Kyle Magdziuk, a wildlife biologist with DNREC conservation partner Tall Timbers, bagged his gobbler this season on public land, at Taber State Forest near Harrington managed by the Delaware Forest Service /DNREC photo

Two of Delaware’s most popular and productive hunting seasons – for wild turkey and white-tailed deer – have yielded state record harvests for both game species during the 2024-’25 season, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.

Record harvests for both deer and turkey during the same overall hunting season is an historic first for Delaware, according to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, and also a testimonial to the numerous hunting opportunities that exist for both species throughout the state on both public and private land.

The state’s five-month-long deer season starts annually on Sept. 1 and is among the earliest of Delaware’s combined calendar years hunting seasons. Delaware’s deer hunting season often touches parts of six months and is one of the longest big-game hunting seasons in the country. The spring wild turkey season closes out hunting opportunities in the state until dates for the 2025-’26 seasons are announced when new hunting licenses go on sale July 1.

The recent spring turkey season – which ran from April 12 to May 10 – saw Delaware hunters benchmark 2025 for posterity by bagging 800 birds, eclipsing the previous high of 734 turkeys taken in 2023 . The 2025 season  marked a nearly 11% increase in harvest from the 2024 season (when 723 birds were bagged) as Delaware hunters continued to burnish the conservation success story of a wild turkey restoration effort that led to the state’s first spring season for gobblers in 1991.

“Delaware’s turkey hunters continue to play a vital role in wildlife conservation,” said Joe Rogerson, DNREC Wildlife Section administrator. “This season’s record numbers reflect not only favorable habitat conditions but also the commitment of hunters and landowners to sustainable game management.”

Hunters out to get a gobbler in Delaware met with success statewide. Sussex County again topped the state with 369 turkeys harvested, followed closely by Kent County with 338, and New Castle County with 93 birds. Wildlife Management Zone 6, which is in western Kent County, recorded the highest harvest of DNREC’s 18 wildlife management zones, with 105 birds bagged, accounting for 13% of the statewide total turkey harvest.

Most of the birds harvested – 630 – were taken on private lands this season. Worthy of note also was the record 170 turkeys taken on public lands, demonstrating increasing access and opportunity for Delaware hunters, Rogerson said.

The state’s white-tailed deer hunting season also rewarded Delaware hunters who went afield in pursuit of the state’s only big game animal – with 18,823 deer harvested during the season that ended Feb. 2. That total eclipsed the previous record of 17,265 set during the 2020-’21 season, and marked a 29.4% increase over the 2023-’24 season when 14,451 deer were taken, and the lowest Delaware harvest in recent years.

“The historic deer harvest also highlights continued success in wildlife conservation and management efforts across the state,” Wildlife Section Administrator Rogerson said. “Indicative of both the resilience of Delaware’s deer population and the dedication of our hunters at pursuing our state’s big game animal, it also highlights the success of ongoing management strategies aimed at maintaining a healthy and balanced deer herd in Delaware.”

Also instrumental in managing the state’s herd is DNREC’s deer damage assistance program in partnership with the Delaware Department of Agriculture that helps reduce crop losses for the state’s agribusiness. Meanwhile, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife has implemented hunting strategies and programs that further enhance hunter opportunities for putting Delaware venison on the table and a trophy white-tailed buck on the wall.

While Sussex County led the state in total deer harvest, with 9,628 deer harvested, Zone 7 in southwestern Kent County recorded the highest harvest of all 18 DNREC wildlife management zones, with 1,609 deer taken by hunters – evidence indicative of strong deer activity all over Delaware and widespread hunter success in the state for the 2024-’25 season. The harvest in Kent and New Castle and Kent Counties was 6,140 and 3,055 deer, respectively.

Among notable highlights from the past deer season was the harvest of a doe estimated to be approximately 14.5 years old, likely among the oldest deer ever taken in Delaware. Though the doe may not have been the oldest ever, such an occurrence among the state’s white-tailed deer herd offers valuable insight into deer longevity and herd demographics.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, visit de.gov/hunting.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov 

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DNREC’s Aquatic Resources Education Center to offer four summer events from the “Life in the Bay” youth seining program /DNREC photo

Free Outdoor Adventure Program at Woodland Beach Has Four Outings Scheduled Throughout Summer

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and DNREC’s Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) invite families to participate in the popular summer outdoors program “Life in the Bay.” The program is geared toward children age 6 and older, but also is beckoning adults who want to learn more about the fish species and other aquatic creatures that inhabit the Delaware Bay.

AREC staff from the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will be on hand at Woodland Beach to seine for aquatic life as found along the Delaware Bay shoreline, and to help participants discover and learn more about it. “Life in the Bay” program participants will be shown how to use a seine net to capture aquatic life, then have opportunity to view what’s been caught and to assist staff in releasing the catch from the seine.

“Life in the Bay” seining programs are scheduled for:

• Wednesday, June 18, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, July 2, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, July 23, 4-5 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 8, 4-5 p.m.

To ensure enough supplies are on hand for these free programs, pre-registration is required by going to the Education and Outreach Meetings and Events category on the DNREC Events Calendar. Closed-toed shoes are a must for participating in “Life in the Bay” with all other equipment to be provided by AREC staff.

