Category: HUNTING & FISHING

DNREC Fish/Wildlife Police Blotter Jan. 27- Feb. 2

Reminder for the week: Snow Goose Conservation Order season provides additional hunting opportunities

DOVER (Feb. 7, 2020) – DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources, promote boating safety, and protect the public through outreach, education, and law enforcement. To help achieve public compliance with laws and regulations, officers from Jan. 27-Feb. 2 made 1,713 public contacts and responded to 61 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Officers issued a total of 28 citations for the following listed violations related to:

Wildlife Conservation:

Unlawful to provide a guided hunt on division lands, unlicensed hunting, hunting license forgery, hunting migratory waterfowl without required HIP number, hunting migratory waterfowl without required state waterfowl stamp, hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp, and possession of unlawfully taken waterfowl.

Boating & Boating Safety:

Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets.

Public Safety:

Striking an occupied dwelling with shot discharged from a firearm.

Other:

Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area, operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area, unregistered motor vehicle on a state wildlife area, and criminal mischief.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. The public can report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or using the free smartphone DENRP Tip app downloaded from the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations can 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 hunters that the 2020 Snow Goose Conservation Order season to harvest snow geese will be closing for the youth waterfowl hunting day on Saturday, Feb. 8, reopening Monday, Feb. 10 through Friday, April 10, excluding Sundays.

The Snow Goose Conservation Order season allows use of unplugged shotguns and electronic calls, with no daily bag and possession limits. Legal shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Federal and state hunting regulations otherwise apply.

To participate in the Snow Goose Conservation Order season, hunters must obtain and keep in their possession while hunting snow geese a free Snow Goose Conservation Order permit number, available at

https://egov.delaware.gov/htr

.  Individuals needing assistance in obtaining the permit number can call 302-735-3600 during business hours Monday through Friday.

Conservation Order participants are also required to have a valid Delaware hunting license or license-exempt number (LEN) or a Maryland resident hunting license (unless exempt in Maryland), a Delaware waterfowl stamp (unless exempt), and a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. A federal waterfowl stamp is not required.

LEN and HIP numbers are available, and participants in the Conservation Order are required to report their hunting activity and success to the Division of Fish & Wildlife by Wednesday, May 1, 2020, at the website above or by calling 855-DELHUNT (855-335-4868).

For more information on the Snow Goose Conservation Order, please call 302-739-9912 or visit

https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/

.

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Police Blotter: Jan. 20-26

Reminder for the week: Deer, duck, and dove hunting seasons ending

DOVER (Jan. 31, 2020) – DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources, promote boating safety, and protect the public through outreach, education, and law enforcement. To help achieve public compliance with laws and regulations, officers from Jan. 20-26 made 1,177 public contacts and responded to 67 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Officers issued a total of 54 citations for the following listed violations related to:

Wildlife Conservation:

Unlawful to provide a guided hunt on division lands, unlicensed hunting, hunting license forgery, hunting migratory waterfowl without required HIP number, hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp, hunting migratory waterfowl without required state waterfowl stamp, possession of unlawfully taken waterfowl, failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours, failure to purchase a hunter choice tag prior to killing an antlered deer, failure to tag antlered deer, possess/transport an unlawfully taken antlered deer, failure to tag antlerless deer, failure to check antlerless deer within 24 hours, unlawful to purchase, sell, attempt to sell antlerless deer or antlerless deer parts, hunting deer with a firearm during archery season, unlawful use of dog training area*, and trespass to hunt.

Boating & Boating Safety:

No boating safety certificate and no throwable preserver aboard as required for vessels 16 feet long or longer.

Public Safety:

Failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season, possession, purchase, ownership, or control of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, possession of heroin, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Other:

Impede a lawful hunt, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area, operating an unregistered motor vehicle on a state wildlife area, fictitious motor vehicle tags, driving with a suspended or revoked license, loitering, and criminal impersonation.

*

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 Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. The public can report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or using the free smartphone DENRP Tip app downloaded from the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations can 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 hunters that deer, duck, and dove hunting seasons are coming to an end:

Duck season ends Friday, Jan. 31

Dove season ends Friday, Jan. 31

Deer Archery and Crossbow seasons end Sunday, Feb.2

Deer Muzzleloader season ends Sunday, Feb. 2 (archery equipment and crossbows can be used during muzzleloader season)

Although many hunting seasons are ending, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police encourage the public to report game law violations as soon as possible. Some illegal activities that should be reported include:

The use of an artificial light to illuminate wildlife, also known as spotlighting, in any manner, including from a motor vehicle, for the purpose of hunting or observing

Target shooting on state wildlife areas (target shooting on private property is allowed seven days a week, within the parameters of local, county, and state ordinances)

Shots fired from or across a public road or right-of-way, or within 15 yards of a public roadway

Carrying a loaded weapon in a vehicle or vessel in association with hunting

For more information on hunting – including hunter education, licensing, hunting and trapping seasons, limits, regulations, wildlife area information, and more, with sections devoted to deer, small game, turkey, and migratory birds – click on

2019-2020 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide

. Wildlife area maps with area-specific regulations are available online at

Wildlife Area Maps

.

