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Northern Region

Lt. Williamson investigated a complaint of a large buck that was hidden under a tree near a construction site. The officer knew of an individual that was working on the building and had heard he had shot deer at night in the area in the passed. The CO, along with an officer from the municipal police department, watched the area that evening. At midnight, the officers observed a vehicle spotlighting along the road. The officers conducted a motor vehicle stop and observed the individual and his 10 year old son in the vehicle. They also observed a bow and arrows on the back seat. The son was operating the spotlight as his father drove slowly along the road. A summons for spotlighting with a weapon capable of killing a deer in the vehicle was issued.

Lt. Panico and CO Nestel responded to a request for assistance from the National Park Service regarding an individual who shot a bear while bow hunting. The officers arrived at the Walpack area and interviewed the visibly shaken hunter. The hunter explained that after he had walked through some heavy cover, he found himself within 20 yards of two bears. He said the first bear, a sow, immediately turned and charged him. He said he drew his bow as he retreated back into the cover. He explained the bear was approximately 6 feet away when he released the arrow striking it in the chest. He said the bear then reared back and continued towards him. He said he kept his bow out in front of his body attempting to fend it away. He said as he fell straight back the bear veered off and fell down approximately 70 yards away. The officers examined the scene and documented the sequence of events that the hunter had described. The officers also observed droplets of blood on the hunters’ clothing and bow. The dead bear was recovered and transported to the Forensics Laboratory for examination. Upon conclusion of the investigation, it was determined that the incident involved a Category I bear and no charges were filed.

Upon observing extensive damage caused by off-road vehicles at the Flatbrook-Roy WMA, CO Nestel decided to conduct early evening patrols in an attempt to make apprehensions. After several patrols, the officer was able to apprehend seven “mud boggers” who were in the process of doing damage to a flooded area of the WMA. All the individuals received summonses and the damage to the area will be addressed in court.

Captain Fletcher conducted a Wildlife of NJ program at the Montague Elementary School. The program was very well received by both the students and teachers.

CO Hutchinson investigated a complaint of an individual taking a “fork horn” buck in a QDM and registering it in a different zone. The following evening, the officer interviewed the hunter as he returned to his vehicle from his hunting location. The officer advised the hunter that he was investigating an on-going trespass complaint and asked if he had observed anyone. The hunter said that he had hunted there everyday and had not observed any other hunters. He also advised the officer that he had not hunted anywhere else during the season. The officer then questioned him concerning the buck he killed the previous evening and the hunter said he killed it in a different zone. The officer then reminded him that he just said he hadn’t hunted anywhere else. The hunter then admitted taking the deer in the QDM. The officer proceeded to the hunters residence, seized the deer and issued the appropriate summons.

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Central Region

CO O’Rourke located a vehicle on the Assunpink WMA in the area where a waterfowl hunter had complained about hunters shooting over his head. The vehicle was also in the area where he had received complaints of hunters shooting late. CO O’Rourke listened and heard one shot at 1837 hours and two more at 1846 hours. Sunset was 1823 hours that night. At 1905 hours, CO O’Rourke walked into the field and observed two hunters coming out of the woods near the lake. He asked the hunters if their guns were loaded and both hunters stated yes. The older man showed the officer his over-under shotgun loaded with two shells, one of which was lead. CO O’Rourke then found 5 more lead shells in an ammo belt. The younger hunter had a semi auto loaded with one shell in the chamber and the safety off. He stated that he kept it loaded because he was afraid of coyotes. Further inspection of their licenses showed that neither hunter had signed his state and federal duck stamps or their HIP numbers. Both hunters were charged with hunting waterfowl after legal hours, unsigned stamps and the older man was charged with possession of lead shot.

CO Szalaj responded to a request for assistance by Pat DiGangi, DEP Hazardous Waste and Jackson PD regarding a burned vehicle in Lake Success at the Colliers Mills WMA. Jackson PD had received information that a group of local youths had towed a 1989 Honda Accord out to Colliers Mills, filled it with gasoline and set it on fire. They then pushed the car into Lake Success. The vehicle had been loaned to one of the girls in the group by her mother. The car had broken down and the girl decided to take her mother’s suburban without permission and tow the car to the WMA late at night with some friends, who then torched the vehicle while the girl videotaped it on her cell phone. Charges for Title 23 and 13 are pending. Jackson PD will be pursuing charges for theft and arson.

