Hunting Season is always a special time of the year. Whether you are planning on waiting patiently in a deer stand to bag that trophy buck or sitting knee deep in the marsh hoping to bag a band. Being able to take advantage of all the hunting seasons is why The Waterfowl Hunter has put together the hunting dates for Delaware.
These dates serve as a general guide for more specific hunting visit Delaware Hunting and Trapping.Â
Deer
| Hunt Type | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep. 1,2017 | Jan. 31,2018 |
| Crossbow | Sep. 1,2017 | Jan. 31,2018 |
| Muzzleloader | Oct. 6,2017 | Oct. 14,2017 |
| Jan. 22,2018 | Jan. 27,2018 | |
| Shotgun | Nov. 10,2017 | Nov. 19,2017 |
| Jan. 13,2018 | Jan. 20,2018 | |
| Handgun | Jan. 6,2018 | Jan. 13,2018 |
| Youth/Non-Ambulatory Disabled Hunt | Nov. 4,2017 |
Turkey
| Segment | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| (A) | April 14,2018 | April 20,2018 |
| (B) | April 21,2018 | April 27,2018 |
| (C) | April 28,2018 | May 4,2018 |
| (D) | May 5,2018 | May 12,2018 |
| Youth Day | April 7,2018 |
Small Game Seasons and Bag Limits
| Season | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Gray Squirrel | Sep. 15,2017 | Feb. 3,2018 |
| Closed During Nov. Shotgun Deer Season | ||
| Cottontail Rabbit | Nov. 20,2017 | Feb. 28,2018 |
| Groundhogs | July 1,2017 | June 30,2018 |
| Ring-Necked Pheasant (Male Only) | Nov. 20,2017 | Feb. 3,2018 |
| Bobwhite Quail | Nov. 20,2017 | Jan. 6,2018 |
Bullfrog and Snapping Turtle
| Season | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bullfrog | May 1,2018 | Sep. 30,2018 |
| Snapping Turtle | June 15,2017 | May 15,2018 |
| Diamondback Terrapin | Sep. 1,2017 | Nov. 15,2017 |
Ducks
| Season | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Duck Regular Season | Oct. 27,2017 | Nov. 7,2017 |
| Nov. 20,2017 | Nov. 25,2017 | |
| Dec. 8,2017 | Jan. 27,2018 | |
| September Teal | Sep. 8,2017 | Sep. 26,2017 |
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt | Oct. 21,2017 | Feb. 10,2018 |
| Sea Ducks, Scoters, Eiders, and Long-Tailed Ducks | Nov. 20,2017 | Jan. 27,2018 |
| Coots | Oct. 27,2017 | Nov. 7,2017 |
| Nov. 20,2017 | Nov. 25,2017 | |
| Dec. 8,2017 | Jan. 27,2018 | |
| Mergansers | Oct. 27,2017 | Nov. 7,2017 |
| Nov. 20,2017 | Nov. 25,2017 | |
| Dec. 8,2017 | Jan. 27,2018 |
Geese and Brant
| Season | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Geese (Resident) | Sep. 1,2017 | Sep. 27,2017 |
| Canada Geese (Migratory) | Nov. 20,2017 | Nov. 25,2017 |
| Dec. 15,2017 | Feb. 3,2018 | |
| Brant | Nov. 20,2017 | Nov. 25,2017 |
| Dec. 2,2017 | Jan. 31,2018 | |
| Snow Geese | Oct. 10,2017 | Feb. 10,2018 |
| Snow Goose Conservation Order | Feb. 12,2018 | April 13,2018 |
Geese and Brant
| Season | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | Sep. 1,2017 | Sep. 30,2017 |
| Oct. 17,2017 | Oct. 21,2017 | |
| Nov. 20,2017 | Jan 13,2018 | |
| King & Clapper Rails | Sep. 1,2017 | Nov. 9,2017 |
| Sora & Virginia Rails | Sep. 1,2017 | Nov. 9,2017 |
| Woodcock | Nov. 20,2017 | Dec. 2,2017 |
| Dec. 13,2017 | Jan. 13,2018 | |
| Common Snipe | Sep. 19,2017 | Dec. 2,2017 |
| Dec. 13,2017 | Jan. 13,2018 | |
| Moorhens & Gallinules | Sep. 1,2017 | Nov. 9,2017 |
| Crows (Thurs. Fri. & Sat. Only) | June 22,2017 | March 31,2018 |
Furbearer Trapping Seasons
| Species | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Muskrat, Mink, Otter, Raccoon, Opossum, Nutria | New Castle County Dec. 1,2017 | March 10,2018 |
| Kent & Sussex Counties Dec. 15,2017 | March 15,2018 | |
| Beaver | Dec. 1,2017 | March 20,2018 |
| Red Fox, Coyote | Dec. 1,2017 | March 10,2018 |
| Groundhog | July 1,2017 | June 30,2018 |
Furbearer Hunting Seasons
| Species | Type | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Closing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon and Opossum | Chase | Sep. 1,2017 | Oct. 5,2017 |
| Chase | Oct. 16,2017 | Oct. 31,2017 | |
| Hunt | Nov. 1,2017 | Nov. 9,2017 | |
| Hunt | Nov. 18,2017 | Feb. 28,2018 | |
| Chase | March 1,2018 | March 31,2018 | |
| Red Fox | Chase | Oct. 2,2017 | April 30,2018 |
| Hunt | Nov. 1,2017 | Feb. 28,2018 | |
| Coyote | Statewide | Sep. 1,2017 | Feb. 28,2018 |
| Beaver | Private Land Only | Dec. 1,2017 | March 20,2018 |