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Delaware Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against DE Dept of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $39.5 · nonresident $199.5. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
ArcherySep 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Deer Tag
CrossbowSep 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Deer Tag
Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunt (September)Sep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026Hunting License or License Exempt Number
Special Antlerless (first segment)Oct 2, 2026Oct 4, 2026Hunting License + Antlerless Deer Tag
Muzzleloader (first segment)Oct 9, 2026Oct 18, 2026Hunting License + Deer Tag
Special Antlerless (second segment)Oct 23, 2026Oct 25, 2026Hunting License + Antlerless Deer Tag
Special Antlerless (third segment)Oct 30, 2026Oct 31, 2026Hunting License + Antlerless Deer Tag
Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunt (November)Nov 7, 2026Nov 8, 2026Hunting License or License Exempt Number
General Firearm (first segment)Nov 13, 2026Nov 22, 2026Hunting License + Deer Tag
Special Antlerless (fourth segment)Dec 12, 2026Dec 20, 2026Hunting License + Antlerless Deer Tag
Handgun and Straight-walled Pistol-caliber Rifle: Statewide except Wildlife Management Zones 1A and 1BJan 2, 2027Jan 10, 2027Hunting License + Deer Tag
General Firearm (second segment)Jan 16, 2027Jan 24, 2027Hunting License + Deer Tag
Muzzleloader (second segment)Jan 25, 2027Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Deer Tag

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth and Non-ambulatory HuntApr 3, 2027Apr 4, 2027Hunting License or LEN + Turkey Harvest Report Card
Spring seasonApr 10, 2027May 9, 2027Hunting License + Turkey Harvest Report Card (public land permit required on State Wildlife Areas, NWRs and State Forests)

Beaver Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingDec 1, 2026Mar 20, 2027Hunting License
TrappingDec 1, 2026Mar 20, 2027Trapping License

Coyote Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting - no closed season (license year Jul. 1 - Jun. 30)Jul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027Hunting License
TrappingNov 1, 2026Mar 10, 2027Trapping License

Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)Jul 3, 2026Mar 26, 2027Hunting License
Summer segment (Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)Jun 24, 2027Jun 27, 2027Hunting License

Mourning Dove Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment)Sep 1, 2026Sep 27, 2026Hunting License + HIP number
Regular (second segment)Nov 23, 2026Nov 29, 2026Hunting License + HIP number
Regular (third segment)Dec 7, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + HIP number

Red Fox Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Chase only, no harvestOct 1, 2026Apr 30, 2027Hunting License
HuntingNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License
TrappingNov 1, 2026Mar 10, 2027Trapping License

Gallinules and Common Moorhens Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Hunting License + HIP number

Groundhog Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
No closed season (license year Jul. 1 - Jun. 30)Jul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027No hunting license required

Muskrat, Mink, Otter and Nutria Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingDec 1, 2026Mar 10, 2027Trapping License
Trapping - New Castle County embanked meadowsDec 1, 2026Mar 20, 2027Trapping License

Ring-necked Pheasant (male only) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularNov 23, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License

Bobwhite Quail (pen-raised and released birds only) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (permit required, released birds only)Nov 23, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License + Division quail permit

Cottontail Rabbit Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularNov 23, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License

Raccoon and Opossum Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Chase only, no harvest (autumn)Aug 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Hunting License
HuntingNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License
TrappingDec 1, 2026Mar 10, 2027Trapping License
Chase only, no harvest (spring)Mar 1, 2027Mar 31, 2027Hunting License
Raccoon hunting and trapping, year round (private land, designated area): Raccoon year-round areaJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027Hunting or Trapping License + landowner permission

Rails (King, Clapper, Sora and Virginia) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Hunting License + HIP number

Common Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment)Sep 29, 2026Dec 6, 2026Hunting License + HIP number
Regular (second segment)Dec 25, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + HIP number

Gray Squirrel Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License

Waterfowl (ducks, coots, mergansers, geese, brant, teal, swans) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Resident Canada goose (first segment) - inside the September Teal Zone, liberal methods allowedSep 1, 2026Sep 4, 2026Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Resident Canada goose (second segment) - inside the September Teal Zone, liberal methods NOT allowedSep 5, 2026Sep 13, 2026Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Resident Canada goose (third segment) - inside the September Teal Zone, liberal methods allowedSep 14, 2026Sep 25, 2026Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Resident Canada goose - outside the September Teal Zone: Outside the September Teal ZoneSep 1, 2026Sep 25, 2026Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
September Teal: September Teal ZoneSep 5, 2026Sep 13, 2026Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Youth, Veteran and Active Military Waterfowl Hunt (autumn)Oct 24, 2026Oct 24, 2026Hunting License + HIP number
Ducks, coots and mergansers (first segment)Oct 31, 2026Nov 7, 2026Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Ducks, coots and mergansers (second segment)Nov 25, 2026Nov 29, 2026Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Ducks, coots and mergansers (third segment)Dec 16, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Tundra swan (special permit only)Nov 8, 2026Jan 31, 2027Tundra Swan Permit (272 issued for 2026-27)
Migratory Canada goose and white-fronted goose (first segment)Nov 25, 2026Nov 29, 2026Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Migratory Canada goose and white-fronted goose (second segment)Dec 23, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Snow goose (including Ross's) - regular first segmentNov 25, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Snow goose (including Ross's) - regular second segmentFeb 1, 2027Feb 6, 2027Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Snow goose (including Ross's) - regular third segmentFeb 8, 2027Mar 10, 2027Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Brant (first segment)Dec 19, 2026Jan 2, 2027Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Brant (second segment)Jan 16, 2027Jan 30, 2027Hunting License + HIP number + Delaware and Federal Duck Stamps
Youth, Veteran and Active Military Waterfowl Hunt (winter)Feb 7, 2027Feb 7, 2027Hunting License + HIP number

American Woodcock Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment)Nov 23, 2026Dec 6, 2026Hunting License + HIP number
Regular (second segment)Dec 25, 2026Jan 24, 2027Hunting License + HIP number
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with DE Dept of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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