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Northern Region

While patrolling the Hackensack Meadowlands during the waterfowl season, Lt. Applegate and COs Kuechler, Sutton and Holmes encountered a group of hunters that included an individual had been apprehended last season for waterfowl violations. The officers observed the hunters shoot well beyond legal hours, and saw several Canada Geese downed, although the season for geese was closed. Unable to reach their location by boat, Lt. Applegate was able to locate their vehicle parked on a rail road bed. The officer waited as two individuals eventually approached the truck. As the officer announced himself, one individual started shouting about throwing everything in the water, fell to the ground, and clutched his chest as he claimed he was having a heart attack. As the officer was attending to the alleged victim, the second individual got in the truck and left the area by driving down the narrow rail bed. The first individual then admitted to the officer that he was not having a heart attack at all. A third individual and a 10 year old juvenile were then located at their boat. The second individual was apprehended after he was contacted via cell phone and convinced to return to the scene. This individual had to be driven back to the scene, as all four tires and rims on the truck were damaged and possibly a broken axle to the vehicle. Complaints for hunting after hours, possessing 91 lead shot rounds, taking 4 Canada Geese out of season, interference and several boating violations were signed.

Lt. Panico assisted the Montville PD with the apprehension of an individual who killed a deer with a bow and arrow at a municipal ball field one evening. The PD received a call from a homeowner who said he watched an individual use the headlights of his vehicle to “spot light” the field, get out of his vehicle and shoot at a deer. The PD responded and was able to stop the vehicle several blocks away. Lt. Panico assisted in recovering a 4 point buck from the scene. The individual denied shooting the deer and claimed he was attempting to locate a deer he had shot earlier in the day in another area. The officer advised him the deer would be examined by a forensic pathologist to determine where it was hit by the arrow. Upon examination, it was determined that the deer had been hit in a vital area and would not have been able to travel any distance. The individual then admitted to shooting the deer and all the appropriate summonses were issued.

Northern Region COs were busy on the opening day of the Pheasant Season, issuing a total of 24 summonses including hunting without a license, possess unlawful missiles, unplugged firearm, shooting across a roadway, over the limit pheasants, 450’ violations, hunting during closed season, possess pheasants without a stamp and procuring a resident license wrongfully.

Lt. Applegate and CO Paul investigated a complaint of a South Amboy resident shooting a deer at night in Morris County. The officers proceeded to the individual’s residence one evening to interview him but found no one there. After a short time, a vehicle with three occupants pulled into the driveway. The officers approached the vehicle and observed an uncased shotgun on the front seat and an untagged deer in the back. The officers got the occupants out of the vehicle and proceeded to question them concerning the deer and firearm. The homeowner and his two cousins from New Hampshire all admitted to just killing the deer in Morris County. The officers then noticed coolers on the front lawn and asked about their contents. The individuals told the officers they contained parts from three other deer they recently killed. The officers located a set of antlers from another untagged, unregistered deer. The officers were then led to a tree in the backyard where the homeowner said they had butchered the deer. Although no additional deer where found, the officers observed a leg hold trap hanging from the tree. The two New Hampshire residents told the officers they had come to NJ “for the meat”. The individuals admitted to shooting all the deer at night with a shotgun and not having valid hunting licenses. Numerous summonses for all the violations were issued.

While patrolling the Flatbrook WMA late one rainy afternoon, Lt. Panico and CO Sutton observed a vehicle traveling slowly down an unpaved road with both windows open. Recognizing this activity as being consistent with “road hunting”, the officers initiated a motor vehicle stop. Two individuals were apprehended with a cocked cross bow loaded with a bolt in the front seat. Both individuals were charged with hunting with the aid of a vehicle and having the cocked crossbow in the vehicle.

The night before Opening Day of the Pheasant season, Lt. Panico and CO Sutton were patrolling the Delaware Water Gap area when they stopped a vehicle for suspected night deer activity. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officers observed a freshly killed, untagged deer and a pheasant in the truck. All the appropriate summonses including one for procuring a resident license wrongfully were issued.