For more information about AREC and other programs offered by the center, visit de.gov/arec.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov 

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 Three Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in Delaware , clockwise from top: A Wood Turtle, a Delmarva Fox Squirrel and one of more than 300 plant species proposed for SGCN listing in the updated 2025 Delaware Wildlife Action Plan, Seabeach amaranth /DNREC photo montage 

DNREC, Partners Identify Over 1,000 Species for List Inclusion

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is updating the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan (DEWAP). This 10-year conservation strategy is developed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife in partnership with numerous stakeholders, including federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, Delaware academic institutions and the public.

The plan will guide conservation efforts for the state’s wildlife and their habitats through 2035.

At the heart of the wildlife action plan is a list of Delaware’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). This list identifies native species at risk due to declining populations and other vulnerabilities. Each state determines its own SGCN list, based on criteria such as global and state rarity, endangered status at the state or federal level, and in Delaware’s case, designation as a Northeast Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Each species is further categorized into Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3, with the tiers respectively reflecting the urgency and level of conservation need. A key DEWAP update to the 2025 SGCN list is the inclusion of more than 300 plant species, bringing the total number of proposed SGCN to more than 1,000.

DNREC is currently seeking public comment on the draft SGCN list while continuing to encourage input throughout the DEWAP revision process. The public is invited to:

• Review the draft  SGCN list and fill out the feedback form at de.gov/dewap.
• Or, email comments to DEWAP2025@delaware.gov.
• Check back this summer for additional draft sections of the plan.
• Join public meetings to be scheduled in July and August before the final plan is officially released this fall.

For more information on the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan, and to stay up to date on the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s revision process, including the upcoming public meetings, visit de.gov/dewap.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov 

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A happy angler shows off a prized catfish catch at the 2024 Delaware Youth Fishing Tournament sponsored by the Delaware Natural Resources Police and the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. The upcoming 39th annual youth fishing tournament – set for Saturday June 7 at public ponds in each Delaware county – is free to enter but preregistration is required. /Delaware DNREC photo

Tournament, to be Held at Public Ponds in Each County, is
Free to Enter for Ages 4 to 15, but Preregistration Required

Families are invited to bring their kids out to cast a line for fish big and small when Delaware Natural Resources Police (DNRP) host the 39th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, June 7. The tournament is to be held rain or shine at a public pond in each county: Blockhouse Pond in Lewes, Akridge Scout Reservation in the Dover area, and Lums Pond near Bear.

Entering the youth fishing tournament is free for ages 4 to 15, but preregistration is required by Friday, May 23.

DNRP will have tournament weighmasters onsite at each pond to weigh catches for participants and determine each county’s top catch and age group titles, as well as the title of overall state winner. Trophies for the Youth Fishing Tournament county winners and the overall state winner will be presented at the Delaware State Fair in July.

Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, DNRP and the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Delaware Youth Fishing Tournament was established to introduce youth to the sport of fishing and to teach the catch-and-release approach to conservation. More information on the Youth Fishing Tournament can be found on the DNREC events calendar or at de.gov/yft.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov 

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A youngster boards a DNREC airboat in the touch-a-boat area at the 2024 Water Family Fest at James Farm Ecological Preserve in Ocean View. Touch-a-boat and other attractions including rain garden development, wetlands exploration, a beekeeping demonstration, and a native plant sale again highlight the annual event co-sponsored by DNREC and the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays /DNREC photo.

Annual Community Water and Nature Event to be Held at James Farm Ecological Preserve in Ocean View

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) are partnering again to host Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale. The family-friendly, free admission event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at James Farm Ecological Preserve, located at 30048 Cedar Neck Road, Ocean View.

Since 2019, Water Family Fest highlights the work done by DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship and CIB toward benefiting Delaware’s natural resources and environment – including managing and monitoring wetlands, improving water quality, engaging community members, and overseeing, protecting and enhancing recreational shorelines and other natural resources.

Water Family Fest visitors can enjoy exhibits from more than 35 nature-based organizations and non-profits while participating in outdoor recreational and educational fun activities. Exhibitors offer a variety of environmental topics to explore, including shellfish, buffers, beaches, wetlands, beekeeping, local authors, rain gardens and native plants, which will be sold at the event by local nurseries. Family and children’s activities such as clay crafts, nature games, insect identification, a reading nook are other attractions for the event.

For the second year, Water Family Fest will include a “touch-a-boat” area, a kid-friendly experience where families can view from up close and board several DNREC boats used in field work. An airboat from the Division of Fish and Wildlife, a shallow-drive boat and a larger Shoreline and Waterway Management Section boat from the Division of Watershed Stewardship, along with a US Coast Guard rescue boat (tentative), all are expected at the event. DNREC staff will be circulating within the area to answer questions and explain what the boats are used for within DNREC programs.

Food vendors to be at the event are Grotto Pizza, Bountiful Bowls, and Bethany Brewing. The Dragonfly Trinity band will also be playing at the event’s main stage. Nurseries participating in the festival are Inland Bays Garden Center, Coastal Tributaries, and East View Farms. Sponsors of the event are Freeman Institute, Annie Powell Coldwell Banker Realty, Sussex Conservation District, Del-Coast Design & Build, and Ashton Pools.

Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale is held as a rain or shine event. Parking for attendees is located across the street from the James Farm Ecological Preserve’s main entrance. Overflow parking will be available at G&E Hardware (30264 Cedar Neck Rd, Ocean View).

More information about the Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale can be found on the DNREC website.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities.  For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov 

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