Overview
Known For
Delaware is known for whitetail and waterfowl hunting. With its coastal marshes and sea ducks, the state is on a bucket list for many hunters.
Terrain
Delaware is very flat, with the lowest mean elevation of any state in the nation. Its highest peak is located at Ebright Azimuth and is less than 450 feet above sea level. The state’s northernmost part contains a piece of the Piedmont Plateau with hills and hardwood forests.
Delaware Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Coyote
No limit.
|
Sep 1, 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Archery
Statewide. May also use crossbow during this season.
|
Sep 1, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Special Antlerless 1
Statewide.
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 2, 2022 |
|
|
Deer – Muzzleloader 1
Statewide.
|
Oct 7, 2022 | Oct 16, 2022 |
|
|
Deer – Special Antlerless 2
Statewide.
|
Oct 17, 2022 | Oct 17, 2022 |
|
|
Deer – Special Antlerless 3
Statewide.
|
Oct 21, 2022 | Oct 24, 2022 |
|
|
Deer – Special Antlerless 4
Statewide.
|
Oct 28, 2022 | Oct 31, 2022 |
|
|
Deer – Youth & Disabled Hunt
Statewide.
|
Nov 5, 2022 | Nov 6, 2022 |
|
|
Deer – Shotgun 1
Statewide.
|
Nov 11, 2022 | Nov 20, 2022 |
|
|
Deer – Special Antlerless 5
Statewide.
|
Dec 10, 2022 | Dec 18, 2022 |
|
|
Deer – Handgun 1
Statewide.
|
Jan 7, 2023 | Jan 7, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Handgun 2
Statewide.
|
Jan 9, 2023 | Jan 14, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Shotgun 2
Statewide.
|
Jan 14, 2023 | Jan 22, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Muzzleloader 2
Statewide.
|
Jan 23, 2023 | Jan 29, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – September Teal
Daily bag limit of 6.
|
Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 28, 2022 |
|
|
Duck – Regular Part 1
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
|
Oct 21, 2022 | Oct 29, 2022 |
|
|
Duck – Regular Part 2
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
|
Nov 21, 2022 | Nov 26, 2022 |
|
|
Duck – Regular Part 3
Daily bag limit of 6 in aggregate.
|
Dec 9, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
|
Red Fox
No limit. Season closed during the Oct. muzzleloader, Oct. antlerless, Nov. youth and non-ambulatory hunt, Nov. general firearm, and Dec. antlerless seasons.
|
Nov 1, 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Early Canada Goose
Daily bag limit of 15.
|
Sep 1, 2022 | Sep 24, 2022 |
|
|
Goose – Snow Goose Part 1
Daily bag limit of 25.
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Canada Goose Part 1
Daily bag limit of 2.
|
Nov 23, 2022 | Nov 26, 2022 |
|
|
Goose – Canada Goose Part 2
Daily bag limit of 2.
|
Dec 24, 2022 | Jan 23, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Conservation Order Part 1
Snow goose no limit.
|
Feb 1, 2023 | Feb 3, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Snow Goose Part 2
Daily bag limit of 25.
|
Feb 4, 2023 | Feb 4, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Conservation Order Part 2
Snow goose no limit.
|
Feb 6, 2023 | Apr 7, 2023 |
|
|
Pheasant
Males only. Daily bag limit of 2.
|
Nov 21, 2022 | Feb 4, 2023 |
|
|
Bobwhite Quail
Daily bag limit of 6.
|
Nov 21, 2022 | Jan 7, 2023 |
|
|
Cottontail Rabbit
Daily bag limit of 4.
|
Nov 21, 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Segment A
Season limit of 1 bearded turkey. Special permits are required and must be applied for.
|
Apr 8, 2023 | Apr 14, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Segment B
Season limit of 1 bearded turkey. Special permits are required and must be applied for.
|
Apr 15, 2023 | Apr 21, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Segment C
Season limit of 1 bearded turkey. Special permits are required and must be applied for.
|
Apr 22, 2023 | Apr 28, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Segment D
Season limit of 1 bearded turkey. Special permits are required and must be applied for.
|
Apr 29, 2023 | May 6, 2023 |
Delaware Licenses, Permits and Regulations
Delaware hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Delaware hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Delaware hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunt zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Delaware.
Hunt Zones
There are 17-plus Delaware Wildlife Management Zones (aka. Hunt Zones), with Zone 1 being divided into Zones 1A and 1B. Each hunt zone has its own set of regulations and limits for harvesting game animals. Be sure you are aware of each of the zone’s restrictions. Click below to view Delaware’s hunt zones in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers
DE Private Lands
Over 360,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Delaware. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
DE Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 160,000 acres in Delaware to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
DE Deer & Turkey Zones
Delaware Deer / Turkey Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
The #1 GPS Hunting App
- 975 million acres of public land
- 10,668 unique hunting units
- 421 map overlays and counting
- 5,000 game wardens approve