Deer Seasons
Delaware
Hunting
| Deer Seasons Inclusive of Sundays | ||
| SEASONS | DATES | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
| Archery* | Statewide Sept. 1 – Jan. 31 | Hunters may use archery equipment during the muzzleloader, shotgun and handgun seasons provided they wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on the head chest, and back. |
| Crossbow* | Statewide Sept. 1 – Jan. 31 | Hunters may use crossbow equipment during the muzzleloader, shotgun and handgun seasons provided they wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on the head, chest, and back |
| Muzzleloader | Statewide Oct. 9 – 18 Jan. 25 – 31 | Muzzleloaders may be equipped with scopes. |
| Shotgun | Statewide Nov. 13 – 22 Jan. 16 – 24 | Muzzleloaders, handguns, and authorized straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles may be used during the shotgun seasons and may be equipped with scopes.** |
| Special Antlerless | Statewide | Legal methods of take during these seasons include archery equipment, muzzleloaders, and shotguns. You may only take antlerless deer, or deer with both antlers less than 3 inches in length. Archery (including crossbow) hunters may take antlered deer in October but NOT during the December antlerless season. |
| Handgun | Season closed in Wildlife Management Zones 1A and 1B Jan. 2, 4 – 9 | Sunday Jan. 3 is not open to handgun hunting. Authorized straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles may be used during the handgun season. See Deer Hunting for more season details. |
| Youth/ | Statewide Nov. 7 and 8 | Hunters may use archery equipment, muzzeloaders, shotguns, handgun, or authorized straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles. |