Reminder for the week: Required hunter education 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. 11-17 made 2,416 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 40 citations. Officers responded to 74 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. 17, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers provided security and logistical support to the Blue Cheetah Timing C&D Canal Half Marathon & 5K held on the Michael N. Castle Trail in the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

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

Wildlife Conservation: Failure to tag antlered deer (4), possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer (1)*, removing antlered deer parts prior to checking (2), failure to purchase a hunter choice tag prior to killing an antlered deer (1), hunting deer with the aid of illegal bait on a wildlife area (6)*, spotlighting (1), hunting on a refuge (2), hunting deer on a Sunday on a state forest (1), hunting deer in archery season with weapon other than a bow (1), trespass to hunt (2), and unlicensed hunting (1).

Public Safety: Failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season (6), possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle (3), and possession, purchase, ownership or control of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited (3).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (2)*, driving with a suspended or revoked license (1)*, operating an unregistered motor vehicle on a state wildlife area (1)*, fictitious tags (1)*, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance (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? Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind the public that per Delaware law, all people born after Jan. 1, 1967, are required to satisfactorily complete a Basic Hunter Education Course to obtain a Delaware hunting license or youth hunting license. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult when taking the course. Hunter education certification is not issued to children under 10 years of age. To learn more about Hunter Education, visit this link, or call 302-735-3600, Ext.1.

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