Delaware’s hunting seasons to open in September

Delaware hunters will start the 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 Wednesday, Sept. 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 (half-hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Resident Canada geese: Sept. 1-25 (half-hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Archery and crossbow deer: Sept. 1-Jan. 31, 2019, to include Sundays (half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset)
• Teal: Sept. 12-29 (half-hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Gray squirrel: Sept. 15-Feb. 2, 2019 (half-hour before sunrise to half-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. Reminder: Nontoxic shot must be used for dove hunting on state wildlife areas during September, and hunting hours might differ at specific dove fields on certain state wildlife areas.

A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number is required for hunting, and most waterfowl hunters require a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp. Teal, dove and goose hunters also will need a Federal Harvest Information Program number. To register for a HIP number or LEN number, hunters can 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. 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 the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, 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.