When does deer season start in Delaware?

No current deer opener is listed for Delaware yet. Check Delaware DNREC for the latest published dates.

When is Delaware's firearm deer season?

Delaware does not have a firearm deer row in the current data set yet. Check Delaware DNREC for firearm, rifle, or general deer season details.

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.

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Delaware Waterfowl Season 2025-26

Delaware waterfowl season dates start with Oct 18, 2025-Jan 31, 2026. The table below keeps every listed waterfowl row together with zones and notes where available.

Quick answer

Delaware's listed 2025-26 waterfowl season runs Oct 18, 2025-Jan 31, 2026.

Regular Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose) opens Oct 18, 2025 and closes Jan 31, 2026.

Youth, Veteran's, Active Military Waterfowl Hunt Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Brant, Swans opens Oct 25, 2025 and closes Feb 7, 2026.

The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Delaware DNREC.

Last verified: June 15, 2026 · Source: Delaware DNREC

Waterfowl

31 listed rows

Brant

Regular

Closed

—

Dec 20, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Two segments: Dec. 20–Jan. 3 and Jan. 17–Jan. 31.

Brant

Regular Season

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

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 (Migratory), including White-fronted Geese

Regular

Closed

—

Dec 20, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Two segments: Dec. 20–Jan. 3 and Jan. 17–Jan. 31. Includes White-fronted geese.

Canada Goose (Resident)

Regular

Closed

—

Sep 1-19, 2025

Special hunting methods allowed throughout the Resident Canada Goose Season inside teal zone Sept. 1–Sept. 19.

Zone: Inside September Teal Zone

Canada Goose (Resident)

Regular Season

Closed

—

Sep 1-25, 2025

Special hunting methods allowed. Sept. 1–Sept. 25.

Zone: Outside the September Teal Zone

Canada Goose (Resident)

Regular Season

Closed

—

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

Canada Goose (Resident)

Regular

Closed

—

Sep 1-25, 2025

Special hunting methods allowed. See Migratory Bird Hunting page for more details.

Zone: Outside September Teal Zone

Canada Goose (Resident)

Regular

Closed

—

Sep 20-25, 2025

Inside the September Teal Zone during these dates, special hunting methods are NOT allowed.

Zone: Inside September Teal Zone

Coots

Regular

Closed

—

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).

Coots

Regular Season

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Three separate segments: Nov. 1–Nov. 9; Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 17–Jan. 31

Show 19 more waterfowl rows

Ducks (Regular Season)

Regular Season

Closed

—

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 (September Teal)

Regular

Closed

—

Sep 20-28, 2025

Limited to designated teal zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1. Bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.

Zone: September Teal Zone

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Brant, Swans

Youth, Veteran's, Active Military Waterfowl Hunt

Closed

—

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

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Moorhens, Gallinules, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Brant, Swans

Youth/Veterans/Active Military Waterfowl Hunt

Closed

—

Oct 25, 2025-Feb 7, 2026

Two separate hunt days: Oct. 25 and Feb. 7. Youth must be age 10–15. Daily bag limit for each species same as regular seasons.

Mergansers

Regular Season

Closed

—

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

Mergansers

Regular

Closed

—

Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Season dates same as Regular Duck Season. No more than 2 hooded mergansers daily (6 in possession).

Mute Swan

Regular

Closed

—

dates not listed

Exact dates not listed in the current data.

Closed during the Snow Goose Conservation Order.

Mute Swan

Regular Season

Closed

—

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

Closed

—

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

Sea Ducks (Scoters, Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks)

Regular

Closed

—

Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Season dates same as Regular Duck Season. No separate sea duck zone. Included as part of regular daily bag and possession limits.

Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)

Regular Season

Closed

—

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)

Regular

Closed

—

Oct 18, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Bombay Hook NWR open Mon., Wed., and Fri. with permission of Refuge Manager. Also open Feb. 7 (25 bag limit, no possession limit) as part of Youth/Veterans/Active Military Hunt day.

Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)

Conservation Order

Closed

—

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

Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose) - Conservation Order

Conservation Order

Closed

—

Feb 1-Apr 10, 2026

Conservation Order closed Feb. 7, 2026 (Youth/Veterans hunt day). Two segments: Feb. 1–Feb. 6 and Feb. 8–Apr. 10. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls permitted. Shooting hours extended to half hour after sunset. Free annual permit required.

Teal (September)

September Teal Season

Closed

—

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

Regular

Closed

—

dates not listed

Exact dates not listed in the current data.

Closed Season.

Trumpeter Swan

Closed Season

Closed

—

dates not listed

Exact dates not listed in the current data.

Closed Season.

Zone: Statewide

Tundra Swan

Special Permit Season

Closed

—

Nov 8, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

By special permit only.

Zone: Statewide

Tundra Swan

Regular

Closed

—

Nov 8, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

By special permit ONLY.