Turkey Season

Delaware’s 2017 spring wild turkey hunting season will run from April 8, 2017 – May 6, 2017. Private land hunters may hunt all 24 days of the season. Public land permits can only be used on the property for which they are issued. Applications must be received by January 8, 2017 to be processed for the lottery drawing.

Season segments A-D for Public Land
Permits are:

(A) April 8 – April 14

(B) April 15 – April 21

(C) April 22 – April 28

(D) April 29 – May 6

Youth Day: April 1, 2017

No Sunday Hunting

Turkey Hunting Hours

1/2 hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m. All turkeys must be checked at an authorized turkey check station by 2:30 p.m. on the day the bird is killed.

TURKEY CHECK STATIONS

Locations and hours will be posted on the Division’s website www.fw.delaware.gov. just prior to the season. Information can also be obtained by calling 735-3600 or 739-9912. See below for the list of tentative 2016 Turkey Checking Stations.

Legal Birds and Bag Limit

Bearded birds only. Bag limit is one turkey per year.

Calls

All non-electric calls will be legal. For safety reasons, hunters should not imitate the male gobbling call.

Legal Firearms, Bows, and Shot Sizes

1. Shotguns – 20, 16, 12, 10 gauge – legal shot sizes: #4, #5, #6 lead or steel. 7 or 7 ½ shot may be used if it is part of a duplex or triplex load containing 4, 5, or 6 shot.
2. Muzzleloaders – smoothbore muzzleloading shotguns only; #4, #5, #6 shot only.
3. Longbow/compound/crossbow – Minimum broadhead width of 7/8 inches.
4. Crossbows may be used for turkey hunting. Crossbows must meet the same standards as for deer hunting.

Clothing

For safety reasons, it will be illegal to wear any visible garment having the colors red, white or blue.

Blinds/Decoys

Temporary blinds of vegetation or camouflage material are legal. Artificial turkey decoys are legal. Decoys may have no parts from a formerly live turkey.

Restrictions

Dogs or bait may not be used. Hunters may not drive turkeys or shoot them while they are at roost.

HUNTING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDS

Both public and private land turkey hunters must carry proof of turkey hunting safety course completion. In addition, public land hunters must have an annual permit from the Division.

Public Land turkey Permits

A permit is needed to hunt turkey on public lands. See Public Land Turkey & Deer Application for the permit application form.

Youth/Non-Ambulatory Disabled
Turkey Hunt, April 1, 2017

Open statewide. Any youth from 10 years through 15 years and non-ambulatory disabled individuals may hunt. Young hunters must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older. Hunters 13-15 years old must have a valid Delaware junior hunting license and must have taken a Basic Hunter Safety course as well as a Delaware approved turkey hunter safety course.

The normal bag limits and regulations apply.

Adult companions must be licensed to hunt in Delaware (or exempt) and must have taken a Delaware approved turkey hunter safety class. Adult companions may not possess a firearm during the hunt. Young hunters must be of sufficient size and physical strength to safely handle a firearm.

• All turkeys taken must be registered.
• All state wildlife areas and state forests open for turkey hunting will be open for the Youth/Non-Ambulatory Disabled Turkey Hunt. Hunters may go to any areas they choose. If overcrowding occurs, the Division may add this hunt to its pre-season lottery system in future seasons.

