. Both were released, pending an appearance in Sussex County Family Court at a later date.
• On Sept. 7, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a juvenile and charged him with eight counts of damaging/defacing state property on a wildlife area and one count of criminal mischief under $1,000, related to an investigation into graffiti at the Horseys Pond fishing area. The juvenile was released to his parents, pending an appearance in Sussex County Family Court at a later date.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting migratory waterfowl without required state waterfowl stamp (4), damaging/defacing state property on a wildlife area (8), criminal mischief under $1,000 (1), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (2), and littering on a state wildlife area (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (2)*, possession of undersized blue crabs (3), possession of undersized white perch (1), trespassing to fish (1), and fishing in a closed area (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: Failure to observe slow-no-wake zone (1).

Public Safety: Loitering to engage in sex (2).

*Citation issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area: unlicensed fishing (1).

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police News, Training and Outreach

• On Sept. 10-11, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer and answered questions on hunting, boating and fishing opportunities in Delaware at the annual Nanticoke Indian Pow Wow near Millsboro.
• On Sept. 10, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers displayed a marine patrol boat and answered boating safety questions at the Houston Fire Department’s Fire Prevention & Safety Day.
• On Sept. 9, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers attended a “Welcome to Dover” event at Dover Air Force Base and answered questions about hunting, boating and fishing opportunities in Delaware.
• On Sept. 8, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers gave a presentation about careers in fish and wildlife law enforcement at a hunter safety class at the Little Creek Hunter Education Center.

Are you AWARE?
With September’s mourning dove and resident Canada goose seasons as well as archery deer season underway and more hunting season dates ahead, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind both hunters and residents who live near hunting areas to become familiar with Delaware hunting regulations.

“Something new this year that hunters as well as the public should know is that Sunday deer hunting will be allowed on five Sundays – Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and 20, Dec. 11 in 2016 and on Jan. 15, 2017 – on private lands with landowner permission and designated public lands including wildlife areas,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “These are the only Sundays when hunting is allowed in Delaware, and deer are the only game species that can be harvested.”

Sgt. McDerby noted that residents also can expect to see and hear hunting activity in the next several months, such as:

• In most areas, hunting hours begin a half hour before sunrise and end a half hour after sunset.
• Hunting between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise is illegal. (Exception: Night hunting for raccoon and opossum in season.)
• Hunting is allowed on private lands with permission of the landowner.
• Regulated hunting is allowed on most state wildlife areas.
• Regulations for specific wildlife areas, including hunting days and hours, are included on wildlife area maps.

“We recommend that residents who live near hunting areas – private or public – familiarize themselves with season dates and regulations by checking wildlife area maps and our hunting and trapping guide,” said Sgt. McDerby. “Although most hunters observe these regulations, we also encourage the public to report any illegal hunting activity they observe.”

Sgt. McDerby also added some tips on what residents should report:

• Hearing gunshots at night between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise.
• Seeing hunters or becoming aware they are shooting on your property if they do not have your permission to hunt.
• Seeing hunters afield or hearing gunshots coming from wildlife areas on Sunday, with the exception of the five Sundays noted above at areas open to deer hunting on those dates.
• Witnessing shots fired across a public road or right-of-way, or within 15 yards or closer to a public roadway. (NOTE: carrying a loaded weapon in a vehicle or vessel also is illegal.)
• Hunting migratory waterfowl and game birds, including doves, over bait is illegal in Delaware. An area is generally considered baited if grain or other feed has been placed as a lure or attraction.
• Target shooting on state wildlife areas is illegal at all times; target shooting on private property is allowed seven days a week, within the parameters of local, county and state ordinances.

For more information on the 2016/2017 hunting seasons – including hunter education, licensing, hunting and trapping seasons, limits, regulations, wildlife area information and more, with sections devoted to deer, small game, turkey and migratory birds – click on 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide. Newly updated wildlife area maps with area-specific regulations are available online at Wildlife Area Maps.

Printed copies of the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide and the wildlife area maps are also available at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912. The printed guide also is available from license agents throughout the state.

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 de.gov/ogt.

Media Contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 340

Added features, updated rules and details on wildlife area facilities now included

DOVER – New state wildlife area maps with updated regulations and details for accessing the facilities at each area are now available for the 2016/2017 season, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today. The maps and area-specific regulations are online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps. Hunters and other wildlife area users should note that the maps have undergone a major revision this year and some area regulations such as hunting seasons and open days may have changed from past years.

