DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter Oct. 31-Nov. 7

DOVER (Nov. 9, 2012) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents responded to 40 complaints and issued 20 citations between Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. Incidents of note included: 

·         On Nov. 2, Enforcement agents charged Jeremy K. Colston, 18, of Hebron, Md., with disposal of solid waste at an unapproved location, dumping on a state wildlife area and entering a state wildlife area after hours in connection with an incident in which 35 bags of trash, boxes and loose items were dumped at the Nanticoke Wildlife Area near Bethel. Colston pled guilty to the charges in Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown and was ordered to pay $765 in fines and court cost, as well as cleaning up the trash and providing a receipt as proof that the trash had been disposed of properly. 

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

Wildlife Conservation: Possession of prohibited lead shot while hunting migratory waterfowl (3), and waterfowl hunting without required state stamp (2), New Castle and Kent counties; operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway in a state wildlife area (1), and damaging state property (1), New Castle County; hunting without a license (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal stamp (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without a Harvest Information Program (H.I.P.) number (1), dog training in a prohibited area* (1), Kent County; disposal of solid waste at an unapproved location (1), dumping on a state wildlife area (1), and entering a state wildlife area after hours (1), Sussex County.

  *Dog training in some state wildlife areas is prohibited for safety reasons when the area is open to hunting. Please check rules and regulations for each wildlife area as pertain to their use for outdoor recreation.

Boating Safety: Negligent operation of a vessel (1), unregistered motor vessel (1), and operating a vessel without required navigation lights (2), New Castle County.

Public Safety: No trailer lights (1), New Castle County.

Other: Unregistered motor vehicle (1), New Castle County.

Are you AWARE?

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section reminds deer hunters who do their own butchering that processed deer carcasses are considered household waste and should be properly bagged and disposed of in their regular trash. Deer carcasses shouldnot be dumped along roadways.

Also, the Enforcement Section is sharing details below from a recent incident that illustrates last week’s winter hunting/boating safety tips: On Nov. 2, two duck hunters were rescued from a remote pond on the C&D Canal Wildlife Area after their small aluminum boat capsized. The pair made their way to shore, but became lost in the marsh. Delaware State Police airlifted them to Christiana Medical Center, where they were treated for hypothermia and released. Enforcement’s investigation indicated that the two hunters and their equipment considerably exceeded the weight capacity of their small vessel. The vessel’s owner was cited for negligent operation of a vessel, operation of an unregistered motor vessel, and hunting migratory waterfowl with lead shot. 

Citizens are encouraged to report fish and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section by calling 302-739-4580.