Delaware 2025 turkey season is set to commence on Saturday, April 5, with a special one-day hunt exclusively for youth hunters aged 10 to 15 and non-ambulatory hunters. The regular turkey hunting season will then run from Saturday, April 12 through Saturday, May 10. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with Sunday hunting now permitted for all gamebirds, including turkeys. However, the season will not be open on Sunday, May 11, 2025. ​

Regulations stipulate that only bearded turkeys may be harvested, with a bag limit of one bearded turkey per hunter each year. ​

Youth and Non-Ambulatory Hunt Details

Youth hunters participating in the April 5 hunt must be between 10 and 15 years old and accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old who has completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class and possesses a Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN). Accompanying adults may not hunt during the youth-day hunt. Regular-season turkey hunters under the age of 13 must also be accompanied by a qualified adult. Non-ambulatory hunters participating in the one-day hunt on April 5 must require a wheelchair for mobility. ​

Harvest Reporting

All harvested turkeys must be registered within 24 hours of harvest. Hunters can register their turkeys by visiting the Digital DNREC portal or by calling 1-855-DEL-HUNT (1-855-335-4868). Registration requires reporting the beard and spur length of the bird, and hunters are encouraged to provide the turkey’s weight if available. ​

Delaware Turkey Harvest Report Cards and Possession Tags

New for 2024 are Delaware turkey harvest report cards. All legally permitted turkey hunters in Delaware receive turkey harvest report cards, which include turkey tags. Hunters who complete the approved turkey education course will receive the report card upon purchasing a license or obtaining a License Exempt Number (LEN). Youth hunters under 13 automatically receive a report card with their LEN, as they can hunt turkeys if accompanied by a licensed adult who has completed the course.

Upon harvesting a turkey, the hunter must immediately complete the designated section on their report card and punch the section and record the harvest date before moving the turkey. The Turkey Harvest Report Card and Hunting License/LEN must be carried while hunting.

Turkey possession tags are required only if the turkey leaves the hunter’s immediate possession (e.g., taken to a processor or taxidermist). Tags can be obtained from:

• The middle of the paper Delaware hunting guide
• Digital DNREC account
• Delaware Fish & Wildlife website
  

Self-made tags (must include hunter’s name, license number, harvest date, and turkey registration number).

Public Land Hunting

Turkey hunting on Delaware state wildlife areas and state forests requires hunters to carry a public land permit issued via a preseason lottery. Permits specify the public lands and season segment/dates that can be hunted. Hunters participating in the special turkey hunt for youth and non-ambulatory hunters on April 5 may hunt without a public land permit on those state wildlife areas and state forests open to turkey hunting during the regular season. ​Delaware public land hunting season segments are:

Segment dates (A-D) for Public Land
Permits are:

• (A) April 12 – April 18
• (B) April 19 – April 25
• (C) April 26 – May 2
• (D) May 3 – May 10

Turkey Hunter Education Requirements

All turkey hunters aged 13 and older must have completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety course, including youth ages 13 through 15 hunting on the special youth turkey hunt on April 5. Hunters who have completed the course should ensure their hunting license displays their turkey hunting course number. Those who completed the course after obtaining their license or LEN should reprint their license to reflect successful course completion. ​
eregulations.com

For more information on the Delaware 2025 turkey season, including detailed regulations and updates, hunters are encouraged to consult the Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide.

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Reflecting on my own introduction to crow hunting over 20 years ago, I vividly recall sharing the same incredulous reactions that many may have now. Crows? Why hunt crows? It seemed like a peculiar pursuit, indeed.

However, my initial foray into crow hunting swiftly dispelled my misconceptions. After shooting about fifty shots and bagging few crows during my inaugural crow hunt, I found myself on the receiving end of amusement. This humbling experience underscored a fundamental truth: like all forms of hunting, crow hunting demands a strategic approach.

At the core of successful crow hunting lies a comprehension of the birds’ behaviors and tendencies. The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), prevalent across Delaware, gravitates towards nesting in tall, sheltered trees near open spaces. These birds typically form family units that establish and defend expansive territories. These familial clusters, comprising crows of varying ages, exhibit communal behaviors such as feeding together and collectively warding off predators like hawks and owls.