Maryland Fishing Report: Hardy Souls Not Letting Weather Keep Them From Their Favorite Past-Time

January 29, 2020

Photo by Gregg Salsi

Even though it’s winter, periodic warm spells and days when there is little wind and plenty of sunshine afford fishermen a chance to wet a line. The pre-season trout stocking program is well underway and trout management waters are being stocked every week.

January through March is the time of the year when many attend outdoor shows to view or purchase new fishing tackle, or even book that fishing trip to a dream destination. The department’s Fishing and Boating Services will have staff present at the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg from Feb. 1-9 at Maryland FishHunt booth 2521 in Fishing Hall. We hope you’ll come see us!

Many anglers have questions about what is going to happen in regards to management decisions and new regulations concerning striped bass. The entire striped bass fishery of the East Coast is impacted by the need to meet conservation targets established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. In Maryland, commercial quotas are being cut 1.8 percent and there are several proposals concerning the recreational fishery. You can follow the most recent

regulation changes and proposals

and find

up-to-date questions and answers

on the Department of Natural Resources website.

Forecast Summary: Winter 2020:

With water temperatures in the low 40s, bay fish are now in winter holding areas. With plenty of cool waters and oxygen from surface to bottom, look for concentrations of fish in some of the

remaining warm water areas.

In the main bay, warmer bottom waters — deeper than 50 feet — are located from the Bay Bridge south to near the Virginia state line, in areas with good structure and protection from strong current such as underwater points, channel edges, and bridge pilings with nearby oyster bottom and reefs. The other warm water areas to consider are near the water discharges of power plants.

We will begin our weekly reports again in March. However, for those hearty cold water anglers, all water conditions maps, plots and satellite pics will be continuously updated and posted. So for detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, continue to check out

Click Before You Cast

.

To better understand the monthly movements and habitat preferences of your favorite fish, check out our new feature,

Chesapeake Creature Conditions

.

Upper Chesapeake Bay

David Brown holds up a pair of yellow perch caught in the lower Susquehanna River. Photo courtesy of David Brown

The lower Susquehanna River has been offering some good fishing for blue catfish near the railroad bridge in about 40 feet of water. Most of the blue catfish being caught are in the 4-pound to 8-pound size range, which make for good eating. Fresh cut baits of gizzard shad are the most popular bait choice. Channel catfish can also be found in the same areas.

Large flathead catfish may be encountered at the Conowingo Dam pool, using stout surfcasting outfits and casting into the turbine wash with chunks of gizzard shad on a large heavy jig head or a bottom rig. Snags are common and using a dropper line or lighter line from a three-way to your sinker can help save some rig-tying headaches.

Yellow perch are providing some good fishing and excellent eating this month. The deep hole out in front of Perryville Condominiums is a great place to fish for them. Most use a dropper rig with enough sinker to hold bottom — the droppers can be small plastic jigs or minnows, which tend to be the most successful offering.

The tidal rivers in the upper bay also offer good fishing for yellow perch. They can be found holding in the middle to upper sections of the rivers, in some of the deeper holes. Minnows or grass shrimp on a dropper rig is usually the best bet in deeper and more open waters. Casting out on a small jig head and working slowly along the bottom works best where waters are shallower and more confined. The Northeast, Bush, Magothy, and Chester are all good yellow perch rivers to explore. The yellow perch

f

ishing location map on our website can help guide you to yellow perch fishing locations throughout Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake.

Those looking for some catch-and-release action with striped bass are finding some at the Bay Bridge this week. The striped bass are deep and holding close to the rock piles and concrete abutments. They can often be seen stacked like cordwood close to the bottom. Jigging is the best way to get to them and one will have to get up close and personal since they are not moving. It is not uncommon to foul-hook them even with a single-hook plastic jig.

Middle Bay

Eric Packard holds up a nice chain pickerel from Smithville Lake on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Photo by Eric Packard

Most of the fishing activity in the middle bay has focused on the yellow perch entering the middle to upper sections of the tidal rivers. The yellow perch are generally holding in the deeper sections of the rivers and can be caught on live minnows fished close to the bottom. Casting beetle spins and small Gulp jigs into the channel areas in the upper regions of the tidal rivers is also a great way to fish for yellow perch. The Choptank, Tuckahoe, and Severn rivers are good places to look for them.

Chain pickerel are very active and can provide a lot of fun in most all of the region’s tidal rivers. They will attack most any kind of lure, often violently, and can inhale smaller lures with treble hooks which can lead to gill damage and mortality. Replacing treble hooks with single hooks and flattening barbs is always a good idea.

