DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife today announced the first-place winner and five top entries chosen from its 2016 Delaware Fishing Photo Contest. The winning photos will appear on the cover or inside the forthcoming 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide.

First place was awarded to Shenna Bogetti of Dover, for her photo titled “Daddy & Daughter’s 1st Drum” of her husband Brian Bogetti and daughter Mackenzie Bogetti fishing in the Delaware Bay.

The other contest winners are:
• Second place: “Reflections,” by Christine Fletcher of Milton, for her photo of family member Ernie Fletcher at Reynolds Pond.
• Third place: “Catching the Breeze,” by Amy Baldwin of Newark, for her photo of her daughter Ella surf fishing at Cape Henlopen State Park.
• Honorable mention: “The Boys,” by Katresa Foster of Milford, for her photo of friend Bill Grove and family member Mike Foster at Bowers Beach.
• Honorable mention: “Finlee’s First Catch,” by Katresa Foster of Milford, for her photo of family members Finlee and Mike Foster at the Mispillion Riverwalk.

Three DNREC judges – Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis, Fisheries Biologist Bruce Cole and Freda Barrett, amateur photographer – selected the top five entries. The contest specified that photographs must have been taken in Delaware and depict fishing with family or friends.

Judges were looking for photos that best portrayed this year’s contest theme, “Fishing with Family or Friends,” which carried a lot of photographic consideration from the judges in selecting winning entries.

“The photography contest is a great chance for anglers to showcase and share their fishing adventures with other anglers,” said Fish & Wildlife Director Saveikis. “The theme and these photographs help reinforce and capture the fun of a shared outdoor fishing experience, and we hope they will inspire others to enjoy the great sport of fishing and to enter next year’s photography contest to capture the fishing experience.”

The winning photographs can be viewed on the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s website, where contest information and forms are also available. Information and contest forms can also be obtained by calling Jennifer Childears at 302-739-9120 or by email at Jennifer.childears@delaware.gov.

The Division of Fish & Wildlife’s annual Delaware Hunting Photo Contest is accepting entries through Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Details of the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s 2017 Fishing Photo Contest will be announced in the spring.

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

Vol. 46, No. 414

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LEWES – Annual state park pass sales at Cape Henlopen State Park will be postponed this year due to ongoing renovation of the park office, Division of Parks & Recreation officials announced today. In-person purchases of park passes begin at parks statewide Nov. 28.

During construction this fall, park staff sold passes at the fee booth at the park entrance. This worked well for the smaller numbers of passes sold during the fall. However, the passes are very popular for gift giving, and demand is high during the holiday season.

Once the renovation is complete, 2017 pass and permit sales will resume. In the interim, passes are available online beginning Nov. 25 at destateparks.com/AnnualPass. Parks visitors can also buy passes and permits at the Indian River Life-Saving Station, 3.5 miles south of Dewey Beach on Delaware Route 1. The Indian River Lifesaving Station is open Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The new annual passes are $35 for residents and $18 for residents age 62 and older. These, along with surf tags and military passes will be available online beginning Friday, Nov. 25 at www.destateparks.com/fees/passes. On Nov. 28, the public can purchase them in person from other state park offices, DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or from authorized agents including: Eastern Marine in Newark, Carlisle Marine in Smyrna, Sam’s Fishing and Tackle in Greenwood, That Place in Millsboro, and Dover Air Force Base and the Rehoboth Beach/Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.

In the meantime, good news for visitors: the placement of the annual pass has changed this year. It adheres to the outside of a vehicle’s windshield, rather than the inside.

“Many of our customers were having difficulty removing the sticker, and with tinted windshields, the Division felt it was time to put the sticker on the outside,” said Mary Voshell, chief of the Division’s Office of Business Services. “On the outside, the pass will be much easier to adhere to – and remove from – the windshield.” The pass will also be much more visible, Voshell added. “Staff and park rangers can now more easily see the pass in order to waive customers through the entrance stations and to check for violations.”

Delaware State Parks annual park passes and surf permits make great holiday gifts for the entire family, providing a full year of outdoor adventure, in Delaware’s 14 state parks. Whether it’s to hike or bike one of the many trails, walk the sandy beaches, participate in a nature program or attend an evening concert, the annual pass is a gift filled with year round activities.

Delaware’s state parks are primarily self-funded; 65 percent of state park revenue used to operate and maintain the parks is generated by park users. Annual passes not only are important to sustain state parks, they are a convenient way to access the parks for the entire fee season, March 1 through Nov. 30

Income from annual pass sales and other user fees goes directly to Delaware State Parks, where it is used to manage more than 26,000 acres of state park land and to ensure visitor safety, maintain trails and historic buildings provide environmental education and recreational programs, manage habitats and species and provide campgrounds, cabins and cottages, and more. More information about Delaware’s State Parks is available at destateparks.com.

Delaware State Parks won the highest honor a state parks system can receive: the 2016 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This prestigious award recognizes state parks systems throughout the nation that best address the needs of those they serve. Delaware State Parks was the only small state to ever be voted “America’s Best.”