During the autumn and winter seasons, numerous crow families depart from their usual territories each evening to congregate at communal roost sites. These roosts, accommodating hundreds to thousands of crows nightly, offer sheltered resting spots that afford protection from predators.

Delaware crow hunting season spans approximately nine consecutive months, from early July to late March, with the customary breeding period in spring designated as off-limits. Personally, I prefer to engage in crow hunting during February and March, positioning myself near communal roosting sites, or in early fall to hone my wingshooting skills for impending waterfowl and small game pursuits.

In instances where securing access to a major crow roost proves challenging, leveraging the territorial and defensive instincts of crows can serve as a viable strategy. By identifying potential hunting locales near crow family groups, one can deploy an owl decoy on a conspicuous stump or fencepost, complemented by crow decoys and calls. This setup entices crows within view towards the decoy, presenting ample shooting opportunities.

It is crucial to acknowledge that crows are astute, robust, and aerially adept creatures, posing a formidable challenge for hunters. Employing high-quality, long-range shotgun loads and varying hunting positions regularly are essential tactics. Repeatedly setting up in the same location can educate crows, prompting alterations in their flight patterns.

Watch more Delaware crow hunting videos.

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I suspected foxes and buzzards would visit the pile, but the camera picked up so much more–including a white-tail buck, coyotes (at least one), a bald eagle, and owls! I wish I would have done this years ago!

Interestingly, I’ve hunted this location for years and never saw or received any pics of coyotes. I know there are some in the area, but it seems they are quite secretive. Additionally, I suspected deer may investigate gut piles of other deer, but now I have proof!

Check out the video, and let me know what you think.

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As detailed in the resolution and as discussed by council members in the meeting, the federal Pittman-Robertson Act provides money via an 11 percent federal excise tax on sporting firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment and a 10 percent tax on handguns that is used for wildlife restoration, habitat acquisition, development and management as well as hunter education and public shooting range development, operation and maintenance. As HB 450 prohibits the post-effective date sale, manufacture, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, receipt, possession, or transport of firearms deemed assault weapons in Delaware, Pittman Robertson funds available to Delaware could see a significant decrease since many of the banned firearms are among the most popular in the country.

Similarly, council members pointed out that SB 302 enables firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held accountable for crimes and negligence of others, which could drive firearms dealers out of business, lead to additional reductions in Pittman Robertson funds, and make it increasingly difficult for hunters and sport shooters to purchase firearms, ammunition, and other hunting equipment.

Also mentioned during the council meeting were the effects HB 451 will have on the ability for young people to participate in hunting and sport shooting activities. House Bill 451 prohibits a person under 21 from purchasing, owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm or ammunition of a firearm, with certain exceptions for active members of the Armed Forces, law-enforcement officers, and people with licenses to carry concealed deadly weapons. Although HB 451 does not apply to shotguns, shotgun ammunition, and muzzleloading rifles, it seems it will apply to firearms like .22-caliber rifles and straight wall pistol-caliber rifles, which Delaware recently legalized for deer hunting. The bill also stipulates that a person under the age of 21 can possess a firearm for the purpose of lawful hunting, instruction, sporting, or recreational activity while under the direct supervision of a person 21 year of age or older. Council members pointed out that hunters under the age of 21 who have traditionally hunted on their own would be prohibited from doing so in certain instances.

The council members agreed to share the approved and signed resolution with Carney and other Delaware officials.

A copy of the resolution is provided below. Click the image to read the full resolution.

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Since mothers of young animals are usually nearby their newborns and taking a young wild animal from its habitat may lead to the animal’s death, DNREC advises Delawareans to subscribe to the motto “If you care, leave them there.” Although young animals may appear to be abandoned, most are not, and their mothers are keeping watchful eyes on them as they wait for the person or people who discovered them to move on.

DNREC also advises citizens to take precautions, in general, when encountering wild animals. They recommend watching wildlife from a distance, being aware that animals are unpredictable and can be dangerous, and can can carry diseases and parasites. Additional recommendations from DNREC are listed below.