Channel and white catfish are active despite the cold water temperatures and can offer some fun fishing from a small boat or a river bank. Most any kind of fresh cut bait works well as does chicken liver, hearts, and breast. Shoreline fishing can be especially relaxing this time of the year. A sunny sheltered location and a good forked stick and seat go a long way to enjoying a peaceful winter’s day. It always pays to put out a lighter rod rigged with small minnows, since yellow perch can often be found in the same areas at the same time.

Lower Bay

Stephen Griffin holds up a beauty before slipping her back into the bay. Photo courtesy of Travis Long

The lower bay had an amazing catch-and-release fishery for large striped bass during the second week of January that will be talked about for months to come. Those that enjoy giving that extra effort to be out on the water during these cold months, on days that are a little more forgiving to small boat anglers, can cash in big time.

Around mid-January, a large school of striped bass in the neighborhood or 40 inches or larger showed up and those that were there kicked off 2020 with some exciting fishing. Large soft plastic jigs on half-ounce to 1-ounce jig heads depending on current and drift conditions worked best. Images being replayed in angler’s memories will encourage them to keep scouting for further catch-and-release opportunities in the coming weeks — best of luck to you all.

Fishing for yellow perch and blue catfish offer many a chance to get out in a small boat or a sheltered shoreline this time of the year. The yellow perch are steadily moving up the tidal rivers and can be found in deep water anywhere from the middle regions of the tidal rivers to the upper sections. Those fishing the middle regions of the rivers are fishing deep with bait where the perch are holding. Small minnows or grass shrimp on a dropper rig is often a good bet. In the upper sections of the tidal rivers, the yellow perch will be holding in some of the deeper holes and channels waiting for warmer water to move further. Small minnows or grass shrimp on a bottom rig is a good choice. Lip hooking a minnow with a split shot about two feet in front is a great way to search for yellow perch as it is slowly retrieved along the bottom. Crappie and chain pickerel may also have a second look at your minnow. The Nanticoke, Wicomico, Pocomoke, and various tributaries to the Potomac are excellent places to look for yellow perch.

Blue catfish offer plenty of fishing in the tidal Potomac, Nanticoke, and Patuxent rivers this time of the year. The Fort Washington area tends to be the center of it all in the tidal Potomac, and the marina there has a good boat ramp. The deep channels are the place to look for the catfish this time of the year. Stout tackle, plenty of fresh cut bait such as gizzard shad, and a large ice chest are the tools of the trade. The 3-pound to 8-pound catfish make for the best eating; the meat is mild tasting and they freeze well. You will also earn a gold star in the fisheries conservation club since they are an invasive species and population expansion is out of control. They now make up about 80% of the fish biomass in Virginia’s James River, which is where this all started.

Freshwater Fishing

Bryan Sysko is all smiles with this rainbow trout he caught in the Patapsco River recently. One can’t help but notice those rosy cheeks — it must have been cold that day. Photo by Bryan Sysko

The pre-season stocking of trout is well underway for 2020, as many trout management waters are being stocked with generous amounts of fat and healthy fish. Hatchery staff have been working hard to provide the highest quality trout possible, and every stocking has a few trophy trout that can go 6 to 10 pounds each.

Trout fishing offers some excellent opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy time outdoors. Trout management waters are spread from the Eastern Shore to the far western regions. They range from convenient community ponds to spectacular mountain rivers. You can fish as simply as using a bobber and bait from a chair on a grass bank of a community pond. Or you can go completely outfitted in waders and casting a nymph with a fly rod in the fast moving waters of a special trout management river. One can check the

trout stocking website

to see the latest updates.

Those who dream of hard water conditions at Deep Creek Lake have not been fulfilled so far this year, but there is still February. In the meantime, there is excellent fishing for crappie near the bridge piers and steep drop-offs. Minnows or small marabou jigs under a slip bobber tend to be the most popular way to fish for them. Walleye are also active and can be caught near steep rocky drop-offs by drifting minnows. Soft plastic grubs are a good choice for largemouth and smallmouth bass in deep water at the base of drop-offs. They are holding close to the bottom and lure pickups will be subtle. Northern pike and chain pickerel are active and can be caught on a variety of lures. The pike tend to be stationed at the mouths of large coves and the pickerel near sunken structure along the shorelines.

Walleye and smallmouth bass can be found in the upper Potomac River in deep water near underwater ledges,; grubs and small crankbaits offer good options to catch them. Farther down the river the Dickerson Power Plant warm water discharge has always been a favorite winter fishing spot for a variety of fish species. Our biologist Mark Toms reports that the plant is now on a power generation schedule, where it is only running when additional power is needed.

Largemouth bass are holding in relatively deep water wherever they can find it, whether they are in a small farm pond, reservoir, or tidal river. Soft plastic jigs such as grubs with as light a jig head as possible are a good tactic when worked close to the bottom of drop-offs. If you’re fishing from a boat, blade lures work very well this time of the year. If it is a sunny day, largemouth may move to exposed shallower waters where the sun has a chance to warm the waters slightly during the afternoon.