“Over the past several years, many area-specific regulations have been added or modified, sometimes making the old maps difficult for hunters and other wildlife area users to understand due to differences between the maps and area rules. This year, we took an in-depth look at standardizing our wildlife area rules statewide,” said Craig Rhoads, program manager for the Division of Fish & Wildlife, Habitat Conservation and Management. “These changes make it easier for hunters and other wildlife area visitors to keep track of open hunting seasons, allowable activities and facilities available at different state wildlife areas. We strongly encourage all wildlife area users to read the new map regulations for each area they plan to visit to ensure they are following the most current regulations.”

Several areas have revised rules. “We’ve looked at properties statewide and evaluated where we could increase hunting opportunities,” Rhoads said. “For example, several areas are now open to expanded waterfowl hunting opportunities, and rules pertaining to temporary deer stands on non-lottery areas have been relaxed.”

For complete information on the 2016/2017 hunting seasons – including hunter education, licensing, hunting and trapping seasons, limits, regulations, wildlife area information and more, with sections devoted to deer, small game, turkey and migratory birds – click 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. Guides also are available from license agents throughout the state.

Paper copies of the maps – printed in color for the first time – are available at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. Licensing desk customers may take up to five printed maps of individual wildlife areas free of charge. A complete set of statewide maps costs $5 to purchase at the licensing desk, or $6 by mail.

For more information, please call DNREC’s licensing desk at 302-739-9918 or the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

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

Vol. 46, No. 335

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

Officers responded to 72 complaints and issued 41 citations, five of which were 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 Sept. 1, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited two New Castle County men for illegal deer hunting activities at the C&D Canal Conservation Area. One was cited for hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area and littering; he was fined $214, including court costs. The other was cited for hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area, possession of unlawfully taken deer and littering on a state wildlife area; he was fined $379, including court costs. K-9 River, a Labrador retriever deployed by NRP, aided the investigation, using her tracking skills to lead Fish & Wildlife officers to a wooded area baited with corn and evidence that a deer had been harvested there.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area (2)*, possession of unlawfully taken deer (1)*, hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required HIP number (1), hunting doves on a wildlife area without a permit (1), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4), and littering on a state wildlife area (2)*.

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (2), possession of undersized blue crabs (8), improperly marked recreational crab pots (3), and trespassing to fish (1).
Commercial: Unlawful transfer of commercial tags/striped bass (9).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of lifejackets (1), no lifejacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (2), operating a personal watercraft after sunset (1), and no boating education certificate (1).

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

Are you AWARE?
With early fall hunting seasons now open, 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 Sgt. 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.”

With dove, resident Canada goose and archery deer seasons now open, teal season opening today and squirrel season opening Sept. 15, hunters also are reminded that early-season hunting opportunities are offered on many wildlife areas throughout the state. Non-toxic shot must be used for all dove hunting on state wildlife areas during the month of September.

Season dates and legal hunting hours are as follows:
• White-tailed deer: Archery and crossbow seasons, Sept. 1, 2016-Jan. 31, 2017 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Doves (early season): Sept. 1-Oct. 1 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Resident Canada Geese: Sept. 1-24 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Teal: Sept. 9-27 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset).
For later season dates and other migratory game bird seasons, hunters should consult the 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide.

Hunters also are reminded to purchase their 2016/2017 hunting license if they have not already done so. A Delaware resident annual hunting license costs $25 for ages 16 through 64. A resident junior hunting license costs $5 for ages 13 through 15. To hunt waterfowl in Delaware, including teal, residents age 16 through 64 are required to purchase a state waterfowl (duck) stamp, which costs $9. Higher license prices apply to non-resident hunters, and no exemptions are made for non-residents age 65 and older on purchasing a Delaware hunting license or waterfowl stamp.

Hunters who are exempt from purchasing a license must obtain an annual, free License Exempt Number (LEN). Teal, dove and goose hunters also must obtain a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Both are available online at https://egov.delaware.gov/htr or by calling 855-335-4868 toll-free.

If hunting waterfowl on a state wildlife area from a blind that was selected through a lottery, all hunters in the blind are required to carry the $20 annual blind permit, available for purchase online or where hunting licenses are sold. This requirement is waived for hunters participating in Division of Fish & Wildlife-designated youth hunting days.

Delaware hunting licenses, blind permits and waterfowl stamps 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 hunting license agent, to purchase a license or blind permit or to obtain a HIP or LEN number online, click Delaware Licenses and Permits. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp, available for purchase online, at U.S. Post Offices and at Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges, is required for all waterfowl hunters age 16 and older; no exemptions are made for persons 65 years or older for purchasing federal stamps.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, including specific wildlife area rules, hunters should consult the 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide along with this year’s newly-revised wildlife area maps. Both are 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.

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, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 330

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