Hunting season comes with new rules

Milton resident Mike Hague remembers growing up in Sussex County when he would go hunting with friends throughout his teen years. His son, now turning 19, did the same.

“I was 17 going duck hunting with friends, and we all had a great time,” Hague said. “We mostly hunted ducks, geese and deer, driving out on the weekends to a couple of spots.”

But new hunting regulations are changing the rules.

That includes supervision for hunters under age 18, except for those 16 and 17 hunting squirrels with a pellet or air gun. Hunters ages 18 to under 21 are allowed to hunt unsupervised using bows, crossbows, muzzleloaders and shotguns. Those wanting to hunt with a centerfire rifle, rimfire rifle or handgun must be supervised by someone 21 or older under the law. Those rifles use smaller-caliber ammunition similar to what’s used in a handgun. 

The exceptions for hunters 18 to under 21 are for those who have a concealed carry deadly weapon permit, and those who are active military.

Hague said his son has hunted since he was 5, and has taken all the hunter safety courses in addition to completing requirements to hold a hunting license in the state.

“I thought when he was 18, he would be good,” Hague said. “Now I have to make sure he understands the new law.”

Penalties for violations listed in Delaware Code only address purchase or possession of deadly weapons. There is no mention of penalties for violation of the rule requiring a supervisor to be within 30 yards and in direct sight of the supervised hunter.

“What happens if you break one of these laws unintentionally?” Hague asked. “You can end up in court facing charges.”

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control spokesman Michael Globetti said the Division of Fish and Wildlife has been working to raise awareness of the new rules by highlighting the law in the state hunting guide, and through other outreach efforts to the hunting community. 

“As often occurs when a new law goes into effect, Delaware Natural Resources Police officers will have discretion to determine whether education or enforcement is more appropriate when there are reported or observed violations in this first season for the hunter supervision law,” Globetti said.

The change was signed into law in 2022 by former Gov. John Carney, following contentious hearings in the legislature. Former Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, sponsored the bill in response to a series of mass shootings at schools across the country, specifically the 2018 shooting in Parkland, Fla. 

“We are witnessing things in this country that I never thought we would ever see,” Schwartzkopf said at the time. “There are some things we can put in place; raising the age from 18 to 21 is one of them. We keep these kids [who] are still making bad decisions from making the ultimate bad decision of purchasing a gun and going and using it.”

At the time, Schwartzkopf said he supported restricting firearm sales for those under 21, and requiring supervision for them to use firearms.

“Anybody under the age of 21 should be under the supervision of someone over the age of 21,” he said.

Still, Hague said he questions the data used to back up the law. 

At the time the bill moved through the legislature, hunting proponents estimated 80% of gun crimes in Delaware were committed using handguns, not rifles, and no one had been shot or murdered with a long gun in 15 years.

Every night, news reports from Philadelphia and surrounding areas broadcast shootings on a nightly basis, and in Delaware, reports of shootings regularly center around urban areas.

“Making decisions based on data would make sense to me,” Hague said. “Do they have data saying people in that age group are dangerous with that kind of firearm? If there was something out there that said we’re noticing statistically that people throughout the country with these types of firearms are responsible for a large number of hunter safety accidents, then I’d get it.”

Having guidelines for teens makes sense, Hague said, but once you’re an adult, supervision should not be required.

“If you can operate a vehicle, defend our country, you’re considered an adult. Having supervision doesn’t make any sense to me at all,” he said. 

Deer season runs Monday, Sept. 1 through Feb. 1 for archery and crossbow hunting. Muzzleloader hunting runs Oct. 10-19 and again Jan. 26 through Feb. 1. Shotgun and other firearm hunting is Nov. 14-23 and Jan. 17-25.

Duck season runs Nov.1-9, Nov. 26-30 and Dec. 17 through Jan. 31.