Northern snakeheads are rather inactive during the cold winter months but warm sunny days can spur them into activity. Large minnows under a bobber is perhaps the best way to fish for them during the cold months.

Chain pickerel love the cold and are very active in the many ponds, lakes, and tidal rivers spread across Maryland. Small to medium-sized chain pickerel can be found near sunken wood along shorelines; the lunkers tend to be in more open water near structure.

Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays

Photo by Monty Hawkins

The Ocean City fishing community lost a dear friend. The passing of Larry Jock in early January hit everyone hard since it was so unexpected; Larry was too young to go and he will be dearly missed.

The best show in the Ocean City region this winter is the good tautog fishing at the offshore wreck and reef sites. Charter and party boats have to pick their weather this time of the year but when the wind lays down some great catches of tautog are occurring.

Department biologists have been studying the tautog populations off Ocean City for many years now, and one of the things they’ve focused on is how old the fish are at various lengths. Based on data from 2015 thru 2018 it takes approximately 5 to 8 years for a tautog to reach 16 inches.

Some of the seasons and regulations have been made public for several species of interest.

2020 Summer Flounder:

Jan. 1 thru Dec. 31, 16.5 inch minimum, 4 fish per day.

2020 Sea Bass:

May 15 thru Dec. 31, 12.5 inch minimum, 15 fish per day.

2020 Tautog:

Jan. 7 thru May 15, 16-inch minimum, 4 fish per day.

Closed May 16 thru June 30.

July 1 thru Oct. 31, 2 fish per day.

Nov. 1 thru Dec. 31, 4 fish per day.

2020 Bluefish:

Effective Feb. 1:

Private boat or fishing from shore, 3 fish per day.

Charter boat, 5 fish per day.

2020 Shortfin Mako:

Effective Jan. 27:

Male 71-inch minimum fork length, female 83-inch minimum fork length.

“In every species of fish I’ve angled for, it is the ones that have got away that thrill me the most, the ones that keep fresh in my memory. So I say it is good to lose fish. If we didn’t, much of the thrill of angling would be gone.”– Ray Bergman.

Maryland Fishing Report

is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood,

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

fisheries biologist.

Click Before You Cast is written by Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment Director Tom Parham.

Delaware Announces Additional Hunting Opportunities in February

DOVER (Jan. 29, 2020) – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is promoting additional hunting opportunities in February with a second special youth waterfowl hunting day on Feb. 8, the one-day reopening of the regular snow goose hunting season Feb. 8, and the opening of the Snow Goose Conservation Order season Feb. 1.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day:

The one-day, special youth waterfowl hunting day Saturday, Feb. 8 is open for hunters ages 10 through 15. Normal daily waterfowl bag limits and hunting regulations apply during the special youth waterfowl hunting day, to include a limit of 25 snow geese and one Canada goose.

Youth hunters must be of sufficient physical size and strength to safely handle a firearm, and must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter age 21 or older who cannot possess a firearm during the youth hunt. Youth hunters age 13 through 15 must have completed a hunter education course, obtained a hunter education certification card, and purchased a Delaware junior hunting license. Youth hunters age 10 through 12 must possess a license exempt number (LEN) and may have taken a hunter education course. All youth waterfowl hunters need a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. No state or federal waterfowl stamps are required for youth hunters.

Youth waterfowl hunting is available on those state wildlife areas with a lottery drawing for a waterfowl blind. The morning lottery is held 1.5 hours before legal shooting time at Augustine, Cedar Swamp, Woodland Beach, and Assawoman, and two hours before legal shooting time at Little Creek and Ted Harvey. Those state wildlife areas that allow waterfowl hunting and do not have lotteries are also open on the youth waterfowl day. Wildlife area rules and regulations are available at

Wildlife Area Maps

.

Snow goose one-day hunting season:

The regular snow goose hunting season reopens for one daySaturday, Feb. 8, when adult hunters can also hunt snow geese subject to regular snow goose season bag limits and hunting regulations.

Snow Goose Conservation Order season:

The Snow Goose Conservation Order season is open Saturday, Feb. 1 through Friday, Feb. 7,

closing

for the youth waterfowl hunting day and one-day reopening of the regular snow goose season on Saturday, Feb. 8, and reopening Monday, Feb. 10 through Friday, April 10. The Snow Goose Conservation Order is a separate season open only for snow geese that occurs when Delaware’s regular waterfowl hunting seasons are closed. The Snow Goose Conservation Order is

not

open

on Sundays.

During the Snow Goose Conservation Order, liberal harvest methods are allowed to help reduce the large snow goose population that is damaging the species’ Arctic nesting grounds and local wetlands and agricultural lands in the Mid-Atlantic region where the birds overwinter. Legal shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset, and there are no daily bag and possession limits. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls are allowed. All other federal and state hunting regulations apply. If hunting on a state wildlife area where the Conservation Order is open, hunters should refer to

Wildlife Area Maps

for specific rules and regulations.