• For more help in trying to determine if a young wild animal is orphaned or injured, or is simply exhibiting normal behavior instead of needing to be rescued, contact the Delaware Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators and Educators.
• To determine the appropriate course of action if a young wild animal appears injured or if you are certain its parent is dead, contact the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Section during business hours Monday through Friday at 302-739-9912, or at 800-523-3336 after hours and on weekends.

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As Delaware hunters must report deer harvests along with harvest method, DNREC announced the following harvest statistics during the April 26 meeting of the Delaware Advisory Council for Wildlife and Freshwater Fish:

• Handgun: .3%
• Straight-wall pistol caliber rifles: 33%
• Muzzleloader: 9%
• Shotgun: 37%
• Archery: 20% (66% crossbow, 34% vertical bow)

As in previous years, the majority of deer (8,622) were harvested in Sussex County, followed by Kent (4,334) and New Castle (2,427) Counties.

More than 40% of the deer were harvested during the November shotgun season, and 86% of the deer were harvested on private property. Does accounted for 55% of the total harvest, although nearly 71% of the total harvest consisted of antlerless deer (which included juvenile bucks).

In addition to whitetail deer, 4 sika deer were harvested during the 2021/22 deer hunting season, including one in New Castle County.

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Delaware’s 2022 wild turkey hunting seasons opens Saturday, April 2 with a one-day turkey hunt for youth ages 10 through 15 and for non-ambulatory hunters. The regular turkey hunting season opens Saturday, April 9 and runs through Saturday, May 7. Hunting hours are a 30 minutes before sunrise until 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no Sunday hunting. Delaware regulations stipulate that only bearded turkeys may be harvested, and the bag limit is one bearded turkey per hunter each year.

Youth turkey hunters participating in the one-day April 2 hunt must be 10 to 15 years old and must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old who has completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class and who possesses a Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN). Accompanying adults may not hunt during the youth-day hunt. Regular-season turkey hunters under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old who has completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class and who possesses a Delaware hunting license or LEN.

Non-ambulatory hunters who participate in the one-day hunt on April 2 must need a wheelchair for mobility.

Checking In Harvested Birds

All harvested turkeys must be checked at authorized turkey check stations by 2:30 p.m. the day the bird was harvested. A list of turkey check stations is available at dnrec.delaware.gov and in the 2021/2022 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide.

Public Land Hunting

Turkey hunting on Delaware state wildlife areas and in Delaware state forests requires hunter to carry a public land permit that was issued via preseason lottery. Permits specify the public lands and season segment/dates that can be hunted. Hunters participating in the special turkey hunt for youth and non-ambulatory hunters on April 2 may hunt without a public land permit on those state wildlife areas and state forests open to turkey hunting during the regular turkey hunting season as indicated on pages 43 and 45 of the Hunting & Trapping Guide.

Turkey Hunter Education Requirements

All turkey hunters 13 years old and older must have completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety course, including youth ages 13 through 15 hunting on the special youth turkey hunt on April 2.

DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds hunters completing the turkey hunting course for the first time and who possessed a current hunting license or LEN prior to completing the course to reprint their license or LEN so that it will indicate successful completion of the course. Likewise, hunters who previously completed the turkey hunting course should ensure that their hunting license displays their turkey hunting course number. Hunters who have successfully completed the course no longer need to carry a course card as proof of completion if their hunting license or LEN indicates they have passed the course.

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DNREC detected WNV in 18 out of 20 sentinel chicken stations this year and detected EEE in just one station so far. Out of nearly 75 WNV-positive chickens, only two humans and one horse have tested positive for the virus. So far, no humans or horses have tested positive for EEE.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis is rarer than West Nile Virus, but is much more hazardous. Humans often experience debilitating symptoms, such as meningitis or encephalitis. The mortality rate for EEE is currently over 30%, with the old and very young as the most vulnerable populations. Symptoms of EEE start within 4 to 10 days of being bitten, and according to DNREC, early symptoms include “headache, high fever, stiff neck, tremors or muscle weakness, with more severe cases progressing to stupor, disorientation, coma, convulsions, paralysis and possibly death.” Currently, there are no vaccines for Eastern Equine Encephalitis or West Nile Virus.

