Below, discover comprehensive details, including bag limits and regulations, for the diverse game species available for pursuit during Delaware’s hunting seasons in 2023.
Delaware Hunting Season
Please read on to learn more about the next seasons, areas, and rules and restrictions.
Deer
Delaware is a great place to hunt white-tailed deer. From September through February, Delaware allows bow, muzzleloader, and shotgun deer hunting. Deer may be hunted with bows at any time of the year. Deer without antlers may be hunted throughout the months of December and January. You may read our exclusive article on Delaware deer hunting season for more details.
DE Deer Season Category | Zones | Start Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|
Archery | Statewide | Sept. 1 | Feb. 2 |
Crossbow | Statewide | Sept. 1 | Feb. 2 |
Muzzleloader | Statewide | Oct. 11 | Oct. 20 |
Jan. 27 | Feb. 2 | ||
General Firearm | Statewide | Nov. 15 | Nov. 24 |
Jan. 18 | Jan. 26 | ||
Special Antlerless | Statewide | Oct. 4 | Oct. 6 |
Oct. 25 | Oct. 27 | ||
Dec. 14 | Dec. 22 | ||
Handgun and Straight-walled Pistol-caliber Rifle | Wildlife Management Zones 1A & 1B (Closed) | Jan. 4 | Jan. 11 |
Jan. 6 | Jan. 11 | ||
Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunt | Statewide | Sept. 28 | Sept. 29 |
Nov. 2 | Nov. 3 |
There is no elk season in Delaware in 2024-2025. Delaware had its elk population restored in 2015, however it is still quite tiny. Elk hunting season has not yet been set by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).
Bear
Delaware has no black bear season in 2024-2025. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) may consider a bear hunting season in future due to recent black bear sightings. If granted, the season will be limited to a few licenses and specified places. Hunters would need a Delaware hunting license and a bear permit, available online or at DNREC licensing agents. Conserving and managing Delaware’s black bear population would be the priority.
Coyote
Sept. 2 – Feb. 28 | No Limit |
Delaware Small Game Hunting Season 2023-2024
Below are the small games dates announced for the latest season:
Squirrel
Season | Season Start Dates | Season End Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gray Squirrel | Sep-16 | Feb-28 | 6 | 12 |
Gray Squirrel | Closed during Nov General Firearm Deer Season | NA | NA |
Rabbit
Rabbit Season | Season Start Dates | Season End Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cottontail Rabbit | 25-Nov | 28-Feb | 4 | 8 |
Groundhogs
Species | Season Start Dates | Season End Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Groundhogs Season | 1-Jul | 30-Jun | No Limit | 8 |
Quail
Quail Season | Season Start Dates | Season End Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bobwhite Quail | 21-Nov | 6-Jan | 6 | 12 |
Pheasant
Pheasant Season | Season Start Dates | Season End Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ring-necked Pheasant (Male Only) | 25-Nov | 28-Feb | 2 | 4 |
Delaware Migratory Birds Season 2024-2025
Up-to-date information about the Migratory Bird schedule are mentioned below:
Ducks
Ducks (Regular Season) | Oct. 26 – Nov. 3 | 6 | 18 |
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1 | |||
Dec. 14 – Jan. 26 | |||
Sea Ducks | Same as Duck Season | See duck limits | See duck limits |
Duck Bag Limits:
Species | Daily Bag Limit (Excluding Mergansers and Coots) | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|
Mallards | 4 (Max 2 hens) | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Black Ducks | 2 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Pintail | 1 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Canvasback | 2 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Wood Ducks | 3 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Redheads | 2 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Scaup | 1 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Teal | 6 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Shovelers | 6 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Gadwall | 6 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Wigeon | 6 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Goldeneye | 6 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Ring-necked Ducks | 6 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Bufflehead | 6 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Ruddy Ducks | 6 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
Fulvous Whistling-Duck | 1 | 3 times the daily bag limit |
4 (No more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks) | 3 times the daily bag limit | |
Harlequin Ducks (Season closed) | - | - |
Coots
Coots | Same as Duck Season |
Mergansers
Coots | Same as Duck Season |
Teal
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
September Teal | Sept. 14 – Sept. 29 | 6 | 18 |
Goose
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
Canada Goose (Resident) | Sept. 1 – Sept. 25 | 15 | 45 |
