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Welcome to 2026-27 Delaware Hunting

Chronic Wasting Disease in Delaware Hunting Guide Addendum

Cover of the 2026–2027 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide featuring a male wild turkey with its tail fully fanned in a grassy field. The guide includes hunting regulations, season information, licensing details, and wildlife management resources from the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife.
The 2026–2027 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide provides hunters with current Delaware hunting regulations, season dates, licensing requirements, wildlife management information, and important updates for hunting opportunities across the state. Cover photo: "Wild Turkey" by April Doyle, featuring a wild turkey on Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
Promotional graphic for the DNREC Digital Newsletter featuring a great blue heron holding a fish in its beak. The image invites readers to subscribe to Delaware’s monthly digital newsletter for news, meetings, events, programs, and services, and includes a QR code for easy sign-up.
Subscribe to the DNREC Digital Newsletter to stay informed about Delaware fish and wildlife news, public meetings, outdoor events, conservation programs, and natural resource services. The featured great blue heron highlights Delaware’s diverse wildlife and aquatic ecosystems.

State and Federal law prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion and/or disability. Complaints or inquiries should be directed to: Human Resource Office, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 97 Commerce Way, Dover, DE 19904.


This summary is for the convenience of the hunters and trappers and is not intended to cover all hunting laws and regulations. When federal and state laws conflict, the law which is more restrictive governs. For the actual wording of the Wildlife Statutes and Regulations, please visit:

Review Delaware fish and wildlife laws in Title 7 of the Delaware Code.

Review hunting, trapping, and wildlife regulations in the DNREC Wildlife Administrative Code.


MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF DFW

From the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife

With the hunting and trapping season here again, I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe season in 2025–2026. Last year’s season was a rough one with the extreme cold, snow and freezing temperatures in the later part of the season making waterfowl hunting and trapping in particular very challenging.

As everyone begins pulling out and dusting off their hunting equipment, finetuning their dogs and getting ready for the excitement another hunting season offers, take a moment and reflect on past seasons and hunting experiences with friends and family and make a commitment to take some of your old hunting partners for a hunt this year.

I know in our family; even at the age of 95, dad is always ready to go with us. Last year fate threw him a curve and due to health issues, he couldn’t make it, but he is planning to go this year. Dad may not be quite as spry as he was, but he offers knowledge and stories that only come with wisdom and age. That said, dad certainly keeps his great grandsons amused in the blind. These hunting adventures with family and friends are priceless and add to the overall allure of the hunting experience.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife provides numerous opportunities for you to hunt or just enjoy the great outdoors on 18 Wildlife Areas encompassing approximately 68,000 acres of public land throughout the state. The wildlife areas featured in the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide, offer a variety of diverse hunting opportunities. Take the time to experience what the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife has to offer you.

I wish you all the best and have a safe and exciting hunting and trapping season.

Patrick J. Emory - Director

Four generations of the Emory family stand together in a Delaware field during a waterfowl hunt, wearing camouflage hunting gear. Two young hunters proudly hold harvested geese, highlighting family hunting traditions, youth mentorship, and outdoor conservation heritage.
Patrick J. Emory, Director, joins four generations of the Emory family for a Delaware waterfowl hunting outing. This multi-generational hunting experience reflects the state's strong hunting heritage, youth engagement in the outdoors, and the tradition of passing conservation values from one generation to the next.


Last Updated: August 18, 2026

Delaware
Fishing Hunting