Natural Resources Police Blotter

Maryland Natural Resources Police officers charged hunters and anglers in Baltimore, Allegany and Talbot counties with poaching in recent cases.

A bow hunter from West Virginia was cited Wednesday for hunting deer over bait in Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Allegany County.

Shawn Andrew Swanger, 29, of Keyser, was questioned by an officer on patrol and acknowledged he had two tree stands on the property. The officer noticed a salt block and a pile of corn near the stands, which Swanger acknowledged placing on the site.

Swanger received citations for hunting over bait and placing permanent tree stands on state land.

The hunter is scheduled to appear in Allegany District Court on Dec. 22. The maximum penalty for the two violations is $750.

_________________

In Baltimore County, officers charged a Pennsylvania man with multiple counts of illegal hunting on Oct. 31.

Acting on a tip, officers encountered Robert Ziegler, 43, of Dallastown, at 11 a.m. near Bird River Road in Middle River. Ziegler had shot a three-point buck with a muzzleloader.

Ziegler received citations for failing to have a Maryland hunting license, failing to have a muzzleloader stamp and hunting out of season. He also received warnings for hunting without written permission and failing to field tag the deer. The deer was seized and donated to a charity food program.

A court date has not been set. The maximum penalty for the three charges is $1,100.

_________________

In Talbot County, officers charged a man on Wednesday with two counts of illegal fishing.

Acting on a tip, officers went to a location in the 600 block of Dover Road in Easton and observed large coolers and several people nearby. The coolers contained 58 striped bass, four of which were smaller than the 20-inch minimum size.

James Edward Ford Sr., 64, of Centreville, told officers the fish belonged to him.

Ford was charged with exceeding the daily limit of striped bass and possession of undersized striped bass. He is scheduled to appear in Talbot District Court on Dec. 17. The maximum penalty for the two violations is $3,000.