Hunters participating in the Snow Goose Conservation Order must obtain a free snow goose conservation order permit number, which must be in their possession while hunting. Hunters also are required to report their Conservation Order hunting activity and harvest success to the Division of Fish & Wildlife by Friday, May 1. Conservation Order permit numbers can be obtained and harvest reports can be submitted online at

Delaware Hunter and Trapper Registration

; hunters may also call 302-735-3600 during business hours Monday through Friday.

Conservation Order participants are also required to have a valid Delaware hunting license or license-exempt number (LEN) or a Maryland resident hunting license (unless exempt in Maryland), a 2019/2020 Delaware waterfowl stamp (unless exempt), and a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. A federal waterfowl stamp is not required.

Hunters are reminded of the following:

Information on hunting license and Delaware waterfowl stamp requirements is available at

Delaware Licenses

.

Waterfowl and other migratory game bird (except crow) hunters need a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. HIP (and LEN) numbers can be obtained at

Delaware Hunter and Trapper Registration

or by calling toll free 1-855-335-4868.

Hunters born after Jan. 1, 1967, must have a basic hunter education safety course card/number.

A federal migratory bird stamp is required for hunters age 16 and older to hunt waterfowl (except during the Snow Goose Conservation Order season).

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), with one free annual CAP available with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license.

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

2019-2020 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide

and

Wildlife Area Maps

. Hard copies of the guide and 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.

For more information, please call 302-739-9912 or visit

www.fw.delaware.gov

.

Apply Now for Spring Turkey Hunt Permit

Wild Turkey in New Jersey

The Turkey Hunting Booklet has been discontinued.

Spring 2020 season information

is found in the

2019-20 Hunting Digest

on pages 14 and 58-61 and below:

Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information 2019-2020

(pdf, 475kb)

Spring Turkey Permit Application Information

Apply NOW!

Changes to Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Hunt Program

Spring 2019 Turkey Season Harvest Data

The Division\’s Turkey Restoration Project represents one of the greatest wildlife management success stories in the history of the state. By the mid-1800s, turkeys had disappeared in New Jersey due to habitat changes and killing for food. Division biologists, in cooperation with the

NJ Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation

, reintroduced wild turkeys in 1977 with the release of 22 birds. In 1979 biologists and technicians began to live-trap and re-locate birds to establish populations throughout the state. By 1981 the population was able to support a spring hunting season, and in December, 1997, a limited fall season was initiated.

There is now an abundance of wild turkeys throughout the state with turkeys found wherever there is suitable habitat. In South Jersey, where wild turkeys had been struggling just a few years ago, intensive restoration efforts have improved population numbers significantly. The statewide population is now estimated at 20,000 – 23,000 turkeys with an annual harvest of approximately 3,000 birds.

Youth turkey hunters

aged 10 to 16 with a

Youth License

can obtain a \”Y\” permit which allows them to hunt in any hunting period in the zone that they obtain a permit for during the spring season. Youth hunters aged 10 to less than 14 must be under the supervision of a licensed adult who is at least 21 years of age. The adult does not have to have a turkey permit, but they do have to have a regular license. This regulation applies until the youth takes a turkey. After taking a turkey, the youth is subject to the same hunting period and zone restrictions as an adult. There is also the special statewide

Youth Turkey Hunting Day

each year.

Spring turkey permits are awarded via a

lottery

followed by over-the-counter sales; the lottery application period is January 25-February 22. There is no lottery for the fall season.

REGULATIONS/PERMIT INFORMATION

2018-2019 Wild Turkey Hunting Season Regulations and Information

(pdf, 190kb)

Turkey Hunting Area Map

Spring 2019 Lottery Quota Information

(pdf, 85kb)

Turkey Hunting Area Boundary Descriptions

(pdf, 100kb)

Turkey Permit Information

Turkey Check Stations

(pdf, 110kb)

HARVEST/POPULATION DATA

Wild Turkey Harvests and Population Estimates, 1981 – 2019

2004-2019 Spring Gobbler Season Harvest Data

Public Turkey Hunting Land

(pdf, 280kb)

Primary Turkey Range and Public Land in NJ

Turkey Hunting Tips and Basic Information for the Turkey Hunter

Principal Foods for Wild Turkeys

Turkey Patterning Target

(pdf, 50kb)

ADDITIONAL LINKS

Wildlife Technician Joe Garris Honored

(NWTF news release, 2/21/09)

NJ Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation

Hunting Regulations

Small Game Information

Hunter Education

Farmer Information

Wildlife Management Areas

Forms

Feature Articles

Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament May 17, 2020

Beautiful Weather Ushered In the 28

th

Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

The annual

Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

is held on the third Sunday in May at

Island Beach State Park

.