CO Holmes investigated a complaint of a hunting club which attempted to use a possession seal from a previously registered doe on a buck they killed during a drive. The officer responded to the club house and found several members in the process of butchering the buck. Upon interviewing the members, it was determined that two members had shot the buck during the drive and neither was willing to use their buck tag to register the deer. They decided to try to use the seal to cover themselves for possessing the deer. Both hunters were issued summonses for possessing the untagged and unregistered deer.

Lt. Applegate responded to a complaint of an individual being in possession of an untagged buck in the back of his pick up truck one evening. As the officer was attempting to locate the vehicle on an unpaved road, he was met “head on” by the truck. The officer exited his vehicle and observed the untagged deer in the truck bed. The driver of the vehicle admitted to killing the deer and attempting to possess it without tagging and registering it.

Lt. Applegate and CO Paul investigated an individual who was allegedly shooting deer during the archery season with a shotgun. The officers waited for the hunter at his vehicle one afternoon and found him to be on possession of a shotgun loaded with 3 rounds of buckshot within 450’ of a residence. Upon questioning the individual about some hair and blood they observed in the bed of his truck, the officers determined he was also in possession of an untagged and unregistered deer. All the appropriate summonses were issued.

CO Kuechler gave a presentation to the Secaucus Boy and Cub Scout Troops on the duties of a Conservation Officer. The program was well received by all who attended.

CO Paul assisted the Bridgewater PD with apprehending an individual for trespassing, having a knocked arrow within 450’ of a residence and hunting without a valid archery permit. The individual will be revoked upon conviction of these charges.

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Central Region

CO Martiak received a call from a deer hunter that he had just witnessed a man on a tractor shoot a deer with a rifle while utilizing a spotlight. The complainant stated that he was almost hit by the bullets. CO Martiak, assisted by Lt. Lacroix, located the suspect who at first denied shooting at deer, but admitted to the act after interview by the officer. Two rifles, a .22 and a .223 were located in a trailer on the property that appeared to have been recently fired. The man stated that he had used the .223 which corresponded to the witness statements. Twenty-two casings were found on the floor of the tractor. Both guns were seized as evidence. Lt. Lacroix retrieved the dead 6-point buck. Eight charges for various illegal hunting violations were issued.

COs O’Rourke and Martiak were on patrol in Burlington County when they received information about late waterfowl hunting on the Rancocas Creek. The officers responded to a local marina where they could observe the three hunters across the river. A number of shots were fired after legal hours, all witnessed by the officers. The hunters came back into the marina and at first denied shooting late. After, CO O’Rourke indicated times for all the late shots, the hunters admitted to shooting late. Charges for hunting after hours and failure to provide pfd’s on a vessel were issued.

CO Martiak received information regarding a known revoked hunter, seen walking through private property dressed in camouflage and carrying a bow. COs Martiak and Tomlin searched the area but could not find the suspect. They decided to wait near the suspect’s home. Shortly after dark, the suspect came walking back to his home carrying a bow, tree stand and a backpack. The officers confronted him and he denied that he had been hunting, stating that his brother had been out hunting and had chest pains and left all his equipment, including his license, in the woods. The suspect stated that his brother had called him and asked him to retrieve his equipment from the woods. Based on the witness statement, the suspect was charged with hunting while revoked. While on the property, the officers also observed a 10-point buck that wasn’t tagged. The appropriate summons was issued for that violation also.

CO Martiak was on patrol on the Assunpink WMA on the opening of small game season when he recognized a hunter that he had revoked. He contacted the CRO to find out when the hunter had come off the revocation list. He was told that the hunter had received a lifetime revocation for two violations of 23:4-16(d). The man stated that his lawyer had told him he could continue hunting.

