Delaware Migratory Game Bird Seasons Waterfowl & Dove 2016/2017
By
GEESE AND BRANT
SEASON DATES
DAILY BAG LIMIT
POSSESSION LIMIT
Canada Geese (Resident) Sep 1 – Sep 24
15
45
Canada Geese (Migratory)
Including White-fronted geese
Nov 21 – Nov 26
2
6
Dec 16 – Feb 4
Brant
Dec 3 – Jan 28
2
6
Snow Geese
Including Ross’ geese
Oct 5 – Feb 4
25
No limit
***February 11***
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge open Mon., Wed., and Fri. with permission of Refuge Manager.
Snow Goose Conservation Order
Feb 6 – Feb 10
No bag or possession limits
Feb 13 – Apr 7
During the Conservation Order (CO) unplugged shotguns and electronic calls may be used to harvest snow geese. Shooting hours have been extended to ½ hour after sunset and daily bag & possession limits have been eliminated. Hunters who wish to participate in the CO must register for a free, annual permit, available by visiting www.dnrec.delaware.
DUCKS
SEASON DATES
DAILY BAG LIMIT
POSSESSION LIMIT
Ducks (Regular Season)
Oct 28 – Nov 8
6
18
Nov 21 – Nov. 26
Dec 9 – Jan 28
September Teal
Sep 9 – Sep 27
6
18
Limited to the designated teal zone south of the C & D Canal to Lewes, and east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1. Bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal
Youth Waterfowl Hunt
Youth must be age 10-15.
Oct 22 & Feb 11
Daily bag limits as listed below apply for ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese and brant.
Daily Bag Limits and Possession Limits
The daily limit of 6 ducks (excluding mergansers and coots) may include, in any combination, up to: 4 mallards, including no more than 2 hen mallards; 1 black duck; 2 pintail; 2 canvasback, 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 2 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 scoters; 4 eiders; 4 long-tailed ducks. The possession limit is 3 times the daily limit. The season on harlequin ducks remains closed.
Sea Ducks
Scoters, Eiders, and Long-tailed ducks
Nov 21 – Jan 28*
5**
18**
* Season dates apply to Special Sea Duck Area where ducks may be taken not less than 800 yards (1/2) mile seaward from the Delaware Bay shore or the Atlantic Ocean shore beginning at an east-west line between Port Mahon and the Elbow Cross Navigation Light, south to the Delaware-Maryland line. The shooting of crippled sea ducks from a motorboat under power will be permitted in the designated sea duck hunting area. Sea ducks may only be harvested outside of the Special Sea Duck Area during the regular duck season and are part of the regular duck season bag and possession limits.
** The daily bag limit for sea ducks to include no more than 4 scoters, 4 long-tailed ducks, or 4 eiders. Within the Special Sea Duck Area, during the regular duck season, the sea duck limit may be in addition to limits for other ducks during the regular duck season.
COOTS
Same as Duck Season
15
45
MERGANSERS**
Same as Duck Season
5
15
** Daily bag limit may include no more than 2 hooded mergansers (6 in possession
OTHER SPECIES
SEASON DATES
DAILY Bag LIMIT
POSSESSION LIMIT
Mourning Dove
Sep 1 – Oct 1
15
45
Oct 19 – Oct 22
Nov 21 – Jan 14
During the month of September, all hunters must use non-toxic shot when dove hunting on State Wildlife Areas.
King & Clapper Rails
* Singly or in combination of the two species
Sep 1 – Nov 9
10*
30
Sora & Virginia Rails
* Singly or in combination of the two species
Sep 1 – Nov 9
25*
75
Woodcock
Nov 21 – Dec 3
3
9
Dec 14 – Jan 14
Common Snipe
Sep 20 – Dec 3
8
24
Dec 14 – Jan 14
Moorhens & Gallinules
Sep 1 – Nov 9
15
45
Crows
*Thurs., Fri., & Sat. only
Jun 23 – Mar 25*
No Limit
No Limit
To view regulations for hunting of migratory game birds, see:
• USFWS complete Federal Regulations (50 CFR Part 20): http://www.fws.gov/
• Synopsis of Federal Regulations: http://de.gov/
NOTE: When State law is different from the Federal law the hunter must comply with the most restrictive law.