In 2020 the tournament will be held on Sunday, May 17.

A variety of species are eligible for entry in the tournament each year. Overall length determines the winner. All fish must meet minimum length tournament requirements. Tournament fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The individual who catches the overall largest fish wins the \”Governor\’s Award,\” and has his/her name engraved on the Governor\’s Cup, which is permanently displayed at the park. Fishing equipment is awarded to winners who catch the largest fish in each species category. Winners from the early entry drawing and the tournament must be present during the afternoon awards ceremony to claim their prizes or they will be forfeited.

Anglers planning to participate in the tournament should always register early: doing so entitles you to save on the adult registration fee, be eligible for special prizes and avoid delays when entering the park.

The 2020 early entry incentive ends April 24, 2020

. After this date, anglers are required to register at the tournament beginning at 5:00 a.m. at Pavilion #1.

Brochure and Registration Form

(pdf, 3.7mb)

HIGH SCHOOL TEAM CATEGORY

The High School Team Category is for high school aged students, who are part of a formal fishing club, members of a

Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs

group, or a non-formal group.

The tournament entry fee is waived for student teams, and admission to the park is free for registrants. For more information see the flyer linked below.

High School Team Flyer

(pdf, 900kb)

High School Team Registration Form

(pdf, 780kb)

The school team category is supported by the following organizations:

The Fisherman

The Reel Seat

Fish Hawks Saltwater Anglers Club

Shark River Surf Anglers

Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs New Jersey

All tournament anglers need to complete the

NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry

prior to the event.

Questions can be directed to 609-748-4347.

PAST TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

Winners of the Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament, 1992-2019

(pdf, 65kb)

A Day of Family Fun At 27

th

Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

16 Year Old Wins Governor\’s Cup With 34\” Bluefish At 26th Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Bluefish Blitzes Liven 25th Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Hundreds Enjoy 24th Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Sunny Skies and Lots of Action at 23rd Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Anglers See Through Fog to Enjoy Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Anglers Enjoy Another Successful 2012 Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Beautiful Fall Day Greets Anglers at the 20th Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Anglers Brave High Winds and Rough Surf to Make 19th Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament a Success

Anglers Enjoy Family at the 2009 Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Anglers Enjoy Beautiful Weather at the 2008 Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Winners of 2007 Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament Announced

South Amboy Man Earns Top Honors at 2006 Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Anglers Enjoy Beautiful Weather at the 2005 Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

Anglers \”Sing the Blues\” at the 2004 Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament

2004 Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament Offers Great Fun for Families, Friends

(feature article)

DEP Commissioner and Governor Celebrate Surf Fishing at 2003 Tournament

11th Annual Governor\’s Surf Fishing Tournament Sunday Oct. 6, 2002

(feature article – includes complete winners list)

Governor\’s 11th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament a Reel Success

Governor\’s 10th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament a Success

Governor\’s 9th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament a Success

Governor\’s 8th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament a Success

Governor\’s 7th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament a Success

Governor\’s 6th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament a Success

The tournament is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection\’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and

Division of Parks and Forestry

, the

New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen\’s Clubs

,

Jersey Coast Anglers Association

, and the

New Jersey Beach Buggy Association

.

32 Murders in 22 Days; Philly Councilman Calls for Stricter Gun Laws

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23, 2020 – As gun violence continues to rage unabated in Philadelphia,

Council President Darrell L. Clarke

(5th District) today called for Council to authorize the hiring of legal counsel to file a lawsuit compelling the Commonwealth of

Philadelphia City Hall (Wikipedia)

Pennsylvania to enact stronger gun laws, or allow municipalities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or others to pass their own gun laws.

Last night, a 20-year-old man was shot and killed inside his Cobbs Creek home. It marked Philadelphia’s

32

nd

homicide

already in 2020 – a 22-day-span. This represents an 82 percent increase in homicides in the city in the first three weeks of the year, compared with the same period last year. More than 100 youths under the age of 18 were shot last year – 14 fatally.

“People in Philadelphia are tired and frustrated with gun violence happening every day in their neighborhoods,” Clarke said. “32 homicides in 22 days! Toddlers shot in their homes, a shoot-out at a Target store parking lot – we must take action and we need every responsible elected official on deck.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

A

Resolution

authorizing Council to retain legal counsel to file a lawsuit against the Commonwealth was co-introduced this morning by Councilmembers

Kenyatta Johnson

and

Curtis Jones Jr.,

on Council President Clarke’s behalf. Numerous other Councilmembers signed on as co-sponsors, including Majority Leader

Cherelle Parker

, Councilmembers

Derek Green

, and

Allan Domb

.

The resolution details the “ferocity and sheer volume of gun violence in Philadelphia” over the past several weeks – the impetus for the legislative action.

