Delaware’s 2016/17 deer harvest sets new all-time high record

Sunday deer hunting participation boosts record harvest

DOVER – Delaware hunters harvested 14,742 deer during the 2016/17 hunting season, surpassing 2015/16’s record of 14,681 deer taken, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today. This season marks the seventh time within the last 12 years the deer harvest has exceeded 14,000 since Delaware’s first modern-day deer season was held in 1954.

Sussex County had the highest harvest with 7,675 deer, followed by Kent County with 4,397 and New Castle County with 2,670.

With Sunday deer hunting allowed in the state for the first time, a total of 1,170 deer were harvested on the five Sundays open to deer hunting on private lands and Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas.

“Sunday deer hunting provided additional hunting opportunities and another tool to help manage Delaware’s robust deer population,” said Division Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis. “Sunday deer hunting occurred throughout the state without any notable conflict thanks to hunter ethics, including on division public wildlife areas where different outdoor recreational activities were compatibly managed.”

“We are analyzing how Sunday deer hunting contributed to the overall harvest,” said Division Wildlife Biologist Emily Boyd. “Preliminary analysis of this year’s deer harvest surpassing last year’s total strongly suggests that the five Sundays helped achieve the record harvest, despite less than ideal weather during some of the more popular hunting weekends.”

During the 2016/17 season, hunters harvested more females (does) than males (bucks), with 51.3 percent (7,556) does and 48.7 percent (7,186) bucks. Antlerless deer – does, juvenile bucks without antlers known as button bucks, antlered bucks with antlers measuring less than three inches and bucks that had already shed both of their antlers when harvested – represented 67.9 percent of the total harvest.

In addition to the new statewide harvest record, several other deer records were set by hunters this past season:

  • Kent County: 4,397 deer harvested
  • Antlered bucks harvested in a single season: 4,729
  • Total bucks harvested in a single season: 7,186

“Many hunters enjoyed success this year as indicated by the total harvest as well as several new records set, and we fully expect hunters to continue to enjoy Delaware’s deer hunting opportunities for years to come,” said Wildlife Section Administrator Rob Hossler. “As we continue to analyze the harvest data, we anticipate finding other harvest records that were broken this past season and will share those on the Division of Fish & Wildlife website when they become available.”

For more information about the Delaware deer harvest or other deer-related information, please contact Emily Boyd at 302-735-3600, or visit the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Delaware Deer Information webpage. Additional harvest data will be available on this webpage at a later date following more detailed analysis of the harvest data.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 50

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DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds hunters to remove temporary deer stands from state wildlife areas

DOVER – With the 2016/17 deer hunting seasons closing Tuesday, Jan. 31, hunters who have placed portable deer stands on state wildlife areas are reminded that all stands must be removed no later than 48 hours after the season ends. Any stands that remain on wildlife areas after Thursday, Feb. 2 will become the property of the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Wildlife area rules were changed for the 2016/17 hunting season to provide hunters with additional opportunities by allowing temporary placement of portable deer stands on certain wildlife areas for the duration of the season. Previously, portable deer stands had to be carried in and out of wildlife areas daily.

“State wildlife areas are available for the use and enjoyment of everyone,” said Craig Rhoads, Habitat Conservation and Management program manager, Division of Fish & Wildlife. “To ensure the safety of wildlife area users to avoid impeding wildlife management activities and for hunters to avoid loss of their property, it is important that all temporary deer stands are removed promptly,” Rhoads said.

Under the revised rules for use of temporary, portable deer stands on state wildlife areas, no parts of these stands can be nailed or bolted to a tree. Hunters also are prohibited from cutting any vegetation or branches in order to hang a stand or to clear shooting paths. Hunters may set up their stands any time after Aug. 25. Placement of a stand on a wildlife area does not give the stand owner any exclusive rights to hunting a particular location.

For more information, contact the Division of Fish & Wildlife at 302-739-9912.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 24

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DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds hunters Jan. 15 is final 2016/17 Sunday deer hunting date

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds hunters that Sunday, Jan. 15 is the one remaining Sunday deer hunting date for the 2016/2017 hunting season. Deer hunting participation and harvest on those Sundays open to deer hunting on Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas open to Sunday deer hunting and private property continue to increase, according to Director David Saveikis. Hunters have registered 1,004 harvested deer statewide during the first four of this hunting season’s five Sunday deer hunting days.

