Delaware News

DNREC announces Delaware hunting seasons continue in December, with waterfowl reopening through January

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | News | Date Posted: Friday, December 1, 2017



DOVER – Delaware waterfowl hunters are gearing up for the state’s third and final waterfowl split season, which runs from Friday, Dec. 8 thru Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.

“Through the end of January, we conduct aerial waterfowl surveys every two weeks and we typically see an increase in the number of waterfowl between surveys as more birds push south during their migration,” said Wildlife Biologist Justyn Foth, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife. In addition to waterfowl, many other hunting and trapping opportunities can now be taken advantage of throughout the state.

Hunting and trapping seasons opening in December include:

Hunting:

  • Brant: Dec. 2 – Jan. 31, 2018
  • Waterfowl (Coots and Mergansers): Dec. 8  – Jan. 27, 2018
  • Antlerless deer: Dec. 9-16, including Sunday, Dec. 10
  • Canada geese (Migratory): Dec. 15 – Feb. 3, 2018

Trapping:

  • Muskrat, Mink, Otter, Raccoon, Opossum, Nutria:
    • New Castle County: Dec. 1 – Mar. 10, 2018
    • Kent and Sussex counties: Dec. 15 – Mar. 15, 2018
  • Beaver: Dec. 1 – Mar. 20, 2018
  • Red Fox, Coyote: Dec. 1 – Mar. 10, 2018

DNREC reminds hunters that, new this year, registered motor vehicles used to access designated public lands owned or managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife are required to display a Delaware Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Hunters can opt to receive one free annual vehicle pass with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license. To obtain a free CAP, or to purchase an additional pass, hunters will need to have the registration card for the vehicle to which the pass will be assigned.

Delaware hunting licenses, state waterfowl stamps, and conservation access passes can be purchased online at Delaware Licenses, at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or from hunting license dealers statewide. For hunters age 16 and older, a federal migratory bird hunting stamp also is required to hunt waterfowl; federal stamps are available at U.S. Post Offices and online at Federal duck stamp.

To purchase your hunting license, either in person or online, hunters must have a copy of their hunter safety card as proof of taking a basic hunter education safety course. Hunters who took a Delaware hunter safety course after 2008 can print their hunter safety card by visiting Hunter Education Access. Hunters who took their hunter safety course before 2008 should call the Hunter Education Office at 302-735-3600, ext. 1 to obtain a hunter safety card.

For more information on hunting, click 2017-2018 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide, Wildlife Area Hunting Maps, and Sunday deer hunting. Hard copies of the guide and newly-updated hunting maps are available at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office. More information on hunting licenses, season details and conservation access passes also is available by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

Vol. 47, No. 255

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DNREC announces Delaware hunting seasons continue in December, with waterfowl reopening through January

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | News | Date Posted: Friday, December 1, 2017



DOVER – Delaware waterfowl hunters are gearing up for the state’s third and final waterfowl split season, which runs from Friday, Dec. 8 thru Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.

“Through the end of January, we conduct aerial waterfowl surveys every two weeks and we typically see an increase in the number of waterfowl between surveys as more birds push south during their migration,” said Wildlife Biologist Justyn Foth, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife. In addition to waterfowl, many other hunting and trapping opportunities can now be taken advantage of throughout the state.

Hunting and trapping seasons opening in December include:

Hunting:

  • Brant: Dec. 2 – Jan. 31, 2018
  • Waterfowl (Coots and Mergansers): Dec. 8  – Jan. 27, 2018
  • Antlerless deer: Dec. 9-16, including Sunday, Dec. 10
  • Canada geese (Migratory): Dec. 15 – Feb. 3, 2018

Trapping:

  • Muskrat, Mink, Otter, Raccoon, Opossum, Nutria:
    • New Castle County: Dec. 1 – Mar. 10, 2018
    • Kent and Sussex counties: Dec. 15 – Mar. 15, 2018
  • Beaver: Dec. 1 – Mar. 20, 2018
  • Red Fox, Coyote: Dec. 1 – Mar. 10, 2018

DNREC reminds hunters that, new this year, registered motor vehicles used to access designated public lands owned or managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife are required to display a Delaware Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Hunters can opt to receive one free annual vehicle pass with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license. To obtain a free CAP, or to purchase an additional pass, hunters will need to have the registration card for the vehicle to which the pass will be assigned.

Delaware hunting licenses, state waterfowl stamps, and conservation access passes can be purchased online at Delaware Licenses, at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or from hunting license dealers statewide. For hunters age 16 and older, a federal migratory bird hunting stamp also is required to hunt waterfowl; federal stamps are available at U.S. Post Offices and online at Federal duck stamp.

To purchase your hunting license, either in person or online, hunters must have a copy of their hunter safety card as proof of taking a basic hunter education safety course. Hunters who took a Delaware hunter safety course after 2008 can print their hunter safety card by visiting Hunter Education Access. Hunters who took their hunter safety course before 2008 should call the Hunter Education Office at 302-735-3600, ext. 1 to obtain a hunter safety card.

For more information on hunting, click 2017-2018 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide, Wildlife Area Hunting Maps, and Sunday deer hunting. Hard copies of the guide and newly-updated hunting maps are available at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office. More information on hunting licenses, season details and conservation access passes also is available by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

Vol. 47, No. 255

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.