Vol. 46, No. 407

Reminder for the week: Waterfowl hunters advised to remove lead shot from gear

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 Nov. 14-20 made 1,379 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 24 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 106 citations. Officers responded to 56 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
Incidents of note:
• On Nov. 20, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Dennis M. Ruff, 53, of New Castle, following an investigation into a report of shot from a shotgun striking a house near Lewes. Ruff was charged with one count each of first-degree reckless endangering, striking an occupied dwelling with shot discharged from a firearm, criminal mischief under $1,000 and discharging a firearm in a safety zone within 100 yards of a residence. Ruff was released on $4,252 unsecured bond, pending an appearance in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas at a later date. No injuries were reported.

• On Nov. 20, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a Lewes commercial waterman for 75 counts of possession of undersized channeled conch aboard his commercial vessel when boarded for a routine check near Lewes. He pled guilty to eight counts of possession of undersized channeled conch and was fined $568 in Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown.

• On Nov. 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Mark Willoughby, 36, of Greenwood following an investigation into a report of shot from a shotgun striking a house near Greenwood. Willoughby was charged with one count each of striking an occupied dwelling with shot discharged from a firearm and failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season. He was released pending an appearance in Justice of the Peace Court 3 at a later date. No injuries were reported.

• On Nov. 17, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police with the assistance of K-9 River located and cited a Newark man for one count each of trespassing to hunt and failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season near Christiana. The man was fined $330, including court costs.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Unlicensed hunting (1), trespassing to hunt (1), hunting on a refuge (3)*, failure to tag antlerless deer (1), failure to register antlerless deer within 24 hours (1), littering on a state wildlife area (3)*, dumping solid waste (1), and trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (2), possession of undersized tautog (4), and possession of undersized striped bass (1).
Commercial: Possession of undersized conch (75).

Public Safety: Carrying a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle (1), striking an occupied dwelling with shot discharged from a firearm (2), first degree reckless endangering (1), criminal mischief under $1,000 (1), discharging a firearm in a safety zone (1), and failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season (3).

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

Are you AWARE?
With fall’s second waterfowl hunting season segment open through Saturday, Nov. 26 and the third duck season segment coming up Friday, Dec. 9 thru Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind waterfowl hunters to check their hunting gear bags, coats, boats and any other gear to make sure they are not carrying any lead shot.

“Small game hunters sometimes forget to remove boxes of lead shot from their hunting bags or accidentally leave extra lead shells in their hunting coat pockets when they go waterfowl hunting,” said Sgt. John McDerby of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “Using lead shot for waterfowl hunting is prohibited to prevent habitat contamination and ingestion poisoning of wildlife, and hunters can be fined for possession of lead shot while waterfowl hunting, whether the shot is chambered or simply carried.”

Hunters wishing to hunt waterfowl on Augustine, Cedar Swamp, Woodland Beach, Little Creek, Ted Harvey or Assawoman wildlife areas also are reminded they must go through a lottery. Lotteries are held two hours before sunrise for all areas except for Little Creek/Ted Harvey, where the lottery is held 2.5 hours prior to sunrise. Hunters should plan to arrive in time to sign up for the drawing. 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 where hunting licenses are sold. This permit is waived for hunters participating in Division of Fish & Wildlife-designated youth hunting days.

More information about waterfowl blind lotteries and availability at individual wildlife areas as well as specific wildlife area rules can be found online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps. For more information on waterfowl hunting in Delaware, visit 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. Printed copies of the guide and the wildlife area maps are also available at DNREC’s Dover license desk, 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 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.

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

Vol. 46, No. 406

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

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 Nov. 7-13 made 1,624 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 40 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 79 citations. Officers responded to 102 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 Nov. 10, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Kent County officers displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer during an event at the Farmington Volunteer Fire Company. The trailer is used to educate visitors about illegally harvested game and includes a display of confiscated weapons used in wildlife crimes as well as information about Natural Resources Police careers. Officers interacted with about 70 visitors.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions
Incidents of note:
• On Nov. 11, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Ronald Degano, 20, of Dover, for deer hunting and traffic violations following a traffic stop near Felton. Degano was charged with one count each of failure to tag antlered deer, failure to retain antlered deer tag, failure to register antlered deer within 24 hours, butchering antlered deer prior to registration, possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer and operating an off-road vehicle on a public roadway. He was taken to Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover, where he pled guilty to failure to tag antlered deer and was fined $1,241, including court costs, and released.

• On Nov. 13, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited a Pennsylvania man and a Middletown man for operating unregistered off-road vehicles on the C&D Canal Conservation Area. Both were fined $225 each, including court costs.

• On Nov. 12, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited a New Castle man for operating a motor vehicle without insurance, following a motor vehicle too closely and making an improper lane change near Stanton. He was released pending a mandatory court appearance at a later date.

• On Nov. 12, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited three men from Gordonsville, Pa. for hunting-related violations while trespassing to hunt on private property near Hockessin. Two of the men were charged with trespassing to hunt and possession of unlawfully taken antlerless deer; both were fined $330 each, including court costs. The third was charged with trespassing to hunt, two counts of possession of unlawfully taken antlerless deer and hunting deer with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells; he was fined $660, including court costs.

