Additional Delaware Deer Hunting Seasons Opening in January

Numerous Hunting and Trapping Seasons Continue

Firearm deer hunting seasons opening in January and continuing archery deer seasons provide the last chance for hunters to harvest deer during the 2020/21 hunting season. Deer hunting is allowed on all Sundays, using only those hunting methods legal for the respective deer hunting season, with more information available from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control at de.gov/sundayhunt. Hunters are encouraged to harvest does (female deer) to help manage the size and quality of the deer population.

Successful deer hunters who wish to donate venison to those in need are encouraged to participate in Delaware’s Sportsmen Against Hunger Program. Field-dressed deer may be donated at participating butchers or self-serve, walk-in coolers maintained by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, with additional information and participating butcher and cooler locations found at de.gov/sah. All donated deer will be processed free of charge to the hunter, and the meat will be distributed to participating charitable organizations serving those in need. Last year, hunters donated 25,406 pounds of venison that provided over 100,000 meals to Delawareans in need.

Deer hunting seasons opening in January include:

  • January handgun season*: Jan. 2, Jan. 4 to 9, which excludes Sunday, Jan. 3**
  • January shotgun season*: Jan. 16 to 24, including Sundays
  • January muzzleloader season: Jan. 25 to Jan. 31, including Sundays

* Straight-walled, pistol-caliber rifles are allowed during the January handgun and shotgun deer seasons.
**Hunters may only use archery equipment, including crossbows, to hunt on Sunday, Jan. 3.

Continuing hunting seasons include:

  • Bobwhite quail: through Jan. 2, 2021
  • Canada goose (migratory): through Jan. 18, 2021
  • Woodcock and common snipe: through Jan. 19, 2021
  • Ducks, coots and mergansers: through Jan. 30, 2021
  • Sea ducks in the Special Sea Duck Area: through Jan. 30, 2021
  • Brant: through Jan. 30, 2021
  • Tundra swan (by special permit ONLY): through Jan. 30, 2021
  • Snow goose: through Jan. 30, 2021, and Feb. 6, 2021
  • Mourning dove: through Jan. 30, 2021
  • Archery and crossbow deer: through Jan. 31, 2021, including all Sundays
  • Gray squirrel: through Feb. 6, 2021
  • Ring-necked pheasant (male only): through Feb. 6, 2021
  • Cottontail rabbit: through Feb. 27, 2021
  • Coyote (hunt): through Feb. 27, 2021
  • Red fox (hunt): through Feb. 27, 2021
  • Raccoon and opossum (hunt): through Feb. 27, 2021***
  • Beaver: through March 20, 2021, private land only
  • Crows: through March 27, 2021, and June 24 to 26, 2021 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only)
  • Groundhog: through June 30, 2021

***Special hunting hours for raccoon and opossum during the January handgun, January shotgun and January muzzleloader deer seasons are 7 p.m. until midnight (reference the hunting and trapping guide for these deer season dates).

Continuing trapping seasons include:

  • Muskrat, mink, otter, raccoon, opossum and nutria:
    ○ New Castle County: through March 10, 2021 (March 20 on embanked meadows)
    ○ Kent and Sussex counties: through March 15, 2021
  • Red fox and coyote: through March 10, 2021
  • Beaver: through March 20, 2021, private land only

The Division of Fish and Wildlife offers many hunting opportunities on state wildlife areas. For more information, including wildlife area maps and rules, visit de.gov/hunting. Sunday deer hunting information specific to individual wildlife areas is available at de.gov/sundayhunt.

A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is required to hunt, and most waterfowl hunters require a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp and a federal migratory bird (duck) stamp. All migratory game bird hunters except crow hunters, including duck, goose and dove hunters, also need a free Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, which can be obtained through the DNREC ePermitting system or by calling toll free 1-855-DEL-HUNT (1-855-335-4868). If using the ePermitting system, hunters should either create a profile or use the “Quick Hunting Registration” option.

Registered motor vehicles used to access designated wildlife areas owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife are required to display a Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Hunters can opt to receive one free annual CAP with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license. To obtain a CAP, hunters will need the registration card for the vehicle to which the pass will be assigned.

Delaware hunting licenses, Delaware waterfowl stamps and Conservation Access Passes can be purchased online using the DNREC ePermitting system or from hunting license agents statewide. New this year, hunters obtaining a LEN should create a profile using the ePermitting system or at a hunting license agent. Federal migratory bird (duck) stamps are available for purchase at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges and online.

More information on hunting seasons and wildlife areas is available in the 2020/2021 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide or by calling the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. More information on hunting licenses, the state waterfowl stamp and the Conservation Access Pass is available at de.gov/hunting or by calling the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Recreational Licensing office at 302-739-9918.

Hunting opportunities also are available in some Delaware State Parks, with more information at destateparks.com.

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 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 nearly 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Delaware’s dove, resident Canada goose, deer, teal, and gray squirrel hunting seasons to open in September

 

Hunting opportunities offered at many state wildlife areas

DOVER – Delaware hunters will start their 2018/19 hunting season Saturday, Sept. 1, with the opening of mourning dove, resident Canada goose, and archery and crossbow deer seasons. Hunters can start adding teal to their bag on Wednesday, Sept. 12 when the special September teal season opens. Gray squirrel season opens Saturday, Sept. 15. New this year, archery and crossbow deer hunters can hunt Sundays during archery and crossbow deer seasons, including in September.

Seasons opening in September, with dates and hunting hours listed, are:

  • Dove: Sept. 1-Oct. 1 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)*
  • Resident Canada geese: Sept. 1-25 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
  • Archery and Crossbow Deer: Sept. 1-Jan. 31, 2019 to include Sundays (½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset)
  • Teal: Sept. 12-29 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
  • Gray squirrel: Sept. 15-Feb. 2, 2019 (½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset)

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife offers many early-season hunting opportunities on state wildlife areas, with hunting details and rules available online at Delaware’s September hunting seasons. *Reminder: Non-toxic shot must be used for dove hunting on state wildlife areas during the month of September and hunting hours might differ at specific dove fields on certain state wildlife areas.

A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is required to hunt, and most waterfowl hunters require a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp. More information on hunting license and Delaware waterfowl stamp requirements is available at Delaware Licenses. Teal, dove, and goose hunters also will need a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. To register for a HIP number or LEN number, hunters can go to Delaware Hunter and Trapper Registration or call toll free 1-855-335-4868. For hunters age 16 and older, a federal migratory bird stamp is also required to hunt geese or teal.

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

Delaware hunting licenses, Delaware 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 agents statewide. Federal migratory bird stamps are available at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges, and online at Federal duck stamps.

For more information on hunting, click 2018-2019 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide and Wildlife Area Hunting Maps. Hard copies of the hunting guide and newly-updated hunting maps are also available at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office. More information on hunting licenses, season details, and conservation access passes is also available by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 235