Canada Goose (Migratory) | Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 | 2 | 6 |
Dec. 21 – Jan. 15 | |||
Snow Goose | Oct. 18 – Feb. 1 | 25 | No limit |
Snow Goose Conservation Order | Feb. 2 – Apr. 11 | No limit | No limit |
Brant
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
Brant | Dec. 21 – Jan. 5 | 1 | 3 |
Jan. 18 – Jan. 31 |
Swan
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
Tundra Swan (By permit only) | Nov. 9 – Jan. 31 | 1 per season | 1 per season |
Mute Swan | Any open waterfowl season | No limit | No limit |
Trumpeter Swan | Closed Season | 0 | 0 |
Dove
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
Mourning Dove | Sept. 1 – Sept. 29 | 15 | 45 |
Oct. 19 – Oct. 27 | |||
Dec. 6 – Jan. 26 |
Rails
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
King and Clapper Rails | Sept. 1 – Nov. 9 | 10 | 30 |
Sora and Virginia Rails | Sept. 1 – Nov. 9 | 25 | 75 |
Woodcock
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
Woodcock | Nov. 25 – Dec. 1 | 3 | 9 |
Dec. 21 – Jan. 27 |
Snipe
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
Common Snipe | Sept. 24 – Dec. 1 | 8 | 24 |
Dec. 21 – Jan. 27 |
Gallinules
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
Moorhens and Gallinules | Sept. 1 – Nov. 9 | 15 | 45 |
Crow
Species | Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
Crow | Thurs., Fri., and Sat. only | No limit | No limit |
July 4, 2024 – Mar. 29, 2025 | |||
Jun. 26 – 28, 2025 |
Furbearer Hunting Season
Here is a overview of the furbearer hunting seasons in Delaware:
Raccoon
Raccoon Season | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chase only season (no harvest allowed) | 1-Sep | 29-Oct | No Limit | No Limit |
Chase only season (no harvest allowed) | 1-Mar | 30-Mar | No Limit | No Limit |
Hunting season | 1-Nov | Feb-29 | No Limit | No Limit |
Opossum
Opossum Season | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
No harvest allowed during Oct muzzleloader and Oct antlerless deer seasons | 1-Sep | 29-Oct | No Limit | No Limit |
Chase only season (no harvest allowed) | 1-Mar | 30-Mar | No Limit | No Limit |
Hunting season | 1-Nov | Feb-29 | No Limit | No Limit |
Fox
Fox Season | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chase only season (no harvest allowed) | 1-Oct | 30-Apr | No Limit | No Limit |
Hunting Season | 1-Nov | Feb-29 | No Limit | No Limit |
Closed Season | 30* With the exception of the antlerless, muzzleloader, and shotgun deer seasons in October through December. |
Beaver
Season | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beaver Season | 1-Dec | 20-Mar | No Limit | No Limit |
Muskrat
Species | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Muskrat | 1-Dec | 10-Mar | No Limit | No Limit |
Mink
Species | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mink | 1-Dec | 10-Mar | No Limit | No Limit |
Otter
Species | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Otter | 1-Dec | 10-Mar | No Limit | No Limit |
Furbearer Trapping Season
Species | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Muskrat, Mink, Otter | 1-Dec | 10-Mar | No Limit | No Limit |
Raccoon*, Opossum, Nutria | 1-Dec | 10-Mar | No Limit | No Limit |
Beaver | 1-Dec | Mar 20*** | No Limit | No more than 8 per season |
Red Fox, Coyote | 1-Jul | 30-Jun | No Limit | No Limit |
Groundhog | No specific trapping season | No specific trapping season | No Limit | No Limit |
Bullfrog Season
Species | Season Start Dates | Season End Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bullfrog Season | 1-May | Sept. 30 | 24 | 48 |
Snapping Turtle Season
Species | Season Start Dates | Season End Dates | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Snapping Turtle Season | 15-Jun | 15-May | No Limit | No Limit |
Diamondback Terrapin Season
Season Closed
Turkey Seasons
Turkey Season Category | Start Date | End Date |
Public Land Permit Segments | ||
Segment A | 12-Apr | 18-Apr |
Segment B | 19-Apr | 25-Apr |
Segment C | 26-Apr | 2-May |
Segment D | 3-May | 10-May |
General Period | 12-Apr | 10-May |
Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunt | 5-Apr | 5-Apr |
- New Jersey Hunting Seasons 2024 New Dates & Regulations - September 15, 2024
- Delaware Hunting & Trapping Seasons Summary 2024 - September 4, 2024
- 2024-2025 Colorado Hunting: New Big Game Season Dates! - August 28, 2024
I have been complaining about a neighbor that is connected with my land to the Game Warden for several years. Nothing is being done. The neighbor (and his friends or paying customers) are shooting deer all hours of the night. There is a development connected with his property and my land. Is it legal to bring in hunters on his property that is so close? He also hangs deer in a special designed shed were he bleeds them out and butchers them. The shooting all night long wakes me up all the time. Sometimes I cannot get to sleep again. And NO I will not move. Purchased this land in 1975 when my Husband was alive.