Officers from the Central Region assembled on short notice to respond to a tip that a Rave party was to take place on the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area. With only that information in hand, Officers took up positions throughout the 30,000 acre management area in an attempt to locate the event. At approximately 2 AM, Officer McManus located the group in a desolate and remote section of the property. It was difficult to determine the total number of participants, due to the fact that a number of them chose to run and hide in the woods. The six officers that were present ( McManus, Martiak, Mutone, Mascio, Tomlin, Sich) were able to apprehend approximately sixty individuals. Citations issued included: After hours on a WMA; riding off the established roadway; holding an event without a permit; littering; illegal possession of alcohol; illegal fire; and two arrests were made for the criminal possession of narcotics.

Officers McManus and Mutone set up on a group of duck hunters who were hunting in Jackson Twp. on the opening day of the north zone. At a half hour after legal hunting time, two of the individuals were still shooting at wood ducks. Unbeknownst to them, they were under surveillance by the two officers and were apprehended as they exited the woods.

On the opening day of the north zone duck season, Officers Martiak, Szulecki and Tomlin conducted a boat patrol of the Raritan River. During their patrol, they were able to apprehend three individuals in a hunting party who were in possession of three boxes of lead shot, even though the subjects had attempted to discard the illegal shotgun shells before the officers could board their boat. One individual even tried to hide the shells inside his waders. Summonses for the possession of the illegal shells and for interference were issued.

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Southern Region

Retired Deputy CO Dave Bell contacted CO Risher at home after responding to a motor vehicle accident in Buena Vista Township, Atlantic County. Upon arriving on scene Dave Bell observed an untagged deer with the head cut off. While assessing the driver's injuries, the driver admitted to poaching the deer. COs Risher and Vazquez responded to the scene and conducted an investigation. It was determined that three of the four occupants were hunting deer illegally. The fourth occupant was not hunting. Two of the hunters were charged with trespassing and possession of an untagged deer. The other person was charged with trespassing, fail to tag/register deer, mutilation of deer to hide the identity or sex, and failing to harvest a female deer prior to harvesting a buck.

COs Fox and Vazquez were acting on information CO Vazquez received on possible deer poaching in Laureldale, Atlantic County, when CO Fox discovered some marijuana plants. During the investigation the COs discovered eleven large marijuana plants. COs Ely and Kille and Lt Tonnesen also assisted in this operation. Both occupants of the home were arrested and declined any comments. The bail was set at $15,000. The wife made bail and the husband was transported to the Atlantic County Jail. Charges were filed for manufacturing and distribution of CDS (a class II criminal offense). The illegal deer hunting complaint is still under investigation.

CO Ely responded to a complaint of a sunken truck at the Tuckahoe Boat Ramp, Cape May County. The vehicle was almost totally submerged and abandoned. The State Police were on the scene. Approximately 4 hours later the man returned to the vehicle from fishing. He admitted to accidentally sinking his truck but stated he did not want to waste the day so he decided to go fishing. Motor Vehicle charges and charges of letting deleterious substance enter a stream are pending.

CO Toppin was notified by two sources about the illegal sale of prairie dogs in Camden County. A short trip into the local pet shop confirmed the possession and sale of the potentially dangerous species. An interview with the shop owner confirmed the sale of 8 prairie dogs in the past 4 months and also implicated a pet shop distributer who initially imported the animals from Texas. A Division Notice of Violation was issued to both businesses totaling $1500.00. At this time all the sold prairie dogs have been recovered.

Interviews of two New Jersey hunters conducted by CO Toppin during the spring of 2009 concerning illegal hunting activity in Saskatchewan, Canada aided Saskatchewan CO Peter Schulz and Crown Prosecutors in the conviction of Randy Armstrong an Indian Outfitter. Mr. Armstrong had taken two New Jersey hunters on a guided hunt on Indian Nation lands and had illegally sold game tags to the men for the areas they were hunting. Mr. Armstrong pled guilty to the charges of aiding in the illegal taking of wild game outside the prescribed time and place and attempting to export illegal wild game across international lines. A $7800.00 fine was assessed as well as an indefinite loss of outfitting license and a three year hunting privilege revocation. The two men from New Jersey lost trophy white tailed deer and elk antlers during an inspection at the border in 2006. The cooperation and multiple interviews conducted in New Jersey allowed the case to be prosecuted and ultimately earned the New Jersey hunters an opportunity to receive their trophy antlers back. A letter of appreciation was forwarded from the Crown Prosecutor to Officer Toppin.