Small Game Seasons and Bag Limits
SEASONS	DATES	LIMIT	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Gray Squirrel	Sept. 15 – Feb. 4 Closed during Nov. Shotgun Deer Season	6	Gray squirrels may be hunted with shotguns statewide, .17 through .22 cal. rimfire and pellet 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.
Cottontail Rabbit	Nov. 21 – Feb. 28	4	Rabbit hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on head, chest, and back when hunting during any deer firearms season.
Groundhogs	July 1 – June 30	No limit	Groundhogs are an unprotected species and may be hunted with longbows, crossbows, shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and rimfire or centerfire rifles.
Ring-necked Pheasant (Male Only)	Nov. 21 – Feb. 4	2	Pheasant hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on head, chest, and back when hunting during any deer firearms season.
Bobwhite Quail	Nov. 21 – Jan. 7	6	Quail hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on head, chest, and back when hunting during any deer firearms season.
Hours: Upland game (except raccoons, opossums & frogs) 1/2 hr. before sunrise to 1/2 hr. after sunset. Raccoons & frogs may be hunted at night. Season for hunting on private shooting preserves is October 15 – March 31. Commercial shooting preserves may operate on Sundays during this time period. NOTE: Small game hunting may be open on some state wildlife areas during January firearms deer seasons. Consult wildlife area maps for details.
Bullfrog and Snapping Turtle Seasons
SEASONS	DATES	LIMIT*	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Bullfrog	May 1 – Sept. 30	24 Daily	May be taken with a valid hunting or fishing license.
Snapping Turtle*	June 15 – May 15	No limit	Snapping turtle minimum length is 11 inches on the curvature of the top shell. Traps must be tagged with trapper’s name and address or current year’s license number. Baited fish hooks are unlawful. A free snapping turtle permit number must be obtained and will be issued at the time of the trapping license purchase. Those wishing to trap on Division of Fish & Wildlife lands will need to contact the Regional Manager for an additional permit for those lands.
Diamondback Terrapin*	Sept. 1 – Nov. 15	4 Daily
*No other turtles may be sold. *Contact the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section with questions: 302-739-9912.

Deer Season Highlights (All-time Records)

• 14,681 deer harvested —
  Most all-time
• Most adult does (6,869) and antlered bucks (4,218)
• Most deer harvested in Sussex County (7,960)
• Most deer harvested in Wildlife Management
  Zones 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 17

Deer Seasons
SEASONS	DATES	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Archery**	Statewide Sept. 1 – Jan. 31	Hunters may use archery equipment during the muzzleloader, shotgun and handgun seasons provided they wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on the head chest, and back.
Crossbow**	Statewide Sept. 1 – Jan. 31	Hunters may use crossbow equipment during the muzzleloader, shotgun and handgun seasons provided they wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on the head, chest, and back
Muzzleloader	Statewide Oct. 7 – 15 Jan. 23 – 28	Muzzleloaders may be equipped with scopes.
Shotgun	Statewide Nov. 11 – 19 Jan. 14 – 21	Muzzleloaders may be used during the shotgun season, and may be equipped with scopes.
Special Antlerless	Statewide Oct. 1, 17, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29, 31 and Dec. 10 – 17	This season is “any method,” to include archery, muzzleloader, and shotgun. You may only take antlerless deer, or deer with both antlers less than 3 inches in length. Archery (including crossbow) hunters may take antlered bucks in October but NOT during the December antlerless season.
Handgun	Jan. 7 – 14	The handgun must be carried openly in a sling or in a holster and not concealed. See below for more details.
Youth/ Non-ambulatory Disabled Hunt	Nov. 5
**Archery and crossbow hunters may take antlered bucks during the October antlerless deer season, but NOT during the December antlerless season. It is now legal to hunt deer with a handgun during any shotgun deer season (excluding the special antlerless seasons). The handgun must be used in place of a shotgun. You cannot carry both in the field at the same time. Only 2 antlered bucks may be taken during any license year by all methods and seasons combined. The license year runs from July 1 – June 30.

Automated Deer Checking

All successful deer hunters must register their deer within 24 hours of harvest. Prior to registering a deer, hunters may not cut the meat or remove any part of the deer except the internal organs (known as the viscera). Hunters can register their deer by calling the toll free number 1-855-DEL-HUNT (1-855-335-4868) or by going to www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt. Hunters will answer a series of questions by using the computer or telephone. At the end of the questions, hunters will be given a deer harvest registration number. This number will serve as proof the animal was checked and should be kept for your records and written in ink on the deer tag utilized on the animal harvested. If you have problems with this system call (302) 735-3600. Hunters that take their deer to a butcher shop or taxidermist will need to supply their registration number to the shop owner as proof the deer was registered.

POSSIBLE SUNDAY DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES

At the time of printing, legislation was being considered by the General Assembly that would authorize deer hunting opportunities on select Sundays. Please check the Division’s website prior to the hunting season to determine the outcome of this proposed legislation. www.fw.delaware.gov

Deer Tags

After harvesting a deer, an appropriate tag must be attached to the animal before it is field dressed or moved from the place of kill. Hunters must also record the harvest date, in ink, before attaching the tag to the deer. Hunters worried about the tag falling off of the deer may laminate the tags prior to heading afield, stuff the tag down inside the ear canal prior to attaching it to the ear, or place the tags inside a plastic bag.