Unlike those with EEE, only around 20% of WNV-infected persons show symptoms. An even smaller number experience severe symptoms such as “infection indicted by high fever, disorientation, tremors or convulsions, encephalitis or meningitis”. DNREC warns that these severe cases could result in death or long-term complications.

DNREC recommends that horse owners contact a veterinarian as soon as they suspect a horse is showing signs of either virus. Horse symptoms of EEE and WNV include loss of appetite, depression or slowness, weakness, wobbling, blindness, and tremors. Horses infected with EEE will also have a fever.

Mosquito-transmitted diseases are most prevalent in the fall, and peak time ends around mid-November. Though EEE and WNV findings in the sentinel chicken stations are not immediate cause for concern, DNREC urges Delaware residents and visitors to limit their exposure to mosquitos for the next few weeks. DNREC recommends wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and using insect repellant “containing 10 to 30% diethyl toluamide (DEET) or other EPA-approved insect repellents”. Most importantly, humans are encouraged to avoid mosquito-ridden areas, especially during dusk, dawn, and nighttime.

DNREC recommends draining outdoor items, removing buckets and containers, and discarding any unused item that holds stagnant water. These actions can drastically reduce habitats for mosquito-breeding.

The Mosquito Control section of DNREC has increased surveillance efforts in the areas surrounding the EEE and WNV-positive sentinel chicken stations. DNREC has provided a list of resources for more information:

• For mosquito biology/ecology and control, contact the Mosquito Control section office in Dover at 302-739-9917.
• For requests for mosquito relief in upstate areas from Dover north, contact Mosquito Control’s Glasgow field office at 302-836-2555.
• For requests for mosquito relief in downstate areas south of Dover, contact Mosquito Control’s Milford field office at 302-422-1512.
• For animal health questions, contact the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section at 302-698-4500.
• To report suspected cases of human EEE or WNV, call the Division of Public Health Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology toll-free at 888-295-5156.
• For more information on Eastern Equine Encephalitis or West Nile Virus, visit www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html.

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During the rut, bucks pursue potential mates without regard for their surroundings. According to DNREC, “if that pursuit takes a buck or doe across a roadway…that’s where they’re going to go.” Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution while driving, especially in the early morning and at dusk. Commuters should stay attentive and remember that the deer are also active during the day.

Drivers are statistically more likely to experience deer-related accidents October through December, with November as the peak. Last year, there were more than 700 crashes involving deer in Delaware during those three months alone – taking the yearly total to 1,004.

In order to decrease the risks of deer-related accidents, DNREC recommends that drivers slow down on roadways, use their high beams when possible, and stay vigilant at all times. White-tailed deer can often be seen on roadsides, and motorists should do their best to scan for them as they drive. While these measures cannot always prevent deer-related accidents, they can decrease the risk of injury and damage.

Typical Delaware white-tailed deer can weigh up to 200 pounds, and collisions with these animals can create serious damage – both to vehicles and their occupants. According to AAA, claims for such accidents average more than $5,000. DNREC recommends purchasing auto policies that cover deer and other animal-related accidents.

Though not all deer-related accidents can be prevented, motorists can lessen the risk by staying vigilant while driving. Wearing a seatbelt, using high beams when applicable, reducing speed, noting “Deer Crossing” signs, and scanning roadsides can also reduce the risk of injury. DNREC also notes that if a deer jumps in front of your vehicle, you should not swerve to avoid it. Instead, brake in your lane to avoid losing control of your vehicle and suffering a far worse accident.

Motorists are reminded that it is unlawful to take possession of a deer that has been struck by an automobile without first obtaining a vehicle-killed deer tag, which can be provided by any law enforcement agency in the state. For more information about deer in Delaware, visit de.gov/deer.

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Before we place that order, please let us know if you’re interested in purchasing a Hunting The First State cap to show your Delaware hunting pride! There’s no obligation to purchase a Delaware hunting cap. We’re just trying to determine how many caps to order!

Please complete the form below.

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