“WHEREAS, The ferocity and sheer volume of gun violence in Philadelphia shocks the conscience of all law-abiding citizens: Three men were shot to death in the first fifteen hours of 2020. On January 15, 2020, five people were shot in less than 30 minutes. On January 21, a triple shooting in a Target parking lot left one man dead. As of January 21, 2020, there have been 31 homicides in 2020, up a shocking 82% from January 2019, according to the Philadelphia Police Department’s webpage,

www.phillypolice.com/crime-maps-stats/

. Last year, 14 children under 18 were shot fatally with guns. The homicide rate in Philadelphia has risen steadily, from 277 in 2016, to 315 in 2017, to 353 in 2018, to 356 in 2019.”

The resolution goes on to note that gun violence is a

statewide

problem – not a city-only problem.

“WHEREAS, Gun violence is not confined to one city or state, but rather plagues communities across the country. Today, the public still mourns the tragic loss of life from the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and decries the General Assembly’s refusal to permit Pittsburgh’s City Council to use commonsense measures to combat the spread of rampant gun violence. Across the Commonwealth, gun violence claims the lives of more than 1,500 residents each year, according to the Giffords Law Center, which means that someone is killed with a gun every six hours in Pennsylvania.”

The resolution notes the failure of the PA General Assembly to take action to reduce and prevent gun violence across the Commonwealth – due to the strong influence of the gun lobby. The most recent example: after Council passed an ordinance last session prohibiting the possession of guns at city recreation facilities – the scene of several shootings last summer – the legislature took no action to approve legislation allowing Philadelphia to enforce that ordinance.

The Resolution concludes:

“RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes Council to retain counsel to file a lawsuit compelling the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to fulfill its obligation to protect the citizens of Pennsylvania by enacting, or authorizing municipalities to enact, legislation that addresses the public health crisis of gun violence.”

How to Cook Wild Game Meat

Gloucestercitynews.net (January 29, 2020)–When talking about wild game meat, it’s important to remember that we’re not talking about a single type of meat. Instead, wild game meat can come from all sorts of animals – from quail and hare to wild boars and deer. That’s why it can be a bit tricky to discuss general ways you can cook the meat as not all of them require the same treatment or temperature.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

That being said, we will try to give some guidelines on how to cook wild game meat the right way, which generally apply to most cases. Here, you will find some tips as well as some of the most common mistakes to avoid for a great cooking experience and delicious results. Check them out.

Temperature plays a huge role

The sous-vide cooking technique is definitely the preferred approach when it comes to cooking game meat. This low-temperature long-time cooking technique enables you to control the way in which your meat is being cooked to ensure that everything is cooked evenly. Since the game is usually best when served slightly pink this technique will allow you to avoid overcooking it as you will be able to control the temperature of the environment the meat is cooking in at all times.

The way you cut the meat is very important

Another thing you need to pay attention to is the way you cut the meat before you start preparing it. While there are some animals whose meat is similar to one of the domesticated breeds and doesn’t really require special skills, there are some animals that will require not only special skills but the right tools as well. That’s why you will need to ensure that you have the right equipment for the meat of your choice in particular. If you’re not sure where you can look for such utensils, you can always do some online research and find more information at this website –

https://thegearhunt.com/

.

Choose the meat carefully

Furthermore, in order to prepare a great dish, you first need to ensure that your main ingredient – the meat – is of the appropriate quality. If you are not the one who hunted the animal yourself, you will need to find a reliable vendor. This way, not only will you ensure that the meat you bought is actually the meat you intended to buy and that it’s safe for you to use, but you can also rest assured that the meat was treated properly. If you’re not sure how or where you can buy fresh game meat you can always resort to the frozen options.

Avoid common mistakes

In the end, you should get to know some of the most common mistakes people make when cooking wild game so that you can easily avoid them. The first and arguably the most important mistake to avoid is not letting the meat age properly. Since this process allows the enzymes in the meat to improve the flavor of the meat, it should definitely not be overlooked. Additionally, not marinating the meat can arguably destroy it. Since juiciness plays a huge role in wild game meat, it is very important to allow it to soak up all the juices and flavors from the marinade.

Even though cooking wild game meat will require somewhat of a different approach than cooking regular meat, it really is not too difficult to do it right, once you master the basics. One of the best tips for cooking game is to keep the dish simple and not overwhelm it with different spices. Instead, you should allow the quality and the taste of game to shine in its full glory.

“Journalist” Can’t Decide: Slumping Gun Sales or Best Year Ever?

source NRA-ILA

On the eve of the annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas, Associated Press reporter Lisa Marie Pane wrote an article titled, “

Gun industry gathers amid slumping sales, rising tensions

.” But it seems as though the AP and their reporter were more concerned with promoting an agenda than accurately reporting the news or reviewing readily available data.

The story was published by the AP on January 19

th

, picked up by

ABC News on the same day

, and reproduced in various other national and local outlets in the following days.

