Division of Fish & Wildlife

NOTE: Season for hunting on private shooting preserves is October 15 - March 31.

2008/09 Deer Seasons

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.
• A crossbow may be substituted for a shotgun from Nov. 17 – 23, 2008. Crossbows must be from 150 to 200 lbs. and manufactured after 1980.

 2008/09 Small Game, Turkey, Furbearer,
Bullfrog, and Snapping Turtle Seasons

 ¹Raccoon, Virginia opossum and red fox (October 1 – December 31, 2007) seasons are closed during the deer shotgun and muzzleloader seasons.

²Season reopens ½ hour after sunset

³From January 1 – April 31, 2008, 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 1:00 PM. 

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. 

2008/09 Furbearer Trapping Seasons

2008/09 Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Seasons

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.