Only deer can be hunted on Sunday, Jan. 15, which is part of the January shotgun deer hunting season. Deer can be hunted on that date during the regular deer hunting hours of one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset on private lands with landowner permission and on Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas open to Sunday deer hunting.

All Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas have areas open for Sunday deer hunting on the above date and times, with some portions of the following wildlife areas closed to Sunday deer hunting (see maps on the Sunday deer hunting webpage):

New Castle County
• Augustine Wildlife Area, near Port Penn
• C&D Canal Conservation Area, near St. Georges

Kent County
• Little Creek Wildlife Area, east of Dover
• Ted Harvey Conservation Area, southeast of Dover
• Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area, near Felton

Sussex County
• Assawoman Wildlife Area, near Millville
• Nanticoke Wildlife Area, Seaford/Bethel area
• Milford Neck Wildlife Area, near Milford

All DNREC’s Delaware State Parks lands are CLOSED to Sunday deer hunting.

For more information on Sunday deer hunting, or to request printed copies of wildlife area maps showing areas open and closed to Sunday deer hunting, please call the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912 or visit the Sunday deer hunting webpage.

For more information on the 2016/2017 hunting seasons and Division of Fish & Wildlife-managed wildlife areas, please consult 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide and Delaware Wildlife Area Maps. Printed copies of the guide and maps are available at DNREC’s licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. The guide is also available from license agents throughout the state.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 9

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January presents deer hunters with a variety of hunting opportunities and options to close out the 2016/17 season

DOVER – Deer hunters going afield in the home stretch of Delaware’s 2016/17 hunting season have a variety of hunting opportunities and options this month.
• Handgun deer hunting season is open Saturday, Jan. 7 thru Saturday, Jan. 14.
• January shotgun deer hunting season is open Saturday, Jan. 14 thru Saturday, Jan. 21, including Sunday, Jan. 15.
• January muzzleloader deer hunting season is open Monday, Jan. 23 thru Saturday, Jan. 28.
• The continuing archery and crossbow deer hunting seasons conclude Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Jan. 15 is the last of five Sundays open for deer hunting this season. As with all deer seasons, Sunday deer hunting is open one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. Deer can be hunted on private lands with landowner permission and on Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas open to Sunday deer hunting. All Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas are open for Sunday deer hunting with portions of some wildlife areas closed to Sunday deer hunting (see maps on the Sunday deer hunting webpage). All DNREC’s Delaware State Parks lands are CLOSED to Sunday deer hunting.

For more information on Sunday deer hunting, or to request printed copies of wildlife area maps showing areas open and closed to Sunday deer hunting, please call the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912 or visit the Sunday deer hunting webpage.

In order to hunt, Delaware residents age 16 through 64 are required to purchase a Delaware hunting license; a Delaware junior license is required for ages 13 through 15. Some license requirements differ for non-resident hunters. Delaware hunting licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, click Delaware Licenses. For more information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

Deer must be tagged immediately after harvest, and tags must remain attached until the deer is processed. Delaware hunting licenses come with four antlerless deer tags, but additional antlerless deer tags may be purchased online or from license agents for $10. Resident hunters may purchase a combination resident hunter’s choice/quality buck tag for $10, with the resident hunter’s choice tag usable on both antlered and antlerless deer and the resident quality buck tag only usable on an antlered deer with a minimum outside antler spread of 15 inches. Non-residents may purchase separately one antlered deer tag valid for any deer and/or one quality buck tag for deer with a minimum outside antler spread of 15 inches for $25 each. Hunters are permitted to harvest a maximum of two antlered bucks for all seasons combined. All other deer taken must be antlerless.

Hunters are reminded that they must register their deer within 24 hours of harvest. A registration number is required before taking any deer to a butcher or taxidermist. Likewise, hunters who butcher their own deer must register the deer within 24 hours of harvest or before processing.

Hunters may register deer by visiting the Hunter and Trapper Registration (HTR) system online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt using their smartphone, tablet or computer. Those who prefer to register their deer through a live customer service representative have the option to call 855-DEL-HUNT (855-335-4868). However, using the website instead of the live customer service phone number is less costly to the Division of Fish & Wildlife, with the savings better used to fund wildlife and habitat conservation programs and management of public wildlife areas.