Officer Mutone investigated an illegal dumping incident that occurred on the Howardsville Wildlife Management Area located in Barnegat Twp. With evidence recovered from the scene, Officer Mutone was able to identify a potential suspect. After locating and interviewing the subject, he finally admitted to dumping approximately two cubic yards of household trash on the property. He was charged with dumping trash on a wildlife management area and then required to clean up the site.

On a recent Sunday, Officers McManus, Mutone and Tomlin were dispatched to the Forked River Wildlife Management Area to assist Lacey Twp Police with an ongoing problem involving the illegal use of off road vehicles. Within a short period of time the officers were able to apprehend twelve individuals for a variety of wildlife management violations including the illegal possession of alcohol, unregistered motor vehicle and driving off the established roadway.

Officer Tomlin encountered a non-resident bow hunter in Manalapan Twp who had no valid hunting license or bow permit in his possession. The subject tried to convince the officer that he had the proper credentials, but had lost them while hunting that day. A quick check of ALS records revealed that he had no valid license. Upon further inspection, it was also determined that the subject had illegally obtained a resident 2008 bow license. The appropriate charges were filed.

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Southern Region

While checking Bevans WMA Conservation officer Ely encountered an individual standing by a car near one of the stocked fields of the WMA. Officer Ely observed that the man was wearing hunting clothes and when he approached him the man quickly tried to drive away. Officer Ely asked to see his license and was told that the individual had not started to hunt yet and he had left his license at home. Upon checking the hunters gun Officer Ely observed that it had been recently fired. The hunter quickly stated that the gun had been used by his brother earlier in the day. Officer Ely found fresh pheasant feathers in the man’s jacket and was told that the man’s uncle had been using the jacket earlier in the day. Officer Ely found this difficult to believe especially when the hunter’s 2008 license was on the back. After a more detailed interview the hunter admitted to hunting without a license or pheasant stamp. The appropriate summonses were issued.

Conservation Officer Vazquez received a call from Trenton Dispatch regarding the unlawful killing of a wild turkey. Officer Vazquez contacted the complaint and learned that the man’s 16 year old son had come home from school and upon hearing a shot observed a man on the adjacent property walking to his truck with a still flopping turkey. The complainant felt that the man his son observed was the owner of the property but only had the first name, and was concerned that the boy’s observations remain anonymous. After using his blackberry to check the tax records to obtain the man’s name and address, Officer Vazquez went to man’s residence and obtained a written confession. The appropriate complaint will be issued.

Last month Conservation Officer Vazquez had seized what was suspected as peyote cactus, a schedule 1 drug, from a pet shop that was also violating the nongame and endangered species permit regulations. Recently, Officer Vazquez received confirmation from the State Police lab that the cactus was in fact peyote; something that has not been seen by the lab for several decades. Officer Vazquez has filed criminal complaints for illegal possession and possession with intent to distribute a schedule 1 drug. The pet shop owner has fled the state and an arrest warrant has been issued.Conservation Officer Toppin investigated a large boat that was dumped on the Cedar Lake WMA in Monroe Township. He located the boats registered owner and after speaking with several other individuals finally located the party responsible for the boat being dumped. Officer Toppin had the individual clean up the site and the appropriate summonses were issued.

While on patrol with Lt Tonnesen, Conservation Officer Toppin found construction material dumped on Winslow WMA. Officer Toppin found paperwork that led him to a contractor who in turn gave him information on the person who was hired to cleanup the jobsite. After interviewing the subcontractor the appropriate summonses were issued.

While stocking pheasants a wildlife worker spotted a fire on the Glassboro WMA and radioed for assistance. Conservation Officer Toppin responded to the area and was assisted by the Monroe Township Police Department. When he arrived he apprehended three individuals who admitted to starting camp fire that had gotten out of hand. While handling the fire case Officer Toppin intercepted a number of vehicles coming into the WMA for some night time entertainment. Several cases of beer were seized and the appropriate summonses were issued.
Conservation Officer Toppin responded to a residence to check on the report of a person illegally possessing an alligator. The local police department, who had handled a domestic violence complaint at the residence, called the division upon seeing the alligator. Officer Toppin was able to verify the information and removed the alligator from the home. Action is pending.

