Delaware 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Delaware's 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Nov 14-23, 2026, and Jan 17-25, 2027.
Archery deer season runs Sep 1, 2026-Feb 1, 2027.
Spring turkey season runs Apr 10-May 9, 2027.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Delaware DNREC.
- firearm deer
- Nov 14-23, 2026 and Jan 17-25, 2027
- archery deer
- Sep 1, 2026-Feb 1, 2027
- spring turkey
- Apr 10-May 9, 2027
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Key seasons by species
How to read Delaware's seasons
Short seasons, method dates that move fast
Delaware packs shotgun, muzzleloader, and archery deer opportunities into a compact calendar, and the method-specific windows shift quickly. If you only watch the main firearm dates, it is easy to miss earlier or later options.
Confirm weapon rules, antlerless allowances, and quality-buck restrictions with the official Delaware Fish and Wildlife source.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Delaware DNREC before hunting.
Deer
White-tailed Deer
Crossbow
Hunters may use crossbow equipment when it is lawful to hunt deer with a firearm or muzzleloader provided they wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on the head, chest, and back.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Hunters may use archery equipment when it is lawful to hunt deer with a firearm or muzzleloader provided they wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material displayed on the head, chest, and back.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Special Antlerless
Multiple periods: Oct. 3–5, Oct. 24–26, Oct. 31, and Dec. 13–21. Shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, authorized straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles, and archery equipment may be used. Archery and crossbow hunters may take antlered deer during these seasons.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
General Firearm
Two separate periods: Nov. 14–23 and Jan. 17–25. Shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, authorized straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles, and archery equipment may be used.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Handgun and Straight-walled Pistol-caliber Rifle
Open Jan. 3 and Jan. 5–10. Sunday Jan. 4 is not open to handgun or straight-walled pistol-caliber rifle hunting. Authorized straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles may be used during the handgun season.
Zone: Season closed in Wildlife Management Zones 1A and 1B
White-tailed Deer
General Firearm
Second general firearm period. Shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, authorized straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles, and archery equipment may be used.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Second muzzleloader period. Muzzleloaders must be loaded from the muzzle using any manufacturer's approved propellant and may be equipped with a scope.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunt
Open Sept. 27, 28, Nov. 1, and Nov. 2. Hunters may use archery equipment, muzzleloaders, shotguns, handgun, or authorized straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Two separate periods: Oct. 10–19 and Jan. 26–Feb. 1. Muzzleloaders must be loaded from the muzzle using any manufacturer's approved propellant and may be equipped with a scope.
Zone: Statewide
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Youth/Non-Ambulatory
Special two-day hunt for youth and non-ambulatory hunters. Dates are April 3 and April 5, 2027 (skipping April 4). Hunting hours: one half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
General
2027 spring wild turkey hunting season. Hunting hours: one half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. Sunday hunting permitted. Hunter must pass an approved turkey hunting course. Must register turkey within 24 hours of harvest.
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
15 listed rowsBrant
Regular Season
Two segments: Dec. 20–Jan. 3 and Jan. 17–Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose (Migratory), including White-fronted Geese
Regular Season
Two segments: Dec. 20–Jan. 3 and Jan. 17–Jan. 31. Includes White-fronted geese.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose (Resident)
Regular Season
Special hunting methods allowed. Sept. 1–Sept. 25.
Zone: Outside the September Teal Zone
Canada Goose (Resident)
Regular Season
Sept. 1–Sept. 19: Special hunting methods throughout the Resident Canada Goose Season. Sept. 20–Sept. 25: Special hunting methods NOT allowed inside the September Teal Zone.
Zone: Inside the September Teal Zone
Coots
Regular Season
Season dates same as Regular Duck Season (Nov. 1–Nov. 9, Nov. 26–Nov. 30, Dec. 17–Jan. 31).