Resident Licensed Hunters

Delaware hunting licenses come with 4 antlerless deer tags. Quality buck tags are available for $10 and come with a free Hunter choice tag. The Hunter’s Choice Tag can be used on an antlerless or antlered deer. The Quality Buck Tag can only be used on an antlered deer with a minimum outside spread of 15”. Hunters will only be allowed to harvest a maximum of 2 antlered bucks (all seasons combined) by using the Hunter’s Choice Tag and the Quality Buck Tag. All other deer taken must be antlerless. Additional antlerless deer tags are available for $10 each.

This deer tag system has been implemented to encourage hunters to harvest antlerless deer and to promote quality bucks. Revenue will be used to fund the phone-in deer registration system and to further improve Delaware’s deer management program.

Licensed Exempt Hunters

License exempt hunters will be allowed 4 antlerless deer and 1 Hunter’s Choice deer tag at no charge. For a Quality Buck Tag, license exempt hunters will have to purchase the Quality Buck Tag for $10.00 using their annual mandatory License Exempt Number (LEN).

Persons not required to purchase a hunting license in Delaware must make their own deer tags or print a template of the deer tags when obtaining the LEN online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt. The deer tags, along with identification and License Exempt Number must be carried while hunting.

Exempt hunters are only allowed 2 antlered bucks during any license year by all methods and seasons combined. 1 free choice tag and 1 purchased quality buck tag.

Non-Resident Deer Tags

Non-resident hunting licenses will come with 4 antlerless deer tags. The cost of an Antlered Deer Tag and a Quality Buck Tag will be $25 each for non-resident hunters. Hunters may purchase only one of each tag.

Quality Buck Tags

Quality Buck tags may only be used on an antlered deer with an outside antler spread of at least 15 inches. The distance between the tips of a deer’s ears when both ears are held straight out from the head in the “alert” position is approximately 15 inches so a deer in which this tag would be applicable would generally need to have antlers that are at least as wide as the space between his ear tips.

Method of Take

Handgun Hunting

Legal handguns are limited to revolvers and single shot pistols with a minimum barrel length of 5.75 inches and a maximum length of 12.5 inches and chambered for and using straightwall handgun ammunition in .357 magnum, .41 caliber, .41 magnum, .44 caliber, .44 magnum, .45 caliber, .454 caliber, .480 caliber or .50 caliber and using open sights, metallic/mechanical, optical or telescopic sights. Since the .460 rowland is a .45 caliber, it is legal under the existing handgun legislation.

The handgun must be carried openly on a sling or in a holster and not concealed. The handguns described above may be used for the pursuit, taking and attempted taking (hunting) of deer on privately owned lands situated south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and on many state-owned wildlife areas. Consult area maps for more details.

In addition to the January Handgun Season, it is legal to hunt deer with a handgun during the November and January Shotgun Deer Seasons. During these seasons, the handgun must be carried in place of a shotgun as you may not carry both in the field at the same time.

Sharps Rifle

Hunters may use a single shot antique or authentic reproduction black powder Sharps rifle of .45 to .60 caliber using paper patched bullets for hunting deer during any shotgun deer season.

Crossbows

Crossbows used must have a minimum pull weight of 125 pounds, be manufactured after 1980, and have a mechanical safety, and may be equipped with a scope. Crossbows shall not be transported in or on a vehicle while in the cocked position.

Vertical Bows

No person shall use a compound, recurve, or longbow with a pull weight less than 35 pounds.

Baiting

It is lawful to distribute and hunt over bait while hunting deer on privately owned lands only.

