Delaware 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Delaware's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Nov 14-23, 2026.
Archery White-tailed Deer opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Feb 1, 2027.
Crossbow White-tailed Deer opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Feb 1, 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
- archery deer
- Sep 1, 2026-Feb 1, 2027
- deer
- Sep 1, 2026-Feb 1, 2027
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Key seasons by species
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
Sep 1, 2026-Feb 1, 2027
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
Sep 1, 2026-Feb 1, 2027
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
Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunt
Sep 27-Nov 2, 2026
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
Special Antlerless
Oct 3-Dec 21, 2026
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
Muzzleloader
Oct 10-19, 2026
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
White-tailed Deer
General Firearm
Nov 14-23, 2026
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
Jan 3-10, 2027
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
Jan 17-25, 2027
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
Jan 26-Feb 1, 2027
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
Waterfowl
15 listed rowsBrant
Regular Season
Dec 20, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Two segments: Dec. 20–Jan. 3 and Jan. 17–Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose (Migratory), including White-fronted Geese
Regular Season
Dec 20, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Two segments: Dec. 20–Jan. 3 and Jan. 17–Jan. 31. Includes White-fronted geese.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose (Resident)
Regular Season
Sep 1-25, 2025
Special hunting methods allowed. Sept. 1–Sept. 25.
Zone: Outside the September Teal Zone
Canada Goose (Resident)
Regular Season
Sep 1-25, 2025
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
Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
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
Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
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
Oct 25, 2025-Feb 7, 2026
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
Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
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
Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
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
Oct 18, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
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
Feb 1-Apr 10, 2026
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
Show 3 more waterfowl rows
Teal (September)
September Teal Season
Sep 20-28, 2025
Limited to designated teal zone. Bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
Zone: Special Teal Zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1
Trumpeter Swan
Closed Season
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Closed Season.
Zone: Statewide
Tundra Swan
Special Permit Season
Nov 8, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
By special permit only.
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Mourning Dove
Regular Season
Sep 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
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
Nov 24, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Two segments: Nov. 24–Nov. 30 and Dec. 25–Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
Common Snipe
Regular Season
Sep 23, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
Two segments: Sept. 23–Nov. 30 and Dec. 25–Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
King Rail and Clapper Rail
Regular Season
Sep 1-Nov 9, 2025
Daily bag limit of 10 singly or in combination of the two species.
Zone: Statewide
Moorhens and Gallinules
Regular Season
Sep 1-Nov 9, 2025
Zone: Statewide
Sora Rail and Virginia Rail
Regular Season
Sep 1-Nov 9, 2025
Daily bag limit of 25 singly or in combination of the two species.
Zone: Statewide
Other
Crow
Regular Season
Jul 3, 2025-Mar 26, 2026
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?
September 1, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Delaware; it is crossbow white-tailed deer Sep 1, 2026-Feb 1, 2027.
When is Delaware's firearm deer season?
Nov 14-23, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Delaware. Check zone and permit details with Delaware DNREC before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Delaware?
A current spring turkey opener is not listed for Delaware yet. Check Delaware DNREC for the latest turkey dates.
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.