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  • Wild turkey hunting season kicks off in Delaware April 2nd

    Wild turkey hunting season kicks off in Delaware April 2nd

    Wild turkey hunting in Delaware begins Saturday, April 2 with a one-day turkey hunt for youth ages 10 through 15 and for non-ambulatory hunters, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today – with the regular turkey hunting season opening Saturday, April 9 and running through Saturday, May 7.

    Hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no Sunday hunting allowed. Only bearded turkeys may be harvested, and the bag limit is one bearded turkey per hunter each year, regardless of where and when harvested.

    Youth participating in the one-day April 2 hunt must be 10 to 15 years of age and must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older who has completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class and who possesses a Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN).

    Accompanying adults may not hunt during the youth-day hunt. Regular-season turkey hunters under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult of 21 years of age or older who has completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class and who possesses a Delaware hunting license or LEN.

    Non-ambulatory hunters who participate in the one-day hunt on April 2 must need a wheelchair for mobility.

    Hunting regulations require that all harvested birds must be checked at an authorized turkey check station by 2:30 p.m. on the day the bird was harvested. A list of turkey check stations is available at dnrec.delaware.gov and in the 2021/2022 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide. Check station hours may vary, so hunters are advised to call the station to confirm hours of operation.

    Hunters who want their bird scored and entered into National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) records are reminded to have their turkey’s weight recorded on a certified scale. For more information, see the NWTF website.

    Hunting on state wildlife areas and in state forests during the spring regular turkey hunting season requires carrying a public land permit that was issued via preseason lottery, with the permit specifying the public lands and season segment/dates that can be hunted.

    Hunters participating in the special turkey hunt for youth and non-ambulatory hunters on April 2 may hunt without a public land permit on those state wildlife areas and state forests open to turkey hunting during the regular turkey hunting season as indicated on pages 43 and 45 of the Hunting & Trapping Guide.

    Additional information on hunting seasons and state wildlife areas is available in the Hunting & Trapping Guide or by calling the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. Information on hunting licenses and the Conservation Access Pass is available at de.gov/huntinglicense or by calling the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Recreational Licensing office at 302-739-9918.

  • Additional hunting seasons kick off this month in Delaware

    Additional hunting seasons kick off this month in Delaware

    Delaware waterfowl hunters are gearing up for the state’s third duck hunting season segment, which runs from Friday, Dec. 10 through Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, and the second Canada goose hunting season segment, which runs from Friday, Dec. 24 through Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. Additional hunting seasons to include the special antlerless deer season open in December, as well as the opening of numerous trapping seasons.

    Deer hunters are encouraged to harvest does (female deer) to help manage the size and quality of Delaware’s deer population. Deer hunting is allowed on all Sundays through January 2022, using only those hunting methods legal for the respective established deer hunting seasons. Additional information is available at de.gov/sundayhunt.

    Hunting season dates opening in December:

    • Beaver: Dec. 1 through Mar. 19, 2022, Private Land Only
    • Woodcock and common snipe: Dec. 3 through Jan. 17, 2022
    • Antlerless deer: Dec. 11 through 19, including Sundays Dec. 12 and 19*
    • Ducks, coots and mergansers: Dec. 10 through Jan. 31, 2022
    • Brant: Dec. 11 through Jan. 31, 2022
    • Canada goose (Migratory season): Dec. 24 through Jan. 22, 2022

    *Archery and crossbow hunters may hunt deer during the December antlerless season but may NOT harvest antlered deer.

    Trapping season dates opening** in December:

    • Muskrat, mink, otter, raccoon, opossum, nutria:
      ○ New Castle County: Dec. 1 through Mar. 10, 2022 (March 20 on embanked meadows)
      ○ Kent and Sussex counties: Dec. 15 through Mar. 15, 2022
    • Red fox and coyote: Dec. 1 through Mar. 10, 2022
    • Beaver: Dec. 1 through Mar. 20, 2022, Private Land Only

    **Groundhog trapping season continues through June 30, 2022

    Continuing hunting seasons include:

    • Bobwhite quail: through Jan. 1, 2022
    • Mourning dove: through Jan. 31, 2022
    • Archery and crossbow deer: through Jan. 31, 2022, including all Sundays
    • Sea ducks in Special Sea Duck Area: through Jan. 31, 2022
    • Tundra swan (by special permit ONLY): through Jan. 31, 2022
    • Snow goose: through Jan. 31, 2022 and Feb. 5, 2022
    • Ring-necked pheasant (male only): through Feb. 5, 2022
    • Gray squirrel: through Feb. 5, 2022
    • Cottontail rabbit: through Feb. 28, 2022
    • Coyote (hunting): through Feb. 28, 2022
    • Red fox (hunting): through Feb. 28, 2022
    • Raccoon and opossum (hunting): through Feb. 28, 2022***
    • Crows: through March 26, 2022, June 23 through 25, 2022 and June 30, 2022 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only)
    • Groundhog: through June 30, 2022

    ***Special raccoon and opossum hunting hours during the December antlerless, January handgun, January shotgun and January muzzleloader deer seasons are 7:00 p.m. until midnight (reference the hunting and trapping guide for these deer season dates).