Conservation Officer Stites returned to the scene of a night deer complaint from last hunting season because he received information that the same group of individuals were illegally hunting again. When he arrived just before dark he apprehended a person hunting rabbits with a .22 rifle. The individual was hunting without a license, a rifle permit and was not wearing hunter’s orange. The hunter was one of several people Officer Stites has gotten complaints on from last year. The appropriate summonses were issued.

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Marine Region

CO Swift recently settled a case in Highlands Borough Court stemming from fillet permit violations observed by undercover officers on the party FV Elaine B II on 7/31/09. The mate and captain pleaded guilty and paid a total of $600.00 in penalties plus costs. The vessel also had its fillet permit suspended for a period of 60 days. CO Scott also settled a case in Middletown Township Court involving a commercial conch pot fisherman. The individual pleaded guilty to this second violation for placing of conch pots in a marked or charted channel. He paid a penalty of $750.00 plus costs. On 11/7/09, CO Soell settled a case in Barnegat Light Municipal Court involving an individual who was apprehended with 48 tautog over limit and 30 undersized tautog. This individual pleaded guilty and was assessed a penalty of $2340.00 plus court costs.

On 11/15/09 District 7 COs conducted a plain-clothes operation at Barnegat Light SP jetty in response to complaints from local citizens of unlawful activity. The officers posing as fishermen, observed several instances in which fishermen deliberately attempted to conceal their illegal catches and avoid detection. Groups of fishermen would send out illegal fish with individuals in backpacks with no fishing equipment, while the rest of the group brought out legal fish and all the equipment. The carriers of the illegal catch would walk out to side streets along the beach to be later picked up by their counterparts or go to separate vehicles. A total of 15 individuals were apprehended by the officers with a total of 23 summonses issued. Summonses issued included: 2 summonses for possession of a total of 23 winter flounder out of season; 8 summonses for possession of a total of 23 tautog, over bag limit; 4 summonses for possession of a total of 10 undersized tautog; and 9 summonses for interfering with the duties of a CO.

On 11/22/09 COs Scott and Swift observed a fisherman returning to the Neptune City ramp. They recognized this individual as a habitual marine fish violator who is currently awaiting trial on another case involving 47 summer flounder out of season. An inspection of the vessel revealed 6 undersized striped bass. Summonses were issued for 6 short striped bass and 2 over limit. CO Scott later inspected the charter fishing vessel, Right of Way II that just returned to the Belmar Municipal Marina in the Shark River, from a tautog fishing trip. The inspection was uneventful. A short time later, CO Swift while driving through the Belmar Marina parking lot, observed a well-dressed individual carrying a bag of three, large tautog. When questioned by CO Swift, this individual claimed he bought the fish from the Right of Way II. CO Swift took the individual back to the vessel to point out the seller, who turned out to be one of the patrons. A summons was issued to the patron for sale of tautog without a permit. Earlier that day while on boat patrol with USCG Sandy Hook, CO Scott inspected a sport fisherman in possession of 12 tautog, 6 over the daily possession limit. A summons was issued for the overage.

CO Dravis conducted a dockside inspection of a sport fishing vessel in Brielle on 11/22/09. As he approached this vessel, he observed some of the three occupants scurrying around to fill out striped bass bonus tags. CO Dravis asked what they had caught and one of the fishermen stated they had 8 striped bass. At the time they had not filled out any of the bonus tags. When CO Dravis told them he was going to inspect the vessel’s fish holds, one individual told them they were also in possession of a summer flounder. The holds contained 8 striped bass and a 24 inch summer flounder. A summons was issued to the captain for not filling out the bonus tags and possession of summer flounder during the closed season.

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