State environmental police ticketed a Livingston County angler accused of unlawfully netting and snagging Northern pike in Conesus Creek, one of several recent cases highlighted by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
DEC said ECO Jankowski ticketed an angler June 5 in the town of Livonia after observing the person use a net and fishing pole to herd fish into confined areas, snag them and place them in a nearby garbage bag.
The angler took six Northern pike, one over the state daily limit of five, according to DEC. The person received multiple tickets for recreational fishing violations, including taking fish by means other than angling and taking pike over the daily limit. The tickets are returnable to Livonia Town Court, and the fish were confiscated as evidence.
In Oswego County, DEC said officers used a robotic turkey decoy May 10 during a detail targeting illegal road hunting in Williamstown. Officers said they saw a vehicle drive slowly, turn around and stop near the decoy before the driver discharged a shotgun from the vehicle while it was stopped in the roadway.
DEC said the driver sped off after officers emerged from the tree line and announced their presence, but other officers nearby intercepted the vehicle. The driver admitted shooting at what he believed was a real bird, according to DEC.
The person was charged with possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle, discharging from a highway, failure to comply with an ECO, illegal take of a turkey, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and criminal possession of a firearm. DEC said the driver had a suspended license and is a convicted felon who is not legally allowed to possess a firearm. The case is pending in Williamstown Court.
In Oneida County, ECO Hull responded May 26 to a business in the town of Vienna for a report of someone hunting geese out of season. DEC said an investigation found one person had taken two adult Canada geese and seven juvenile geese at different times with a 12-gauge shotgun.
The person was ticketed for illegal take of wildlife, hunting waterfowl out of season, taking over the limit of waterfowl, using shotgun shells not allowed for waterfowl and failing to possess a federal Harvest Information Program number. The tickets are returnable to Vienna Town Court.
DEC also noted that ECO Scalisi received the “Extra Mile” award May 17 at the 2026 New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame Induction Banquet in Canastota. The agency said she was recognized for mentoring youth hunters and helping organize events that introduce women to outdoor activities.
DEC said Environmental Conservation Police Officers and investigators responded to more than 35,575 complaints in 2025 and worked on cases that resulted in 15,673 tickets or arrests statewide.
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