From the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife

As we begin another century of fish and wildlife conservation in Delaware, the Division of Fish and Wildlife renews its commitment to stewardship of your wildlife resources and hunting and trapping traditions. Sport hunting provides countless opportunities to connect people and families to the outdoors, which, along with furbearer trapping, supports thousands of outdoor-related jobs vital to our economy. Abundant game populations and quality hunting and trapping access and experiences require wise use of wildlife resources and thoughtful investment of your hunting and trapping license dollars.

The 2012/2013 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide provides helpful hunting and trapping information, including a summary of our hunting and trapping laws and regulations which are necessary to provide quality hunting and trapping—both now and in the future. Page 6 of this Guide presents how we invest your hunting and trapping license dollars, every dollar of which brings an additional three dollars of Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program funds generated from your purchase of hunting equipment. These funds are collectively used to perform habitat management and wildlife research and to purchase and manage public hunting lands, thereby ensuring conservation and sustainable use of and public access to game species.

The cover of this year’s guide, selected from our first photography contest, represents the promise of the future as the young hunter exudes the enthusiasm of all that is hunting and the outdoors. As you enjoy the bounty and diversity of hunting that Delaware has to offer, please take the opportunity to “take a kid hunting” so that No Child is Left Inside; the future of hunting, trapping, conservation and the outdoors depends on it.

Wishing you a memorable, safe and productive hunting and trapping season…