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 |