Delaware Deer & Hunting Seasons Information and Regulations, 2023 – 2024
*All information listed below is disclosed based on research we have conducted. We do our best to ensure that all information is up to date and accurate. However, rules and regulations are changing every day. Please make sure to verify your state-specific regulations prior to your hunt.
Delaware Deer Season
| Deer (Archery) | Sep. 1, 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023 |
| Deer (Special Antlerless-1) | Oct. 1, 2022 – Oct. 2, 2022 |
| Deer (Muzzleloader-1) | Oct. 7, 2022 – Oct. 16, 2022 |
| Deer (Special Antlerless-2) | Oct. 17, 2022 |
| Deer (Special Antlerless-3) | Oct. 21, 2022 – Oct. 24, 2022 |
| Deer (Special Antlerless-4) | Oct. 28, 2022 – Oct. 31, 2022 |
| Deer (Youth & Disabled Hunt) | Nov. 5, 2022 – Nov. 6, 2022 |
| Deer (Shotgun-1) | Nov. 11, 2022 – Nov. 20, 2022 |
| Deer (Special Antlerless-5) | Dec. 10, 2022 – Dec. 18, 2022 |
| Deer (Handgun-1) | Jan. 7, 2023 |
| Deer (Handgun-2) | Jan. 9, 2023 – Jan. 14, 2023 |
| Deer (Shotgun 2) | Jan. 14, 2023 – Jan. 22, 2023 |
| Deer (Muzzleloader-2) | Jan. 23, 2023 – Jan. 29, 2023 |
*Delaware is home to a variety of zones, regulations and additional considerations for each season and species being hunted. For specifics, please reference the official Delaware Hunting page about deer by clicking here.
Hunters using traditional compound bows as well as crossbows also get an extra season to take antlered deer – the October antlerless season. They are bound by the same restrictions as everyone else during the December antlerless season however. It also used to be that Sunday was restrictive of hunting, but all of these deer season dates have been updated to include Sundays. White-tailed deer are one of the most important and profitable species in the state. Deer baiting is allowed except for on public lands. This is due to concern regarding migratory bird populations. It is also important to remember that hunters are not permitted to use both handguns and shotguns simultaneously on a hunt.
Delaware Turkey Season
| Turkey (Segment-A) | Apr. 8, 2023 – Apr. 14, 2023 |
| Turkey (Segment-B) | Apr. 15, 2023 – Apr. 21, 2023 |
| Turkey (Segment-C) | Apr. 22, 2023 – Apr. 28, 2023 |
| Turkey (Segment-D) | Apr. 29, 2023 – May 6, 2023 |
*Delaware is home to a variety of zones, regulations, and additional considerations for each season and species being hunted. For specifics, please reference the official Delaware Hunting page about Turkey by clicking here.
All hunters 13 years of age or older must complete a mandatory turkey hunting education course before heading into the woods in pursuit. Crossbows may be used for turkey hunting provided that they meet the same standards as for deer hunting. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until 1:00 PM. The bag limit for turkey in Delaware is one per year and it must be bearded.
Additionally, shotguns of gauges from 20 to 10 are legal as well as longbows and compound bows.
Delaware Small Game Seasons
| Cottontail Rabbit | Sep. 15 – Feb. 6 |
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Nov. 21 – Feb. 4 |
| Bobwhite Quail | Nov. 21 – Jan. 7 |
| Bullfrog | May 1 – Sep. 30 |
| Snapping Turtle | Jun. 15 – May 15 |
| Diamondback Terrapin | Sep. 1 – Nov. 15 |
*Delaware is home to a variety of zones, regulations and additional considerations for each season and species being hunted. For specifics, please reference the official Delaware Hunting page about small game by clicking here.
Small game in Delaware have a variety of specific weapon regulations that come along with hunting them. They are all able to be hunted with a shotgun, so that is generally a safe bet, but it is important to be aware based on the species you are going after what you are and are not allowed to use to harvest them.
Delaware Furbearer Seasons
| Raccoon & opossum (hunt only) | Through February 28, 2023 |
| Gray squirrel | February 4, 2023 |
| Groundhog | June 30, 2023 |
| Beaver | March 20, 2022 |
| Red Fox | November 1, 2022 – February 28, 2023 |
| Coyote | September 1, 2022 – February 28, 2023 |
*Delaware is home to a variety of zones, regulations, and additional considerations for each season and species being hunted. For specifics, please reference the official Delaware Hunting page about furbearer hunting and trapping by clicking here.
The dates listed above are all for hunting, but in Delaware, there is an additional season for many of the furbearing species that is “chase only”. This means that hunters are not allowed to harvest any animals, but can use the time to train their hunting dogs. Be sure to check out the official Delaware site for specifics.
Crossbow Regulations
In Delaware, crossbows fall into the archery season as well as the muzzleloader season for most animals. The state is pretty mellow about crossbows and you can hunt most animals with them. If using a crossbow during the rifle or muzzleloader season, hunters are required to wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material on their body.
- Minimum draw weight is 125 pounds.
- Maximum draw weight is 200 pounds.
- Mechanical broadheads are legal.
- No hunter is allowed to harvest over two antlered deer during any license year between the dates of July 1rst and June 30th of the next calendar year.
Crossbow hunters may not harvest any deer without first purchasing the required combination Quality Buck Deer tag and Hunter’s Choice Deer tag.
Hunting Licenses in Delaware
A hunting license is required to hunt in Delaware. Hunters may obtain a license by visiting the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife Website. Delaware residents ages 13-64 must have a resident hunting license for $39.50. Non-residents 13 and older must carry a non-resident license for $75.00.
A variety of opportunities exist for those with disabilities. Disabled hunters must obtain a disability card in order to have access to all facilities and opportunities made available.
If you want to check out the next state on our list, click here to see Florida.
Or, you can check out the last state on our list, Connecticut