• On Nov. 11, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited a Seaford man for hunting deer over bait on a state refuge, possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area near Seaford. He was fined $1,441, including court costs.

• On Nov. 11, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited a Wilmington man for deer hunting-related violations on New Castle County-owned property near Wilmington. He was charged with one count each of hunting on a refuge, hunting deer over bait on a refuge and failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season. He was fined $379, including court costs.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Unlicensed hunting (4), trespassing to hunt (6), hunting on a refuge (1), hunting deer over bait on a refuge (2), hunting deer over bait on a state wildlife area (1), harvesting an antlered deer without purchasing an antlered deer tag (1), failure to retain antlered deer tag (1), possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer (3), possession of unlawfully taken antlerless deer (4), failure to tag antlerless deer (2), failure to tag antlered deer (3), failure to register antlerless deer within 24 hours (1), failure to register antlered deer within 24 hours (1), butchering antlerless deer prior to registration (1), hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (7), no daily waterfowl permit (2), hunting in a restricted area of a state wildlife area (1), damaging state property on a wildlife area (1), operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1), and trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (5).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (1), possession of undersized black sea bass (1), possession of undersized striped bass (4), and possession of undersized conch (1).

Public Safety: Carrying a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle (2), hunting deer during a closed season/nighttime (2), third degree conspiracy (2), hunting from a motor vehicle (2), shooting on or across a public roadway (1), shooting within 15 yards of a public roadway (1), failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season (7), operating a motor vehicle without insurance (1), following a motor vehicle too closely (1), making an improper lane change (1), operating an off-road vehicle on a public roadway (2), and operating an unregistered off-road vehicle/ATV (2)*.

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

A press release was issued related to this week’s citations: DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrest two Maryland men for multiple nighttime deer poaching violations.

Are you AWARE?
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters participating in waterfowl hunting season Monday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 26 that hunting from a vessel within 1,500 feet of an established waterfowl blind without permission is prohibited.

Waterfowl hunters also are reminded to “get the lead out” by removing from their firearms, hunting bags, coats and vests any leftover lead shot from shotgun deer season or from small game hunting, including buckshot, deer slugs and shotgun shells. Only non-toxic shot, as approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, may be used in Delaware to hunt waterfowl, including ducks, geese and coots. For a list of approved non-toxic shot, click USFWS non-toxic shot.

Also, hunting game on private property without permission of the owner and/or residents is considered trespassing to hunt and is a hunting violation. 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 trespassing to hunt. Those cited for trespassing to hunt face potential fines up to $100 plus court costs.

Other rules and general hunting information:
• Shotgun deer season opens again Saturday, Jan. 14 through Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, including Sunday, Jan. 15. Archery deer season remains open through Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.
• Upcoming or ongoing small game hunting seasons are: gray squirrel (through Saturday, Feb. 4), quail (Monday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Jan. 7), pheasant (Monday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Feb. 4) and rabbit (Monday, Nov. 21 through Tuesday, Feb. 28).
• 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 in DNREC’s Dover licensing desk or online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps.
• Small game hunters, particularly squirrel hunters, need to be aware that they may be sharing their hunting spots with camouflaged archery deer hunters in tree stands.
• 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.
• Successful waterfowl hunters who plan to leave their birds with another person or somewhere other than in their possession are required to tag them with their name, address, the total number and species of birds taken and the date taken; tags may be made by the hunter or obtained from a picking house or taxidermist. Without tagging, hunters are not permitted to leave birds in the custody of another person for any reason, including picking, cleaning, storage, transportation or taxidermy.

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 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.

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.

Vol. 46, No. 403

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DOVER – Delaware State Parks and outdoor recreation retailer Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), invite the public to #OptOutside on Black Friday, Nov. 25, when admission to all of Delaware’s state parks will be free of charge. REI initiated the “Opt Outside” program last year to encourage children and families to enjoy the outdoors, rather than participate in Black Friday retail sales.

The $2.4 billion co-op shut all 149 of its doors on Black Friday and gave each of their 12,287 employees a paid day off so that they could get out from behind the register, and get into the great outdoors. According to REI, about 1.4 million people participated nationwide last year. This year, REI is building on that momentum by inviting the outdoor community to support the concept again.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of such an innovative and exciting movement, and hope to see many families and friends enjoying our parks all day,” said Delaware State Parks Marketing Director Madison Watkins. “Those willing to forego marathon shopping and opt instead for a day of hiking, biking and other adventures will find more than 100 miles of trails to explore throughout Delaware, spectacular locations for bird and wildlife watching, scenic views and much more.”

All Delaware State Parks gates will open at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Park offices will be closed. The Division encourages visitors to use the hashtag #OptOutside on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to show their support, and invite their families and friends to join in.

“We guarantee this will be more fun than standing in line at the mall,” added Watkins.

Visit www.destateparks.com for park locations and more ideas on how to spend the day outside in Delaware State Parks and check out REI.com/opt-outside to upload your #OptOutside photos.

Vol. 46, No. 405

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