White-tailed Deer Research

Harvesting Tagged Deer

This past year and over the next several years, the University of Delaware in collaboration with the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, captured and tagged deer in Delaware. All deer received numbered ear tags, and some received radio transmitter collars. Both of which allow us to collect data on deer ecology and hunter harvests. Hunters should treat deer with collars and ear tags as any other deer. If a marked deer is legal for harvest, then it may be harvested. If a hunter harvests a marked deer, they are asked to call the phone number listed on the metal ear tag (302-831-4621), so information concerning the harvested deer can be collected. Someone will contact them for further information as soon as possible. Since many of these deer are reported during the hectic firearms season, please feel free to contact us again if you have not been contacted within a few days of previously calling.

Hunter Orange

During a time when it is lawful to take a deer with a firearm, any person hunting any wildlife except migratory game birds in this state shall display on that person’s head, chest, and back a total of not less than 400 square inches of hunter orange material. If a hunter utilizes a ground blind to hunt deer during a time when it is lawful to take deer with a firearm and the hunter is completely concealed within a blind, then 400 square inches of hunter orange material shall be placed within 10 feet outside of the blind and at least 3 feet off of the ground.

State Deer Records

The Division maintains records of the top hunter taken deer based on net Boone & Crockett scores on its website atwww.fw.delaware.gov/Hunting/Pages/DeerRecords.aspx. Any whitetails meeting Pope & Young minimums for bow kills (125 typical, 155 non-typical), Longhunter Society minimums for muzzleloader kills (130 typical, 160 non-typical) or shotgun kills of 140 typical and better and 160 non-typical and better are eligible for entry. The Division is interested in Delaware whitetails taken in any year. Bill Jones, Division biologist and official measurer for Boone & Crockett, Pope & Young and the Longhunter Society, can be contacted at (302) 284-4795 for more information.

Delaware Sportsmen Against Hunger Program

In addition to the contracted private deer processors, the Division of Fish and Wildlife maintains walk-in coolers where hunters can drop off deer for donation to the Sportsmen Against Hunger (SAH) Program. These locations include in Sussex County: the Assawoman Wildlife Area near Bethany Beach, the Mosquito Control Office in Milford, the headquarters office at Redden State Forest near Georgetown, the Gumboro Community Center in Millsboro and Trap Pond State Park near Laurel; In Kent County: the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area Aquatic Resources Education Center near Smyrna and the Main office on the Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area near Viola; and in New Castle County: the Augustine Wildlife Area, in Port Penn. For more information about walk-in cooler locations and participating deer processors, visit the SAH website http://de.gov/sah. If you own and operate a private deer processing facility and would like more information about potentially becoming involved with the SAH program, please contact Bill Jones at (302) 284-4795.

Youth/Non-Ambulatory Disabled Deer Hunt, November 5, 2016

Any youth from 10 years through 15 years and non-ambulatory disabled individuals may hunt. Young hunters must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older. Hunters 13-15 years of age must have completed a Hunter Education Course and possess a certification card and must also purchase a Delaware junior hunting license.

The normal bag limits and regulations apply.

Adult companions must be licensed to hunt in Delaware (or exempt) but may not possess a firearm during the hunt.

Young hunters must be of sufficient size and physical strength to safely handle a firearm.

All deer taken must be registered.

Open statewide on private and public lands. On State Wildlife Areas and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge that require a stand allocation drawing, the lottery drawing will be held 1.5 hours before legal shooting time. Hunters should arrive at least 1.5 hours before legal shooting time to sign up.

For more information on youth hunting, see the Youth Hunting section on Youth Hunting Information.

DEER HUNTING HOURS

1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset.

Deer Hunting on Public Lands

For information on deer hunting on public lands, see Public Deer Hunting.

Selling Deer Parts Or Deer Meat

Title 7 § 787 (d) of the Delaware Code states that “No person shall purchase, sell or expose for sale, or transport, ship or possess with the intent to sell, any deer or any part of such deer, except for the hides of lawfully killed deer, at any time.”

Therefore, taxidermists and deer butchers may only charge for a service and may only charge those to whom they are providing the service. It is illegal to sell deer taxidermy items and deer meat in Delaware. This includes the “recouping” of processing fees for items or meat not picked up by the legal owner.

Sika Deer

Where are they found?

