Hunting in Delaware: 6 Animals to Hunt in the Spring

Many people associate hunting with either the fall or winter, but because certain populations of animals need to be controlled constantly, many animals can be hunted legally in the spring in Delaware. This includes both game birds and mammals.

The seasons are usually very short, and all licensing and regulations must be adhered to. The legal shooting hours in Delaware are a half hour before sunrise until a half hour before sunset, except where noted.

Here are some animals that can legally be hunted during the spring in Delaware.

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1. Crows
Hunting of crows during the spring runs until late March after beginning in late June the year before. There is no bag or possession limit, but crow hunting can only take place Thursday through Sunday, according to state regulations.

2. Raccoon and Opossum
The opossum and raccoon season takes place several times throughout the year. However, during the spring, it runs from the beginning of spring until the end of March, and is designated as a chase-style hunt. No daily limits exist and there is no hunting on Sundays.

3. Red Fox
Similar to the raccoon and opossum hunting season, red fox hunting takes place for most of the year. In the spring, it runs until April 30. It is also done chase style. Hunting can be done with crossbow, longbow, muzzleloading rifle, rimfire or centerfire rifle, or shotgun.

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4. Snow Geese
The hunting of snow geese during the spring can only occur during a conservation order edict, which runs from early February until mid-April. Similar to crow hunting, there are no bag or possession limits, but only unplugged shotguns and electronic calls may be employed. Hunting for snow geese is also extended until a half hour after sunset. It also is necessary to obtain an annual permit, which is available for free from the state of Delaware.

5. Wild Turkey
The wild turkey hunting season runs for about one month during April and May, broken into four season segments. No Sunday hunting is allowed. There is also a single youth day that takes place in early April. Turkey hunting runs from a half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. with check-in completed by 2:30 p.m. Only one turkey is allowed per year.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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