    The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife offers many hunting opportunities on state wildlife areas, with details available at de.gov/wamaps. Information specific to Sunday deer hunting on state 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 are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp. Migratory bird hunters, except crow hunters, also need a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, which can be obtained through the DNREC ePermitting system website or by calling toll free 855-DEL-HUNT (855-335-4868). If using the DNREC 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 at de.gov/huntinglicense or from hunting license agents statewide. Hunters obtaining a LEN are reminded that they should create a profile using the DNREC ePermitting system portal or obtain a LEN at a hunting license agent if they have not already done so. Federal Duck Stamps are available for purchase at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges and online at 2021/2022 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.

    Additional information on hunting seasons and state wildlife areas is available in the 2021/2022 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide or by calling the Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. Information on hunting licenses, the state waterfowl stamp and the Conservation Access Pass is available at de.gov/huntinglicense or by calling the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Recreational Licensing office at 302-739-9918.

  • Additional hunting seasons open up next month in Delaware

    Additional hunting seasons open up next month in Delaware

    Numerous Delaware hunting seasons open next month, including the popular November deer shotgun season which runs from Friday, Nov. 12 through Sunday, Nov. 21, as well as the firearms deer hunt available only to youth and non-ambulatory hunters on Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.

    Duck, Canada goose and other hunting seasons also open in November.

    Hunters are encouraged by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife to harvest does (female deer) during the various deer hunting seasons to help manage the size and quality of Delaware’s deer population. Deer hunting is allowed on all Sundays through Jan. 31, 2022, using only those hunting methods legal for the respective established deer hunting seasons, with additional information available at de.gov/sundayhunt.

    A convenient Deer Harvest Report Card issued to hunters with their hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is now used to record harvested deer, replacing the paper deer tags vulnerable to damage and loss that were previously attached to deer upon harvest in Delaware. Hunters are reminded that they must complete the appropriate section of their Deer Harvest Report Card before the deer is moved from the harvest location and keep the card in their possession. Hunters may obtain a Deer Harvest Report Card at de.gov/digitaldnrec or by calling 302-739-9918 for assistance. Harvested deer must also be registered within 24 hours of harvest in the ePermitting system or by calling toll free at 855-DEL-HUNT (855-335-4868).

    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 online 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. Last year, hunters donated over 21,000 pounds of processed venison that provided more than 84,000 meals to Delawareans in need.

    In addition to the deer shotgun season, November provides many other popular hunting opportunities, including the opening of the second duck season split, sea duck season in the Special Sea Duck Area and first Canada goose season split.

    Hunting season dates opening in November:

    • Raccoon and opossum (hunt only): Nov. 1 through Feb. 28, 2022*
    • Red fox (hunt only): Nov. 1 through Feb. 28, 2022
    • Deer youth/non-ambulatory hunt: Nov. 6 and Nov. 7
    • Deer shotgun: Nov. 12 through 21, including all Sundays
    • Tundra swan (by special permit ONLY): Nov. 11 through Jan. 31, 2022
    • Woodcock (first season split): Nov. 22 through 27
    • Ducks, coots and mergansers (second season split): Nov. 22 through 27
    • Brant (first season split): Nov. 22 through 27
    • Sea ducks in Special Sea Duck Area: Nov. 23 through Jan. 31, 2022
    • Bobwhite quail: Nov. 22 through Jan. 1, 2022
    • Mourning dove (second season split): Nov. 22 through Jan. 31, 2022
    • Ring-necked pheasant (male only): Nov. 22 through Feb. 5, 2022
    • Cottontail rabbit: Nov. 22 through Feb. 28, 2022
    • Canada goose (first season split): Nov. 24 through 27
      *Raccoon and opossum hunting seasons are closed during the November youth/non-ambulatory hunt and November shotgun deer season. Special hunting hours for raccoon and opossum during the December antlerless, 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 hunting seasons include:

    • Moorhen, gallinule, sora, Virginia rail, king rail and clapper rail: through Nov. 24
    • Common snipe: through Nov. 27
    • Snow goose: through Jan. 31, 2022; Feb. 5, 2022
    • Deer archery and crossbow: through Jan. 31, 2022, including all Sundays
    • Gray squirrel: through Feb. 5, 2022 (closed during November deer shotgun season)
    • Coyote (hunting): through Feb. 28, 2022
    • Crows: through March 26, 2022, June 23 to 25, 2022 and June 30, 2022 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only)
    • Groundhog: through June 30, 2022

    A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is required to hunt, and most waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp. Migratory bird hunters, except crow hunters, also need a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, which can be obtained through the DNREC ePermitting system or by calling toll free 855-DEL-HUNT (855-335-4868). If using the DNREC 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 at de.gov/huntinglicense or from hunting license agents statewide. Hunters obtaining a LEN are reminded that they should create a profile using the DNREC ePermitting system or obtain a LEN at a hunting license agent if they have not already done so. Federal Duck Stamps are available for purchase at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges and online at 2021/2022 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.

    Additional information on hunting seasons and wildlife areas is available in the 2021/2022 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide or by calling the Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. Information on hunting licenses, the state waterfowl stamp and the Conservation Access Pass is available at de.gov/huntinglicense or by calling the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Recreational Licensing office at 302-739-9918.