Sika deer inhabit marshes, swamps, and associated woodlands and agricultural fields. Sika Deer are a small elk introduced from Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan) by private citizens into Maryland in 1916. Recently, their range has expanded and some individuals have been found in Delaware. As a result, the Division will allow Delaware hunters to harvest sika deer while hunting for white-tailed deer. The sika deer population in Delaware is still very small and the Division would like to keep it that way. Sika deer are not native to the State, so following the Division’s goal of not promoting nonnative species they may be harvested.

What do they look like?

They are 2.5 feet high at the shoulder, weigh 50-100 pounds and the sika deer coat is dark brown to black. Some even have faint white parallel spots on their back. They also have a white rump. Males (stags) are larger than females (hinds) and have antlers. Males also have a dark shaggy mane running down their neck.

Migratory Bird

HARVEST INFORMATION PROGRAM – H.I.P.

If you are a Delaware migratory bird hunter (ducks, geese, doves, woodcock, rails, snipe, and coots), you MUST obtain a new H.I.P number each year. What is H.I.P.? H.I.P. is the “Harvest Information Program” being implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It was started in 1992 when California, Missouri, and South Dakota participated in the pilot program. For many years, the USFWS has collected waterfowl harvest information through a post-season survey of hunters who purchased Federal duck stamps. This survey was fine for its time, but better information is now needed. Also, the previous survey did not provide harvest data on other migratory birds like doves and woodcock. H.I.P. will fulfill these needs. Under the Harvest Information Program, migratory bird hunters need a special permit to hunt. To get the permit, hunters have to provide their name and address, and answer a few questions about their previous year’s hunting effort and success. This information is collected by the state, remains totally confidential, and goes immediately to the USFWS which randomly selects hunters to receive a survey form. This way, hunters have the forms to record harvest information during the season instead of after the fact like the old survey required. By surveying while hunting is going on, much better information should be available to the Service for evaluating bird harvests and the status of migratory bird species. If you are going to hunt migratory birds in Delaware, you MUST have a H.I.P. number. To obtain a permit visitwww.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt or call toll free 1-855-335-4868.

This permit is free.

2016/2017 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

Youth Waterfowl Hunts, October 22, 2016 and February 11, 2017

Open statewide on private and public lands, including state wildlife areas and the federal refuges. The lottery drawing for state blinds is 1.5 hours before legal shooting time except for the Little Creek WMA where the drawing is 2 hours before legal shooting time. Hunters should arrive prior to 2 hours before legal shooting time to sign up for the lottery.

Children 10 through 15 years old may hunt, but must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older. No state or federal stamps are required. Thirteen, fourteen and fifteen year old hunters must purchase a Delaware junior hunting license. Regular season limits and waterfowl hunting regulations apply.

Adult companions must be licensed to hunt in Delaware (or exempt) but may not possess a firearm during the hunt. For more information on youth hunting, see the Youth Hunting section on Youth Hunting Information.

Waterfowl regulations were adopted through Federal regulations.

BOATING SAFETY

Each year more hunters die from drowning and the effects of hypothermia than from gunshot wounds. Statistics show that the majority of capsizing and falls overboard occur with boats less than 20 feet in length. Some boat designs are not as stable as others. Hunters often use smaller, more easily transportable crafts like john boats, bass boats or canoes. These types of boats, because of their flat bottoms or narrow beams, are more prone to swamping or capsizing. Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s) are essential and should be worn at all times. Special wearable flotation vests and coats for hunting are available and are comfortable and warm for the coldest duck and goose hunting days.

Primary Causes of Hunting-related Water Deaths:

• Hypothermia – The rapid loss of body heat in cold water
• “Dry” Drowning – Constriction of the throat due to a sudden inrush of water, resulting in suffocation
• “Wet” Drowning – The displacement of air in the lungs with water
• Massive Heart Attacks in older, out-of-shape non-swimmers in cold water
• Being run over by own boat, especially when starting in gear

Most drownings could have been prevented. Drownings occur because the victim made the wrong decision; did not realize the dangers of boating in rough, cold water; was not properly prepared; had the wrong equipment; or failed to wear a PFD (life jacket).

