Delaware DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter for Dec 21

   12.21.12

Delaware DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter for Dec 21

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 42 complaints and issued 18 citations between Dec. 12 and 19. Incidents of particular note included:

  • On Dec. 13, Ronald W. Spencer, 47, of Clayton, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, plus two hunting-related charges: hunting with an unplugged shotgun – and failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season. Spencer was released on $1,000 unsecured bond pending trial at a later date in the New Castle Court of Common Pleas.

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

Wildlife Conservation: Consumption/possession of alcohol while hunting on state wildlife area (2), carrying a loaded shotgun in a motor vessel (2), trespassing to hunt (1), hunting deer during a closed season (1), and hunting deer with a prohibited weapon (1), New Castle County; Failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season (2), New Castle and Kent counties; Hunting with an unplugged shotgun – capable of holding more than three shells (2), possession of unlawfully taken turkey (1), shooting turkey with prohibited weapon/rifle (1), and possession of unlawfully taken game/waterfowl (1), Kent County; Hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal stamp (1), Sussex County.

Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets aboard (1), Kent County.

Public Safety: Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited (2), Kent County.

Are you AWARE?

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section would like to remind the public that 2012 Delaware fishing licenses expire on Dec. 31, so anglers will need a new license before going fishing in the new year. The 2013 recreational fishing licenses are available for sale on January 1 and can be purchased at DNREC’s license desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover (starting Jan. 2), at license dealers throughout the state, and online at www.fw.delaware.gov/fisheries.

Enforcement also reminds those who receive ATVs, dirt bikes or other off-road vehicles as holiday gifts that it is illegal to ride these vehicles on state wildlife areas or other state-owned lands. ATVs, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles may only be operated on private property with permission of the property owner.

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The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) of the state of Delaware is the primary body concerned with the governance of public land, natural resources, and environmental regulations for the state. DNREC is composed of several Divisions that have correlates in other U.S. State governments:

  • Division of Air and Waste Management
  • Division of Fish and Wildlife
  • Division of Parks and Recreation
  • Division of Soil and Water Conservation
  • Division of Water Resources
The Department is headed by an 'Office of the Secretary'.

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