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The 2006-2007 hunting season wound down with Fish and Wildlife Enforcement agents in Sussex County making multiple arrests involving 15 defendants and 27 charges between Dec. 11, 2006 and Jan. 22, 2007. The season officially ended Saturday, Jan. 27.
The most serious charges were against three of the defendants for possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, a felony charge. One came as the result of a tip from a concerned citizen, who reported the defendant for illegal hunting out of season. One was a second offense, and the three cases are awaiting court dates. Several arrests also were made for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Another defendant was arrested and charged with spotlighting deer, plus other charges including carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, criminal impersonation for giving a false name to police, driving under a suspended license and failure to carry proof of insurance.
Other illegal hunting charges included three defendants charged with waterfowl hunting over bait, one of them twice in a two-week period.
One arrest was made through Operation Game Theft, a program funded by fines levied for violation of Delaware game laws and by donations. The program includes an anonymous citizens complaint hotline, 800-292-3030.
Another defendant was charged with hunting doves during a closed season but was cleared of an additional charge for reckless endangering after the case was investigated with the help of the Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section's K-9 Unit.
For more information, please contact Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, at 302-542-6102.
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