Late deer seasons provide last chance to harvest deer

DOVER – For hunters still looking to harvest a deer, firearm deer seasons opening in January and continuing archery seasons, some extending into early February, provide the last chance to harvest deer during the 2019/20 hunting season.

Hunting seasons opening in January:
• Brant: Jan. 4 – 27
• Handgun Deer*: Jan. 4, Jan. 6 – 11, excluding Sunday, Jan. 5 and 12
• Shotgun Deer*: Jan. 18 – 26, including Sundays
• Muzzleloader Deer: Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, including Sunday, Feb. 2
*Straight-wall, pistol-caliber rifles are allowed during the January handgun and shotgun deer seasons.

Numerous other hunting seasons remain open in January. Check the 2019-2020 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide for more information.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife offers many hunting opportunities on state wildlife areas. Wildlife area maps and rules are available at Wildlife Area Hunting Maps.

A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is required to hunt, and most waterfowl hunters require a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp. More information on hunting license and Delaware waterfowl stamp requirements is available at Delaware Licenses. Waterfowl and other migratory game bird (except crow) hunters will need a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. To register for a LEN or HIP number, hunters can go to Delaware Hunter and Trapper Registration or call toll free 1-855-335-4868. For hunters age 16 and older, a federal migratory bird stamp is also required to hunt waterfowl.

To purchase a hunting license, either in person or online, hunters born after Jan. 1, 1967, must have a basic hunter education safety course card/number. Hunters who took a Delaware hunter safety course starting in 2008 can print their hunter safety card by going to http://de.gov/huntersafety. Hunters who took their Delaware hunter safety course before 2008 should call the Hunter Education Office at 302-735-3600, ext. 1 to obtain a hunter safety card.

Registered motor vehicles used to access designated wildlife areas owned or managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife are required to display a Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Hunters can opt to receive one free annual CAP with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license. To obtain a CAP, hunters will need the registration card for the vehicle to which the pass will be assigned.

Delaware hunting licenses, Delaware waterfowl stamps, and Conservation Access Passes can be purchased online at Delaware Licenses, at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from hunting license agents statewide. Federal migratory bird stamps are available at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges, and online at Federal duck stamps.

For more information on hunting, click and Wildlife Area Hunting Maps. Hard copies of the guide and newly-updated hunting maps are also available at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office. More information on hunting licenses, season details, and the Conservation Access Pass is also available by calling the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

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

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

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Reminder for the week: Rules on using bait while hunting in Delaware

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Nov. 25 – Dec. 1 made 1,172 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 31 citations. Officers responded to 47 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

• On Nov. 25, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers attended a Toys for Tots donation event with DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, State Parks Natural Resources Police, and Environmental Crimes Natural Resources Police at the Brandywine Zoo as reported in a DNREC press release.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

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

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting migratory waterfowl over illegal bait (1), possession of unlawfully taken waterfowl (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp (3), possess/transport unlawfully taken game – antlerless deer (6), trespass to hunt (1), and hunting on a refuge (2).

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

Public Safety: Possession, purchase, ownership, or control of a firearm, deadly weapon, or ammunition by a person prohibited (5), possession of marijuana – civil (1)*, possession of marijuana – aggravating factor other than for personal use (1), possession of a controlled substance – tier 5 methamphetamines (1), manufacture, deliver, or possession of LSD (1), possession of human growth hormones without prescription (1), and possession of drug paraphernalia (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4)* and wildlife area map violation – parked in an area designated no stopping, standing, or parking (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. The Public are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to http://de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?
Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters that it is illegal to use bait to hunt game, except for hunting deer on privately-owned lands. Bait is defined in Delaware law as any nontoxic food material, compound, or mixture of ingredients which wildlife is able to consume.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click on 2019-2020 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. Printed copies of the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide are available at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by calling the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. The printed guide also is available from license agents throughout the state.

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

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

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

Butcher shops and self-serve coolers available to accept donated deer to help feed those in need

DOVER – During the current peak of the 2019/2020 deer hunting season, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds hunters that its Sportsmen Against Hunger program is available for hunters to donate harvested deer to help feed those in need. All donated deer are processed free of charge to the hunter, and the meat is distributed to participating charitable groups.

Donated deer can be dropped off at participating private butcher shops as well as self-serve, walk-in coolers maintained by the Division of Fish & Wildlife as listed below. Deer generously donated by deer hunters are processed into ground venison and distributed to charitable groups that provide meals for needy Delawareans.

Last year, the Sportsmen Against Hunger program distributed 19,069 pounds of venison from 639 deer donated by hunters to approximately three dozen food pantries and shelters statewide, which provided more than 76,000 meals to Delawareans in need. Since it began in 1992, the program has provided more than two million such meals.