Zone: Statewide
Ducks (Regular Season)
Regular Season
Three separate date segments: Nov. 1–Nov. 9, Nov. 26–Nov. 30, Dec. 17–Jan. 31. Daily limit of 6 ducks may include up to: 4 mallards (2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, 6 teal, 6 shovelers, 6 gadwall, 6 wigeon, 6 goldeneye, 6 ring-necked ducks, 6 bufflehead, 6 ruddy ducks, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling-duck, 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin duck season closed.
Zone: Statewide
Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Brant, Swans
Youth, Veteran's, Active Military Waterfowl Hunt
Two special hunt dates: Oct. 25 and Feb. 7. Youth must be age 10-15. Participating eligible hunters may harvest ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans. Daily bag limit for each species same as regular seasons.
Zone: Statewide
Mergansers
Regular Season
Season dates same as Regular Duck Season (Nov. 1–Nov. 9, Nov. 26–Nov. 30, Dec. 17–Jan. 31). Daily bag limit may include no more than 2 hooded mergansers (6 in possession).
Zone: Statewide
Mute Swan
Regular Season
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Legal to take during any open waterfowl season. Closed during the Snow Goose Conservation Order.
Zone: Statewide
Sea Ducks (Scoters, Eiders, Long-tailed ducks)
Regular Season
No longer a special sea duck zone with separate season dates. Season dates same as Regular Duck Season. Crippled waterfowl may be shot from motorboat under power in area not less than 800 yards seaward from Delaware Bay or Atlantic Ocean shore.
Zone: Statewide
Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)
Regular Season
Also open Feb. 7 (25/day, no possession limit). Bombay Hook NWR open Mon., Wed., and Fri. with permission of Refuge Manager. Feb. 7 is the Youth/Veteran/Active Military special hunt; no liberal Conservation Order methods on that day, bag limit of 25 applies.
Zone: Statewide
Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)
Conservation Order
Two segments: Feb. 1–Feb. 6 and Feb. 8–Apr. 10. Closed Feb. 7 (Youth/Veteran/Active Military special hunt). Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed. Shooting hours extended to 1/2 hour after sunset. Free annual permit required through Digital DNREC licensing system (after Jan. 1). Harvest must be reported after CO closes.
Zone: Statewide
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Teal (September)September Teal Season · Special Teal Zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1Limited to designated teal zone. Bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal. | Closed | |
| Trumpeter SwanClosed Season · StatewideClosed Season. | dates not listed | Closed |
| Tundra SwanSpecial Permit Season · StatewideBy special permit only. | Closed |
Dove
Mourning Dove
Regular Season
Three segments: Sept. 1–Sept. 28, Nov. 24–Nov. 30, Dec. 8–Jan. 31. During September, all hunters must use non-toxic shot when dove hunting on State Wildlife Areas.
Zone: Statewide
Migratory Birds
American Woodcock
Regular Season
Two segments: Nov. 24–Nov. 30 and Dec. 25–Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
Common Snipe
Regular Season
Two segments: Sept. 23–Nov. 30 and Dec. 25–Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
King Rail and Clapper Rail
Regular Season
Daily bag limit of 10 singly or in combination of the two species.
Zone: Statewide
Moorhens and Gallinules
Regular Season
Zone: Statewide
Sora Rail and Virginia Rail
Regular Season
Daily bag limit of 25 singly or in combination of the two species.
Zone: Statewide
Other
Crow
Regular Season
Fri., Sat., and Sun. only (effective January 11). Also open Jun. 26–27, 2026.
Zone: Statewide
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Delaware Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Delaware?
Archery deer season runs Sep 1, 2026-Feb 1, 2027. Firearm deer season runs Nov 14-23, 2026, and Jan 17-25, 2027. Dates can differ by zone and permit; confirm with Delaware DNREC.
When is Delaware's firearm deer season?
Firearm deer season runs Nov 14-23, 2026, and Jan 17-25, 2027. Check zone and permit details with Delaware DNREC before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Delaware?
Spring turkey season runs Apr 10-May 9, 2027. Youth and other special hunts, where listed, open earlier.
Do I need a license to hunt in Delaware?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Delaware hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Delaware DNREC.