Boating Safety Tips:

• Wear your PFD (life jacket)
• Never cross large bodies of water during rough weather in a boat that can’t take the conditions due to size and/or overloading.
• Stay with your boat if you capsize and can’t get to shore. Try to climb on it.
• Avoid standing up or moving around the boat.
• Never move about your boat with a loaded firearm.
• Read the capacity plate attached to the inside hull as a guide to keep from overloading your boat.
• Distribute your gear evenly.
• Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol lowers your body’s core temperature and encourages individuals to take chances they wouldn’t normally take. Guns, alcohol and/or drugs don’t mix. It is illegal to be in possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in a public place.

Did you know?

CPR can save your life! Cold water not only kills, but in some instances, it preserves. Warming drowning victims from the inside out by CPR or warm, moist inhalation may bring them back to life!

HUNTING FROM BOATS

During the waterfowl season, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt from a boat of any kind that is within 1,500 feet of an established blind, unless they have permission from the blind owner, except that:

• Any person may use a boat to tend lawfully set traps for fur-bearing wildlife
• Any person may retrieve crippled waterfowl by the use of a boat in accordance with federal Regulations
• Any person may use a boat for transportation to and from an established blind lawfully used by such person
• Any person may hunt from a boat that is firmly secured and enclosed in an established blind.

During the waterfowl season, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt from a boat, or a floating or fixed blind in the Little River in areas bounded on both sides by land administered by the Division, except as permitted in writing by the Director.

During the waterfowl season, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt within 900 feet of the shoreline (high tide line) of the Delaware River and Bay, between the Appoquinimink River and the Smyrna River, without written permission of the closest adjoining landowner(s). Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt within 1,500 feet of the shoreline (high tide line) of the Delaware River and Bay, between the Smyrna River and the Murderkill River, without written permission of the closest adjoining landowner(s).

It shall be unlawful for tender boats servicing gunning (layout) rigs to be further than 1,500 feet from the rig or to conduct any activity, except to pick up downed birds or service the rig.

SNOW GEESE

Hunters are reminded that Delaware and Maryland have a reciprocal agreement for hunting snow geese. Delaware hunters can hunt snow geese in Maryland with their Delaware hunting license provided they have a Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp, a Federal Duck Stamp, a Maryland H.I.P. number and are in compliance with Maryland Hunter Safety laws. Maryland resident hunters can hunt snow geese in Delaware with their Maryland resident hunting license provided they have a Delaware Waterfowl (Duck) Stamp, a Federal Duck Stamp, a Delaware H.I.P. number and are in compliance with the Delaware Hunter Safety laws. This agreement only applies to residents of Maryland and Delaware.

Conservation Order

The snow goose Conservation Order (CO) is expected to reopen during the winter and spring of 2016 after other waterfowl hunting is closed. When the CO is open, snow goose hunters can use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls. In addition, hunting hours are extended to a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset and daily bag and possession limits are removed. Participants hunting during the CO must have a valid Delaware or Maryland resident hunting license, a Delaware Waterfowl (Duck) Stamp (Federal stamp not required), a Delaware HIP number and the free CO permit issued by the Division. This permit can be obtained by computer registration at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt. The need for the Delaware Waterfowl (Duck) Stamp follows the requirements on Licensing & Permits of this guide as related to hunter age.

WATERFOWL

• The non-resident 3-day hunting license can now be used to hunt waterfowl provided the hunter has purchased the Federal Duck Stamp and state waterfowl (duck) stamp and has a H.I.P. number.
• When purchasing your waterfowl (duck) stamp on the electronic systems, the stamp image is printed on your license if you purchase your hunting license at the same time. If you purchase the stamp separately you will receive the stamp image. The Division no longer mails original waterfowl (duck) stamps automatically at the end of the season (June 30th of each year). If you would like an original stamp sent to you please call (302) 739-9918 and provide your name, address and order ID number after you purchase the electronic stamp.

