DOVER, DE – Delaware hunters will start their 2018/19 hunting season Saturday, Sept. 1, with the opening of mourning dove, resident Canada goose, and archery and crossbow deer seasons. Hunters can start adding teal to their bag on Wednesday, September 12 when the special September teal season opens. Gray squirrel season opens Saturday, Sept. 15. New this year, archery and crossbow deer hunters can hunt Sundays during archery and crossbow deer seasons, including in September.
Seasons opening in September, with dates and hunting hours listed, are:
· Dove: Sept. 1-Oct. 1 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)*
· Resident Canada geese: Sept. 1-25 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
· Archery and Crossbow Deer: Sept. 1-Jan. 31, 2019 to include Sundays (½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset)
· Teal: Sept. 12-29 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
· Gray squirrel: Sept. 15-Feb. 2, 2019 (½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset)
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife offers many early-season hunting opportunities on state wildlife areas, with hunting details and rules available online at Delaware’s September hunting seasons. *Reminder: Non-toxic shot must be used for dove hunting on state wildlife areas during the month of September and hunting hours might differ at specific dove fields on certain state wildlife areas.
A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is required to hunt, and most waterfowl hunters require a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp. More information on hunting license and Delaware waterfowl stamp requirements is available at Delaware Licenses. Teal, dove, and goose hunters also will need a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. To register for a HIP number or LEN number, hunters can go to Delaware Hunter and Trapper Registration or call toll free 1-855-335-4868. For hunters age 16 and older, a federal migratory bird stamp is also required to hunt geese or teal.
Registered motor vehicles used to access designated wildlife areas owned or managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife are required to display a Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Hunters can opt to receive one free annual CAP with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license. To obtain a free CAP, or to purchase an additional pass, hunters will need the registration card for the vehicle to which the pass will be assigned.
Delaware hunting licenses, Delaware waterfowl stamps, and Conservation Access Passes can be purchased online at Delaware Licenses, at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or from hunting license agents statewide. Federal migratory bird stamps are available at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges, and online at Federal duck stamps.
For more information on hunting, click 2018-2019 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide and Wildlife Area Hunting Maps. Hard copies of the hunting guide and newly-updated hunting maps are also available at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office. More information on hunting licenses, season details, and conservation access passes is also available by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.
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DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife