Public Lands Hunting and Trapping

Download the Application for Public Land Turkey and Deer Hunts

WATERFOWL HUNTING ON PUBLIC LANDS

Waterfowl hunters have a variety of opportunities to hunt on public lands in Delaware. The following areas have waterfowl hunting available.

C&D Canal, Reedy Island, and Nanticoke – First come-first served basis from blinds and blind sites. Jump shooting is available. Consult area maps for specific regulations.

Cedar Swamp (19 water blinds. 3 pond blinds, 10 pits);Woodland Beach (31 water blinds, 3 pits, 3 lake blinds); Little Creek – Ted Harvey (35 river and impoundment blinds); Assawoman (19 bay blinds); Prime Hook (25 blinds); Augustine/Appoquinimink (23 water blinds); and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge/Kelley Island (20 river blinds). Blinds are issued on a daily lottery through checking stations on each area. Kelley Island and Prime Hook are open only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Milford Neck/Cedar Creek (16 sites). Piney Point (Assawoman) 5 sites. Areas open for first come-first served use from blinds only. Most sites have state built blinds that are not grassed. Some sites are open for the public to build blinds.

Little Creek, south on the Pickering Beach Road and north of the Mahon Road; Milford Neck – open for “jump” shooting.

Maps are available for all areas that show boundary lines, blind locations, and launch ramps. Special rules that pertain are listed.

Waterfowl blinds for the non-ambulatory disabled hunters are available at Cedar Swamp, Assawoman, Woodland Beach, Little Creek and Ted Harvey Areas.

DEER HUNTING

Shotgun deer hunting is available by permit only for White Clay Creek, Fort DuPont, Fort Delaware and Brandywine Creek State Parks and some areas of Cape Henlopen State Park; Blackbird State Forest; Ennis Tract at Woodland Beach; Cedar Swamp; Ted Harvey-Logan Lane and Buckaloo Tracts, Augustine and Assawoman State Wildlife Areas. Except for Brandywine Creek State Park, the above areas will utilize a daily lottery. Elevated stands are provided for each permittee. Deer hunting at Lums Pond State Park is by permit only and hunters should contact the Lums Pond office for details (302-368-6989).

Deer hunting is also available at many other state wildlife areas without a permit. Check area maps for details of specific rules regarding types of hunting available.