Delaware hunting and fishing laws

Delaware law requires all persons born after January 1, 1967 to complete a Basic Hunter Education Course in order to obtain a Delaware hunting license or Youth Hunting License. Certificates are not issued under age 10. All turkey hunters 13 years of age or older must complete a Delaware-approved turkey hunter education course before they can legally hunt turkeys. No apprentice or mentored license was found.

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Hunters under 13 must obtain a License Exempt Number and hunt under direct supervision, meaning a person 21 years of age or older is always within 30 yards and in direct line of sight. Ages 13 to 15 use a junior license. Ages 16 to 17 need parental permission, completed hunter education and a valid license. Under an August 2025 court ruling, hunters aged 18 and older no longer require direct adult supervision.

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Applies to: Deer

Hunters must display hunter orange on the head, chest, and back totaling no less than 400 square inches combined during firearm deer seasons. With a fully concealed ground blind, 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. Blaze pink is not authorized. Archery is not listed as exempt in the deer section.

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State law now allows Sunday hunting for all game animals during established hunting seasons, on private lands with landowner permission, and on designated publicly owned lands.

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Applies to: Deer

All state wildlife areas are open to Sunday archery and crossbow deer hunting. However, portions of the wildlife areas are closed to Sunday deer hunting using firearms on all or certain Sundays.

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Applies to: Waterfowl

Sunday waterfowl and gamebird availability varies by species, by season and by specific wildlife area. DNREC publishes per-county maps.

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Applies to: Deer

Deer may be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset.

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Applies to: Waterfowl

Waterfowl and gamebirds may be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

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Applies to: Furbearers

Furbearers may be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. Raccoon and opossum may be hunted from one hour after sunset until midnight during specified seasons.

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Applies to: Deer

Bait may be used to hunt deer on privately-owned lands. Bait is any nontoxic food material, compound or mixture of ingredients which wildlife is able to consume. A baited field remains baited for 10 days following complete removal of all bait.

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Applies to: Bear

Delaware has no black bear hunting season. Using bait to hunt any game is prohibited, except that bait may be used to hunt deer on privately owned land.

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It is prohibited to hunt at night, defined as 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, except that frogs, raccoons and opossum may be hunted at night using a handheld light. It is also prohibited to use an artificial light to illuminate wildlife from a motor vehicle for the purpose of hunting or observation, or to use night vision or infrared devices while hunting.

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Applies to: Big game

Complete the appropriate section of the Harvest Report Card at the kill site. Physical tags are required only when the animal leaves your immediate possession. Hunters shall not remove the tags from their Harvest Report Cards for any reason.

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Applies to: Big game

Deer and turkey are not tagged at the kill site; instead, punch your paper Harvest Report Card and record the date in ink before moving the animal, then register it within 24 hours online or at 1-855-DEL-HUNT and write the 12-digit registration number on the card. Until registered, you may not cut the meat or remove any part except the internal organs. A Possession Tag is required only if the animal leaves your immediate possession, such as at a processor or taxidermist.

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You must get permission from the owner or lessee before entering another person's land or waters to hunt, trap or fish, whether or not the land is posted. The law requires prior permission but does not say it must be written.

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