Successful hunters who harvest a deer and already have enough venison for themselves are encouraged to donate their deer to the Delaware Sportsmen Against Hunger Program. All donated deer will be processed free of charge to the hunter and the meat will be distributed to participating charitable groups.

The Division of Fish & Wildlife maintains walk-in coolers where hunters may donate field-dressed, tagged deer at the following locations:

Sussex County
Assawoman Wildlife Area, near Frankford
Gumboro Community Center, Gumboro
Redden State Forest Headquarters, near Georgetown
Trap Pond State Park, near Laurel

Kent County
Woodland Beach Wildlife Area, near Smyrna
Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area, near Viola
Mosquito Control Office, Milford

New Castle County
Augustine Wildlife Area, Port Penn

Donated deer are taken to the Sussex Correctional Institution’s deer butchering program, or to participating private butcher shops, where they are processed. If a hunter donates a deer, the Division of Fish & Wildlife requests that the hunter please call the phone number posted on the cooler, so that the deer is transported for processing in a timely manner. Any deer dropped off at a cooler must be field-dressed and registered, with the registration number written on the field tag attached to the animal.

Successful hunters may also take their deer to any of the Sportsmen Against Hunger participating private butcher shops found throughout the state:

Sussex County
Dave’s Cut ‘Em Up
6854 Delmar Road
Delmar, DE 19940
302-381-7257

Ole McDonald’s
Farm Fresh Meats & Produce
8977 DuPont Boulevard
Lincoln, DE 19960
302-265-2321

Kent County
Miller’s Butcher Shop
577 Morgans Choice Road
Wyoming, DE 19934
302-697-8278

D&J Custom Cutting
89 Myers Drive
Hartly, DE 19953
302-492-0323

New Castle County
Townsend Deer Butchering
1300 Dexter Corner Road
Townsend, DE 19734
302-378-3268

Mark’s Butcher Shop
River Road Industrial Park
729 Grantham Lane
New Castle, DE 19720
302-229-0897

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click on 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from license agents throughout the state. State wildlife area hunting maps are available in hard copy at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk and online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps. For more information, call the licensing desk at 302-739-9918 or the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 8

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DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds hunters of Sunday deer hunting opportunities on private and public lands

Sunday deer hunting participation and harvest increasing

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds hunters of the two remaining Sunday deer hunting opportunities for the 2016/2017 hunting season. Deer hunting participation and harvest on those Sundays open to deer hunting continue to increase statewide and on Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas open to Sunday deer hunting, according to Director David Saveikis. Hunters have registered 900 harvested deer statewide during the first three of this hunting season’s five Sunday deer hunting days.

Only deer can be hunted on the following Sundays that occur during the remaining respective deer hunting seasons:
• Dec. 11 – special antlerless season
• Jan. 15, 2017 – shotgun season

Deer can be hunted on the Sundays listed above during the regular deer hunting hours of one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset on private lands with landowner permission and on Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas open to Sunday deer hunting.

All Division of Fish & Wildlife public wildlife areas are open for Sunday deer hunting on the above dates and times, with some portions of the following wildlife areas closed to Sunday deer hunting (see maps on the Sunday deer hunting webpage):

New Castle County
• Augustine Wildlife Area, near Port Penn
• C&D Canal Conservation Area, near St. Georges

Kent County
• Little Creek Wildlife Area, east of Dover
• Ted Harvey Conservation Area, southeast of Dover
• Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area, near Felton

Sussex County
• Assawoman Wildlife Area, near Millville
• Nanticoke Wildlife Area, Seaford/Bethel area
• Milford Neck Wildlife Area, near Milford

All DNREC’s Delaware State Parks lands are CLOSED to Sunday deer hunting.

For more information on Sunday deer hunting, or to request printed copies of wildlife area maps showing areas open and closed to Sunday deer hunting, please call the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912 or visit the Sunday deer hunting webpage.

For more information on the 2016/2017 hunting seasons and Division of Fish & Wildlife-managed wildlife areas, please consult 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide and Delaware Wildlife Area Maps. Printed copies of the guide and maps are available at DNREC’s licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. The guide is also available from license agents throughout the state.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 46, No. 420

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