DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter Nov. 27 - Dec. 12

Reminder for the week: Boaters need proper gear, safety equipment for winter weather

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 Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents responded to 76 complaints and issued 61 citations between Nov. 27 and Dec. 12. Incidents of particular note included: On Nov. 27, three men were cited in connection with an incident on Delaware Department of Transportation state property in Bear. John R. Hitch, 28, of Townsend was charged with one count each of conspiracy and hunting red fox out of season. Stanley W. Anthony, 59, of Camden, and Michael Gurczenski, 40, of New Castle, were each charged with one count of conspiracy in connection with illegal hunting. The three men pled guilty to the charges in Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle. Hitch paid $148 in fines and court costs, while Anthony and Gurczenski paid $91.50 in fines and court costs. 

On Dec. 10, Clifton F. Coppock, 51, of Dover, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol combined with prescription drugs, driving without a license, driving a vehicle without insurance, making an improper turn and failure to remain in a single lane. Coppock was tested and released pending a later court date.

On Dec. 11, six Fish and Wildlife agents provided visiting representatives from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with a tour of critical infrastructure along the Delaware River and C&D Canal aboard the new Enforcement patrol boat MP-Victor. The visitors had attended a conference with DNREC representatives, the National Guard and Delaware State Police earlier in the day.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (1), consumption/possession of alcohol while hunting on state wildlife area (1), hunting illegally on a refuge (1), damaging state property (6), operating an off-road vehicle without a helmet (1), illegally operating an off-road vehicle on a state wildlife area (1), illegal target shooting on a state wildlife area (1), and hunting red fox during a closed season (1), New Castle County; Operating a motor vehicle off established roadways on a state wildlife area (7), New Castle, Kent counties; Hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal stamp (1), hunting with an unplugged shotgun (2), rallying waterfowl, causing them to fly toward hunters (1), trespassing to hunt (1), late shooting (2), and unlicensed hunting guide service (1), Kent County; Failure to tag antlered deer (1), failure to register antlerless deer as required within 24 hours of harvest (6), failure to tag antlerless deer (6), hunting deer with firearm during archery season (1), hunting with a firearm in a closed area of state forest lands (1),failure to display hunter orange during a firearms deer season (1), allowing shot to hit a building (1), Sussex County.

Fisheries Conservation: Fishing without a license (2), Kent County.

Public Safety/Other: Conspiracy (3), New Castle County; Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (1), driving without a license (1), driving a vehicle without insurance (1), failure to remain in single lane (1), making an improper turn (1), criminal trespass (1), lewdness (2), dumping (1), and littering from a motor vehicle (1), Kent County; Loitering (1), Sussex County.

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