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Hours: Upland Game (except wild turkey, raccoon & frogs) one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset (raccoon and frogs may be hunted at night).
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Season for hunting on private shooting preserves is October 15 - March 31.
Deer Seasons
|
Season |
Season Date(s) |
Bag Limit1 |
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Archery2 |
September 1, 2009 – January 31, 2010 |
4 |
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October Antlerless |
October 2, 3, 19, 23, 24, 26, 30 & 31, 2009 |
4 |
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October Muzzleloader |
October 9 – 17, 2009 |
4 |
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Youth Day |
November 7, 2009 |
4 |
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November Shotgun |
November 13 – 21, 2009 |
4 |
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December Antlerless |
December 12 – 19, 2009 |
4 |
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January Handgun |
January 2 – 9, 2010 |
4 |
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January Shotgun |
January 16 – 23, 2010 |
4 |
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January Muzzleloader |
January 25 – 30, 2010 |
4 |
1Hunters may shoot 2 does and/or 2 antlerless deer with their license tags. Hunters may purchase additional antlerless tags (unlimited) for $10.00 each. Hunters may also purchase 1 hunters choice (Delaware residents), an antlered deer tag (non-residents), and/or a quality buck tag (Delaware residents and non-residents) if they want to shoot a buck. 2Hunter orange, 400 square inches, must be worn while archery hunting during all deer muzzleloader and/or shotgun seasons.
More Information
- Muzzleloaders and handguns may be used during shotgun seasons and may be equipped with scopes. Hunters may not be in possession of a handgun and shotgun during the shotgun seasons.
- A crossbow may be substituted for a shotgun from Nov. 16 - 21, 2009. Crossbows must be from 150 to 200 lbs. and manufactured after 1980.
Small Game, Turkey, Furbearer, Bullfrog and Snapping Turtle Seasons
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Species |
Season Date(s) |
Daily Limit |
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Eastern Gray Squirrel |
September 15, 2009 – February 6, 2010 |
6 |
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Bobwhite Quail |
November 23, 2009 – February 6, 2010 |
6 |
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Eastern Cottontail Rabbit |
November 23, 2009 – February 15, 2010 |
4 |
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Ring-necked Pheasant (male only) |
November 23, 2009 – February 6, 2010 |
2 |
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Raccoon (chase only) |
September 1 – October 8, 20091
October 172 – October 31, 2009
March 1 – March 31, 2010 |
0 – Chase Only |
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Raccoon |
November 1 – 12, 2009
November 212, 2009 – February 28, 2010 |
No Limit |
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Virginia Opossum (chase only) |
September 1 – October 8, 20091
October 172 – October 31, 2009
March 1 – March 31, 2010 |
0 – Chase Only |
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Virginia Opossum |
November 1 – 12, 2009
November 212, 2009 – February 28, 2010 |
No Limit |
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Red Fox (chase only) |
October 1, 2009 – April 31, 20103 |
0 |
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Bullfrog |
May 1 – September 30, 2010 |
24 |
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Snapping Turtle5 |
June 15, 2009 – May 15, 2010 |
No Limit |
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Wild Turkey (Youth Season) |
April 3, 2010 |
1 |
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Wild Turkey6 |
April 10 – April 30, 2010 |
1 |
1Raccoon, Virginia opossum and red fox (October 1 – December 31, 2009) seasons are closed during the deer shotgun and muzzleloader seasons. 2Season reopens ½ hour after sunset 3From January 1 – April 31, 2010, fox hunting by chase during deer hunting season shall be permissible on private lands only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday if the owner of the private land has authorized such hunting to occur thereon. 4Special Hunt Zone – New Castle County south of the C&D Canal and Duck Creek Hundred in Kent County. 5Minimum length is 8 inches on the curvature of the top of the shell. 6Season hours are ½ before sunrise until 1 p.m.
More Information
- Gray squirrels may be hunted during all seasons with shotguns, .17 and .22 cal. rimfire rifles and muzzleloading rifles up to .36 cal. south of the C&D Canal. Only shotguns may be used north of the C&D Canal. When a squirrel season overlaps with a deer firearms season, squirrel hunters must wear 400 square inches of hunter orange displayed on the head, chest and back.
- Rabbit, Pheasant, and Quail: Hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on head, chest, and back when hunting during any deer gun season.
- Raccoons: Raccoons may be hunted and trapped on private land only at any time of the year, except on Sundays, in New Castle or Kent Counties from the southerly boundary of Rt. 380 and east and southeast of the center line of Rt. 13 and Rt. 113, south to the St. Jones River with permission of the landowner.
- Bullfrog: May be taken with either a valid hunting and/or fishing license.
- Hunters wishing to hunt turkeys on public land must enter the preseason lottery and possess a Division of F&W public land permit.
- Youth hunters hunting turkeys during the Youth Season may only hunt on privately owned lands
Furbearer Trapping Seasons
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Species |
Season Date(s) |
Daily Limit |
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Muskrat, mink, otter, raccoon, and Virginia opossum |
New Castle County: December 1, 2009 – March 10, 2010
Kent and Sussex Counties: December 15, 2009 – March 15, 2010 |
No Limit |
Migratory Gamebird and Waterfowl Seasons
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Species |
Season Date(s) |
Daily Limit |
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Mourning Dove (pending approval) |
Sept. 1 - Sept. 26 Oct. 19 - Oct. 31 Dec. 10 - Jan. 9, 2010 |
15 |
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American Woodcock |
Nov. 4 - Dec. 13 Dec. 23 - Jan. 1, 2010 |
3 |
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King & Clapper Rail |
Sept. 5 - Nov. 13 |
10 |
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Sora & Virginia Rail |
Sept. 5 - Nov. 13 |
25 |
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Common Snipe |
Nov. 24 - Dec. 13 Dec. 23 - Jan. 1, 2010 |
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Moorhens and Gallinules |
Sept. 5 - Nov. 13 |
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Crow |
June 25, 2009 - March 27, 2010 (Thu.-Fri-Sat. only) |
No limit |
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NEW! Waterfowl (Printable bifold)
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More Information
- Remember you need to obtain a Harvest Information Program (HIP) number each year (valid July 1 - June 30) prior to hunting migratory birds. Your HIP number is free of charge and is available through this link or by calling 1-877-DELAHIP (1-877-335-2447).
Approved Nontoxic Shot for Hunting Waterfowl – June 2006
A nationwide ban on the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting has been in place since 1991. Nontoxic shot regulations apply only to waterfowl (defined as the family Anatidae: ducks, geese [including brant], and swans) and coots. Not-toxic shot is defined as any shot type that does not cause sickness and death when ingested by migratory birds. The shot types that are approved as nontoxic for waterfowl hunting in the U.S. are the following.
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Approved shot type |
Composition by Weight |
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bismuth‑tin |
97% bismuth, 3% tin |
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steel |
iron and carbon |
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tungsten‑bronze |
51.1% tungsten, 44.4% copper, 3.9% tin, 0.6% iron |
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tungsten‑iron (2 types) |
40% tungsten, 60% iron and 22% tungsten, 78% iron |
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tungsten‑matrix |
95.9% tungsten, 4.1% polymer |
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tungsten‑nickel‑iron |
50% tungsten, 35% nickel, 15% iron |
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tungsten‑polymer |
95.5% tungsten, 4.5% Nylon 6 or 11 |
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tungsten‑tin‑bismuth |
49‑71% tungsten, 29‑51% tin; 0.5‑6.5% bismuth |
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tungsten‑tin‑iron‑nickel |
65% tungsten, 21.8% tin, 10.4% iron, 2.8% nickel |
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