COs Toppin and Kille initiated an investigation in Gloucester and Camden counties concerning archery hunters utilizing the same doe in order to fulfill their "Earn a Buck" requirement. In the course of their investigation the officers apprehended three hunters that had shared the same doe. In addition, they found a fourth accomplice who then interfered with their investigation. All the individuals apprehended were attempting to circumvent the “Earn a Buck” requirements in order to have an opportunity to harvest a buck. The men were charged with unlawful possession, improperly tagging/registering, and interference, respectively.

CO Vazquez apprehended an individual waterfowl hunting using duck decoys two weeks prior to the opening of waterfowl season. After CO Vazquez conducted his interview the man admitted to shooting at several ducks and shooting late. Appropriate summonses were issued.

CO Vazquez and CO Kille responded to a complaint from a private citizen reference a man gutting a deer on his front yard. CO Vazquez did a walk around the exterior of the home. CO Kille observed antlers up in a tree. After the COs interviewed the defendant he confessed to: not tagging the deer, failure to check the deer in, not killing a doe first and killing the deer in the wrong zone. The Officers issued the appropriate summonses.

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Marine Region

On 9/14/09 COs Scott and Swift conducted an evening patrol in Perth Amboy, Belmar, Avon and Point Pleasant Beach. The result of the patrol netted six summonses for possession of 15 undersized tautog, one summons for undersized crabs and a summons for an undersized striped bass.

While responding to the seemingly endless complaints in Barnegat Light, on 9/26/09 CO Swift set up a surveillance along a path used by illegal fishermen and their accomplices. CO Swift observed a female carrying a backpack walking to a vehicle. CO Swift then observed two male fishermen walking up the path approximately 100 yards behind the female. He inspected the fishermen who possessed one legal tautog. When questioned by CO Swift, the fishermen initially denied knowing the woman with the backpack. CO Swift obtained the backpack which contained 7 undersized tautog. As CO Swift went back to his vehicle to write a summons, a local resident alerted him that the woman made several trips back and forth to the vehicle during the day. CO Swift went back to the subject’s vehicle and found an additional 9 undersized tautog. All three individuals were issued summons for possession of undersized tautog, possession of over limit tautog and interference.

On 9/25/09 Lt. Fresco and CO Swift set up a surveillance on the Point Pleasant canal in reference to many ongoing complaints. One individual was observed running fish back to a vehicle and was apprehended with four undersized tautog and one summer flounder out of season. Another individual was also apprehended for running fish back to their vehicle with undersized scup and tautog. Later that day the officers met up with CO Dravis to conduct an inspection of the FV Paramount in Brielle. An individual fishing on that vessel contacted CO Dravis in reference to violations by patrons as well as their descriptions. Two individuals were apprehended with 27 undersized black sea bass.

On 09/25/09 CO Jones was watching a fisherman on a jetty in Deal. The fisherman eventually packed up his gear and started to come off the jetty. At this time another fisherman arrived and started to walk onto the jetty. The original fisherman gave the new fisherman a wide berth and hid his bucket on the side opposite this fisherman's view so the new fisherman could not see into the bucket. CO Jones watched the fisherman walk onto the beach and then proceed up the beach passing the normal access location and go to a more remote access location further up. CO Jones arrived at the second access site and climbed out of his patrol vehicle. When the fisherman, who was now climbing stairs towards the parking lot, saw CO Jones standing at the top of the access, he quickly turned around, ran down a flight of stairs, and threw the bucket over the railing and into the weeds. CO Jones advised the individual to retrieve the bucket. At this time the fluke season had been closed for 21 days. CO Jones inspected the contents of the bucket and found five fluke. The fisherman was issued a summons for having five fluke during closed season.

On 09/26/09 CO Jones walked the Keansburg Pier inspecting fisherman as he went. He encountered a father and teenage son who were attempting to leave. Both men walked past CO Jones as he tried to inspect them. CO Jones now had to get in front of both fisherman and stop them so he could conduct the inspection. The father kept his teenage son on the far side of him away from CO Jones. The father then showed CO Jones an empty bucket and said "no fish". The men then tried to walk away. CO Jones again got in front of both men and asked to see the contents of the soft-bodied cooler which the teenage son had strapped across his shoulder. The teenage son said "its' only drinks". CO Jones had the teenage son remove the top drink and plastic bag. Underneath the plastic bag CO Jones observed scup. Upon inspection CO Jones found the soft-bodied cooler held 40 porgies of which 39 were short. The father took responsibility for all the fish and the appropriate summonses were issued.