The opening paragraph references “slumping sales,” and later paragraphs expound on the reasons and impact of this supposed downturn. The author also makes sure to gratuitously proclaim that the SHOT show is being held “about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from the deadliest mass shooting modern U.S. history” [sic].

Slumping firearm sales? Really?

Pane’s half-cocked story came out about two weeks after

The Washington Examiner

published “

Record gun sales checks in 2019, NICS at all-time high: FBI

” and after

The Hill

published an article titled, “

2019 gun sale background checks highest since system launch in 1998

.”

NICS checks are not a mystery or a Friday afternoon news dump; detailed reports are issued monthly. In early December, MarketWatch published a piece titled “

Gun-purchase background checks on track for record high in 2019

.” Similar articles were run in other outlets.

Even the Associated Press itself ran such an article,

published on December 3

rd

of last year and also picked up by ABC News on that same day.

The author?

You guessed it: Lisa Marie Pane, the

same

author who wrote the more recent piece alleging slumping sales.

Record-breaking pace or slumping sales? A closer look at the NICS reports can provide some answers.

The FBI reports there were 28,369,750

NICS firearm background checks in 2019 – the most ever.

Now, this number does include permit checks and rechecks but the FBI also provides a breakdown of NICS checks by type.

Last year saw the fourth-highest number of checks for handguns and the sixth-highest year for dealer sales checks ever.

That does not include NICS checks on private sales (41,775 last year) or all dealer sales to permit holders in the 24 states that issue so-called NICS-exempt permits, which can be used as an alternative to the NICS check when purchasing a gun from a licensed dealer.

That means that the number of sales checks may appear artificially low. As the FBI notes in the “NICS Firearm Background Checks: Year by State/Type” report, “Since the permit check is done in place of the NICS check in most of the affected states, the low handgun statistics are often balanced out by a higher number of handgun permit checks.”

In other words, some number of the 3,738,203 permit checks run in NICS exemption states were likely people who ultimately purchased a handgun (or other firearm) with their permits, perhaps even multiple firearms. The overall NICS records do not necessarily account for these permit-based sales. What we do know, however, is that there were a lot of NICS checks for the issuance of NICS-exempt permits.

Another important consideration is that firearms are durable goods – they do not spoil or breakdown, assuming minimal care. Firearms purchased in 2018 still exist. Firearms purchased in the late 90s, when NICS began, still exist. Not every year will be a record-breaking year for sales, and it can be misleading to label any year that doesn’t significantly top the last one as a “slump.”

Maybe Lisa Marie Pane can’t make up her mind, but we’re here to tell you: 2019

was

a record-breaking year for sales and permit checks in total. That indicates the American tradition of firearms ownership is as strong and vibrant as ever, and attendees at the 2020 SHOT Show have much to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association continues to work hard to protect your Second Amendment rights, just as we have for 148 years.

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Jan. 13-19

Reminder for the week: Be cautious when boating icy waters or walking on frozen waterways

DOVER (Jan. 24, 2020) – DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources, promote boating safety, and protect the public through outreach, education, and law enforcement. To promote public compliance with laws and regulations, officers from Jan. 13-19 made 1,709 public contacts and responded to 45 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Officers issued a total of 45 citations for the following listed violations related to:

Wildlife Conservation:

Hunting at night, hunting illegally on a Sunday other than for deer, hunting on a refuge, hunting migratory waterfowl without required HIP number, hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp, hunting migratory waterfowl over illegal bait, unlawfully taken goose, hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, removing antlered deer parts prior to checking, failure to tag antlerless deer, failure to check antlerless deer within 24 hours, possession of unlawfully taken red fox, wildlife area map violation – not hunting in assigned waterfowl blind, no conservation access pass, and unlicensed hunting.

Public Safety:

Failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana – civil, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Other:

Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area, camping in a state forest without a permit, possession of alcohol on a state forest, obstructing gate on state forest lands, criminal trespass 3

rd

, operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area, loitering, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. The public can report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or using the free smartphone DENRP Tip app downloaded from the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations can 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?

With the cold weather, anglers, hunters, and winter outdoor enthusiasts are reminded of the potential hazards of ice and winter weather and encouraged to follow these safety tips:

Waterfowl hunters using a boat should watch ice conditions and currents carefully to avoid becoming locked in by ice. Drifting ice in tidal marshes and waterways also can complicate rescue efforts.

Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts should exercise extreme caution when venturing out onto ice, and should always take along someone who could provide or summon help in an emergency situation.

Examine ice carefully before walking on it. Freshwater ice should be a minimum of 2 to 3 inches thick, clear, and solid, with no thin spots caused by springs or currents. Be wary of snow on the ice, which can hide weak spots. For ice fishing, ice should be at least 4 inches thick.

Driving ATVs, snowmobiles, or passenger vehicles on ice is

strongly

discouraged. To support the weight of a vehicle, ice must be at least 7 to 10 inches thick. Without an extended period of extreme cold, ice is unlikely to reach this thickness in Delaware.