All seasons & limits subject to change. Please stay current by consulting: www.fw.delaware.gov or (302) 739-9914
Non-tidal Waters
Species			Season	Min size	Daily Limit
Largemouth bass			All Year	12” except 15” in Becks Pond	6; except 2 from Becks pond
Smallmouth bass			All Year	None between 12-17”	6 (no more than 1>17”)
Striped bass hybrid			All Year	15”	2
Panfish			All Year	None	50
Trout			Streams: 1st Sat in Apr Ponds:  1st Sat in Mar	None	6
Tidal Waters (Changers expected for species listed in red)
Species		Open Season		Min Size	Daily Limit
American eel		All Year		9”	25
American & hickory shad		Closed Nanticoke R. & its tribs: Open all year elsewhere		None	10 in any combination
Atlantic croaker		All Year		8”	None
Atlantic sturgeon		Endangered – no harvest permitted.
Black drum		All Year		16”	3
Black sea bass		May 15-Sep 21		12.56”	15
		Oct 22-Dec 31			15
Bluefish		All Year		None	10
Catfish (any species)		All Year		None	None
Red drum		All Year		20-27” may be retained	5
River herring		Closed – no harvest permitted.
Scup		All Year		8”	50
Spanish mackerel		All year		14”	15
Spotted seatrout		All year		12”	None
Striped bass		All year except catch & release only on spawning grounds Apr 1-May 31		28-37” or 44” or greater; except 20-25” only Jul 1-Aug 31 in DE Bay. River and their tributaries	2, except catch & release only on spawning grounds Apr 1-May 31
Summer flounder		All year		17”	4
Tautog		Jan 1-Mar 31		15”	5
		Apr 1-May 11			3
		Jul 17-Aug 31			5
		Sep 29-Dec 31			5
Tilefish		All year		None	7 in any combination
Weakfish		All year		13”	1
White perch		All year		8”	None
Winter flounder		Feb 11-Apr 10		12”	2
Blue crab		Pots: Mar 1-Nov 30: other gears year round		Peeler – 3”	1 bushel
				Soft-shell – 3.5” Hard-shell – 5”
Hard clams		All year		15”	100/resident
					50/non-resident
Lobster		All year		3 3/8 – 5 ¼ “	2; V-notched prohibited
Conch	Knobbed whelk	All year		5” / 3” whorl	5 bushels
	Channeled whelk	All year		6” / 3.125” whorl	5 bushels
Sharks and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) – Special permit required for federal waters
Species		Open Season		Min size	Daily limit
Smoothhound and spiny dogfish		All year		None	None
Blacktip shark, bull Shark, lemon shark, nurse shark, silky shark, spinner		Jan 1-May 14		54” Fork Length	Boat anglers – only 1 shark of any species per vessel, except 1 additional bonnethead and 1 additional Atlantis sharpnose per angler onboard vessel. Shore anglers – only 1 shark of any species per angler, except 1 additional bonnethead and one additional Atlantic sharpnose per shore angler.
Shark, tiger shark		Jul 16-Dec 31
Great hammerhead, scalloped Hammerhead, smooth		Jan 1-May 14		78” Fork Length
Hammerhead		Jul 16-Dec 31
Blue shark, oceanic white-tip shark, porbeagle, shortfin Mako, thresher shark		All year		54” Fork Length
Atlantic sharpnose shark, blacknose shark, bonnethead Finetooth shark		All year		None
Prohibited Species
Sandbar shark, sand tiger, Atlantic angel shark, basking shark, bigeye sand tiger, bigeye sixgill shark, bigeye thresher, bignose shark, Caribbean reef shark, Caribbean sharpnose shark, dusky shark, Galapagos shark, longfin mako, narrowtooth shark, night shark, sevengill shark, sixgill shark, smalltail shark, whale shark, white shark				The sandbar & sand tiger are toothed sharks commonly taken in the nearshore waters of the state and are prohibited species. Like all prohibited species, they must be immediately released to ensure the maximum probability of survival.
Special Restrictions for Shark
It is unlawful to fillet shark prior to landing. A shark may be eviscerated prior to landing, but head, tail and fins must remain attached to the carcass.
It is unlawful to release shark in a manner that will not ensure the sharks maximum probability of survival (i.e. no gaffs, no clubbing, careful hook removal, etc.)
It is unlawful to possess the fins from any shark prior to landing unless they are naturally attached to the body of the shark.
Tunas and HMS – Special permit required.
Atlantic tunas, swordfish and billfish				Special permit required – All private vessel owners/operators recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit Further limits and restrictions apply. Consult hmspermits.noaa.gov or call toll free (888) 872-8862 for specific information and permits.