Participating butcher shops in the Sportsmen Against Hunger program

New Castle County

Townsend Deer Butchering
1300 Dexter Corner Road
Townsend, DE 19734
302-378-3268

Kent County

D&J Custom Cutting
89 Myers Drive
Hartly, DE 19953
302-492-0323

Miller’s Butcher Shop
577 Morgans Choice Road
Wyoming, DE 19934
302-697-8278

Sussex County

Dave’s Cut ‘Em Up
6854 Delmar Road
Delmar, DE 19940
302-381-7257

Walk-in cooler locations to donate deer for Sportsmen Against Hunger program

New Castle County

Augustine Wildlife Area, 303 North Congress Street, Port Penn, DE 19731

Kent County

Little Creek Wildlife Area, 3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, DE 19901
Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area, 782 Kersey Road, Viola, DE 19979
Mosquito Control Office, 1161 Airport Road, Milford, DE 19963

Sussex County

Redden State Forest Headquarters, 18074 Redden Forest Drive, Georgetown, DE 19947
Trap Pond State Park, 33587 Bald Cypress Lane, Laurel, DE 19956
Gumboro Community Center, 36849 Millsboro Highway, Millsboro, DE 19966
Assawoman Wildlife Area, 37604 Mulberry Landing Road, Frankford, DE 19945

Hunters donating deer at self-serve, walk-in coolers are asked to call the phone number posted on the cooler so that the deer can be transported for processing in a timely manner. Hunters are reminded that all deer dropped off at a cooler must be field-dressed and registered by the hunter, with the registration number written on the field tag attached to the deer. Coolers are checked frequently, with donated deer taken to participating private butcher shops or the Sussex Correctional Institution’s deer butchering program for processing.

All deer harvested in Delaware, including donated deer, must be registered through the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Hunter and Trapper Registration (HTR) system. Deer hunters are encouraged to access the system online using a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. Hunters who prefer to talk to a live customer service representative can call 1-855-DEL-HUNT (1-855-335-4868).

More information on hunting in Delaware can be found in the 2019-2020 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from license agents statewide.

For more information on the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program, including an interactive map of the donation locations, please visit Sportsmen Against Hunger, or contact Bill Jones, regional wildlife manager, at 302-284-4795 or Eric Ness, deer biologist, at 302-735-3600.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

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

Reminder for the week: Who are Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police?

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Sept. 23-29 made 3,311 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 22 citations. Officers responded to 57 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 Sept. 25 and 29, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers presented information on Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police careers, reviewed safe hunting, hunting laws, and what to expect when checked by an officer in the field at Hunter Education classes held at the Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

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

Wildlife Conservation: Trespass to hunt (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized striped bass (2), possession of undersized blue crabs (1), trespass to fish (2), unlicensed fishing (3), and no Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (1).

Boating & Boating Safety: Failure to maintain a proper lookout (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), and no throwable life preserver aboard as required for vessels 16 feet long or longer (1).

Public Safety: Driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol (1), careless driving (1)*, contents protruding beyond limits of vehicle (1)*, and passenger failure to occupy seating position (1)*.

Other: Littering on a state wildlife area (1) and trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4).

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

Are you AWARE?
You may not be familiar with the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, our mission, and how we serve you and our natural resources.

Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers are certified police officers for the State of Delaware. We work in public service to conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety by promoting compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions, achieved through collaborative community policing of hunting, fishing and boating laws, promoting boating education and safety, responding to boating emergencies, and partnering in Delaware’s Homeland Security maritime mission.

Examples of incidents to which Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers respond include boating violations, hunting violations, recreational and commercial fishing violations, trespassing to hunt or fish, wildlife area violations, search and rescues, and investigations of boating accidents and hunting incidents.

For more information, please contact 302-739-9086. To report violations, incidents, or accidents please call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24-hour dispatch line at: 302-739-4580 or 1-800-523-3336.

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

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

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

DOVER – With Delaware’s trapping season approaching, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Hunter Education Program reminds both residents and non-residents of state trapper education requirements. Trappers born after Jan. 1, 1978, must pass a Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife-approved trapper education course before they can legally purchase a trapping license and trap in the First State.

Registration is now open for the one-day Trapper Education Course, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1, at the Kent County Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center, 3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, DE 19901.

All students who plan to attend the course must register in advance. To register, click Hunter Education Online Access and log in. After logging in, click “Sign me up” and select “Basic Trapper ED.” Students may also contact the Hunter Education Office at 302-735-3600, ext. 1.

Delaware’s trapper education course teaches students age 10 and older about trapping history and heritage, trapping ethics, equipment needed for trapping, fur handling, and laws and regulations. Students will also experience hands-on instruction with land and water trap sets.

Delaware’s 2019/2020 trapping season begins Dec. 1, 2019 in most areas of the state. For more information on trapping and seasons in Delaware, click on 2019-2020 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from license agents throughout the state.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

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

Vol. 49, No. 243