On 10/01/09 CO Jones conducted surveillance of a fisherman fishing along the Arthur Kill in Perth Amboy. CO Jones observed the individual catch two porgies before the fisherman packed up his gear to leave. CO Jones arrived at the parking location as the fisherman was approaching his vehicle. Upon seeing CO Jones the fisherman walked to the passenger side of his vehicle and threw his bag of fish under the vehicle. CO Jones had the fisherman retrieve his bag of fish and upon inspection found that the bag contained 5 bluefish, and 37 porgies (scup). All 37 porgies were short. The appropriate summonses were issued.

On 10/5/09 COs Soell and Swift set up surveillance on exits used by fishermen fishing on the Barnegat Light jetty. CO Swift observed two individuals with fishing equipment dragging a cooler to their vehicle. CO Swift inspected the cooler and it container 17 undersized tautog. Summonses were issued to both individuals for possession of undersized and over limit tautog. Meanwhile, CO Soell received a call from a local resident on another exit that a male and female were returning to their vehicle. The resident observed the female carry two buckets to their vehicle during the course of the day. The COs stopped the vehicle as they were leaving the area. When asked if they had caught any fish, the individuals showed the officers two buckets containing approximately 30 bergalls. CO Swift spotted a backpack in the vehicle and asked to inspect it. The backpack contained 10 undersized tautog. The male admitted to catching all of the fish and received a summonses for possession of 10 undersized tautog and 9 over bag limit. That same evening, CO Swift observed a female walk to a vehicle with a backpack. When she returned to the path the backpack appeared empty. Approximately fifteen minutes later a male carrying a backpack and no apparent fishing equipment, returned to the same vehicle and proceeded to leave the area in his vehicle. The COs followed the vehicle which then stopped at a gas station. The COs questioned the male if he had been fishing and he replied that he did. When asked if he possessed any fish he stated, “no”. CO Soell asked if he had a cooler and permission to inspect it, to which the male consented. The cooler contained 40 tautog which were hidden under a jacket inside the cooler. The backpack he was observed carrying contained another 9 tautog. Out of a total of 49 tautog, 30 were undersized. The male was issued summonses for possessing 48 tautog over the limit and 30 undersized tautog. It turns out that all of these fish were caught utilizing hand lines. As a side note, the woman originally observed going to the vehicle was apparently left behind by the male and was observed by COs walking down the main roadway on Long Beach Island. Over the course of that patrol, 84 illegal tautog were seized.

The National Marine Fisheries Service made a closure of the black sea bass recreational harvest season to federally permitted party and charter vessels, effective October 5th . On October 4th, prior to the federal recreational black sea bass season closure, CO Snellbaker organized a boarding of the charter vessel Capt Collet in Atlantic City. At 1600 hrs, CO Snellbaker, CO Nicklow and Lt. Canale boarded the vessel as they returned to the dock on Maryland Ave. The Conservation Officers encountered 15 patrons from Maryland and Washington, DC. When the inspection was complete, Officers, Snellbaker, Nicklow and Lt. Canale documented a total of 613 undersize black sea bass, 404 black sea bass possessed over the daily bag limit of 25 fish per person, 5 undersize scup, and 5 undersize fluke which were also possessed during the closed season for the charter. Although individual totals varied, violations per patron averaged 40 undersized fish and 26 fish over the limit. Officers issued a total of 32 summonses to the patrons of the CV Capt Collet for their violations. All of the seized fish were donated to the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.

CO Petruccelli, assisted by NMFS Special Agent Jason Couse, apprehended the F/V Sonja H with several violations of New Jersey’s Commercial fishing regulations. On the evening of September 23, CO Petruccelli observed FV Sonja H enter its dock area in Cape May Harbor. While observing the vessel from an adjacent dock, CO Petruccelli was seen by the owner of H&H Fisheries LLC, Blair Hansen. H&H Fisheries is the documented owner of the FV Sonja H. Mr. Hansen was able to warn the captain of the vessel, Jasen Hansen, about CO Petruccelli’s presence. Jasen Hansen immediately dumped illegal black sea bass and tautog overboard into the harbor. CO Petruccelli arrived to find black sea bass and tautog from the FV Sonja H floating in the water. With the assistance of the vessel captain, Jasen Hansen, CO Petruccelli retrieved most of the discarded fish. CO Petruccelli documented that the FV Sonja H landed 70lb of black sea bass during the closed commercial season, 35lb of tautog during the closed commercial tautog season, 17 undersize lobsters and the possession of 2 egg bearing lobsters. Additionally, a federal violation for failing to complete a Fishing Vessel Trip Report and a State violation for interference for the attempt to discard the illegal fish were documented. CO Petruccelli issued 9 summonses: four to the Vessel owner and five to the captain. Federal Charges for the logbook violation are pending.

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