Delaware hunting
Public hunting land in Delaware
Caliber maps 50 public hunting areas in Delaware, with Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Delaware · 50 areas
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 30,736 acres
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 18,476 acres
Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area
State wildlife area · 10,005 acres
Little Creek Wildlife Area
State wildlife area · 9,222 acres
Milford Neck Wildlife Area
State wildlife area · 8,566 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 50 by distance from you.
- 48
- State wildlife areas
- 2
- National wildlife refuges
Delaware hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife
- Phone
- 302-739-9918
- Resident license
- $39.50 — Resident Hunting License (ages 16-64; Jul 1 – Jun 30)
- Nonresident license
- $199.50 — Nonresident Hunting License (age 16+; Jul 1 – Jun 30)
- Hunter education
- Required for anyone born after Jan 1, 1967 before getting a Delaware hunting license.
- Good to know
- Conservation Access Pass required for vehicles on State Wildlife Areas ($32.50 DE / $65 out-of-state); a hunting license includes one free pass.
Fees and rules as published by Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Delaware
The 12 biggest of 50 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 30,736 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 18,476 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 10,005 | Open |
| Little Creek Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 9,222 | Open |
| Milford Neck Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 8,566 | Open |
| Woodland Beach Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 7,415 | Open |
| Midlands Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 5,290 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
| Nanticoke Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 4,590 | Not recorded: check with the agency |
| Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 4,186 | Open |
| Augustine Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 3,161 | Open |
| Assawoman Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 2,956 | Open |
| Ted Harvey Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 2,751 | Open |
State wildlife areas · 48
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National wildlife refuges · 2
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Delaware hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Delaware?
Caliber lists 50 public hunting areas in Delaware: 48 state wildlife areas, 2 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Delaware?
As published by Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $39.50 — Resident Hunting License (ages 16-64; Jul 1 – Jun 30); nonresident, $199.50 — Nonresident Hunting License (age 16+; Jul 1 – Jun 30). Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Delaware?
Required for anyone born after Jan 1, 1967 before getting a Delaware hunting license. Check Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Delaware?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Delaware hunting land near you
All 50 Delaware areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
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Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife and the managing agency before you hunt.
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