Delaware Sportsmen's Caucus

06/17/2026

NEWS: New Law Expands Hunting Opportunities in Delaware

-- The Statute Also Broadens Ammunition Allowed for Deer Hunting --

June 17, 2026 -- A bill recently signed into law by Gov. Matt Meyer expands hunting in the First State by removing restrictions that had limited the activity on Sundays.

The new law, which takes effect immediately, permits sportsmen and women to pursue all game animals and game birds during designated hunting seasons. However, private landowners and public agencies retain discretion over whether to allow Sunday hunting on properties under their control.

The proposal was championed by the Delaware Sportsmen’s Caucus (DSC), an informal, bipartisan group of lawmakers focused on hunting and fishing issues. The DSC’s four co-chairs jointly sponsored the bill: State Reps. Jeff Spiegelman & Bill Carson, and State Sens. Brian Pettyjohn & Nicole Poore. The measure received broad, bipartisan support, winning approval in the Senate 19-0 and in the House 38-1.

“For most Delawareans, hunting is a weekend activity,” Rep. Spiegelman said. “Speaking on behalf of the Sportsmen’s Caucus, we all felt that removing the antiquated ban would give more working Delawareans greater access to recreational opportunities and more opportunities to enjoy these experiences with their children.”

Delaware and other states in the Northeast were among the last to allow Sunday hunting. The region has historically observed so-called “blue laws” that restrict certain practices on Sundays. While other blue laws, such as bans on retail sales and alcohol consumption, were repealed decades ago, Sunday hunting prohibitions stubbornly persisted well into the 21st Century in many states.

Throughout most of the 1900s, Delaware prohibited Sunday hunting. That changed in 2016 when a law was enacted allowing deer hunting on five specific Sundays in limited circumstances. The restrictions were further loosened in 2024, when Sunday hunting was expanded to include game-bird species (i.e., turkey, waterfowl, doves, and upland birds).

At present, 48 states allow some form of Sunday hunting. In 39 states, there are no restrictions, while the remaining states (including Delaware) authorize the practice with some limitations. Maine and Massachusetts continue to enforce a complete year-round ban.

House Bill 278 also amends and simplifies the law governing the use of certain types of ammunition for deer hunting. Delaware allows the use of rifles for taking deer, but only those chambered for straight-wall handgun ammunition. These rounds are more accurate than shotgun slugs and more efficient for harvesting deer quickly but lose energy rapidly—a safety advantage in a flat, populated state like Delaware.”

“We heard from a lot of hunters who wanted to use rounds like the .400 Legend,” Rep. Spiegelman said. “This law expands the allowable caliber size to include this and other popular deer hunting rounds.”

Lastly, the new law fixes an inadvertent glitch in state law that had barred sportsmen from Sunday hunting during the January deer handgun season.

Photo Courtesy of Greenwood Photography.
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05/20/2026

NEWS: Delaware Revises Recreational Regs for Bluefish to Give Anglers Higher Daily Possession Limit

MAY 20, 2026 -- The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has revised Delaware’s fishing regulations for bluefish to benefit recreational anglers, with the daily possession limit for 2026 and 2027 increased from three to five bluefish for anglers fishing from private vessels and from shore, with the limit for anglers aboard for-hire vessels raised from five to seven bluefish a day. The regulatory change from DNREC – now in effect – also ensures the state’s compliance with regional fisheries management plans.

The action taken by Delaware on bluefish adopts management measures approved by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Bluefish Management Board in 2025. Both entities reviewed the 2025 management track assessment for the species, which found that bluefish overfishing was not occurring. They also recognized that while the stock was not overfished, it was not yet fully rebuilt to the biomass target the fisheries management bodies had set.

Spawning stock biomass was estimated to be about 89% of the biomass target in 2024, with stock projections that it will have reached rebuilt status in 2025, though awaiting confirmation in the 2027 stock assessment.

Based on the positive trajectory for the stock, the MAFMC and ASMFC adopted a recreational harvest limit (RHL) for bluefish of 22.02 million pounds for 2026, and of 22.50 million pounds RHL for 2027. Compared to 2025, these values represent an increase of approximately 40% for the RHL – resulting in Delaware raising the daily possession limit for bluefish in 2026 and 2027.

For more information on this and other fishing regulations, see the online 2026 Delaware Fishing Guide: https://www.eregulations.com/delaware/fishing

05/14/2026

MAY 14, 2026 -- For a better look at the presentations made in today's caucus meeting, use this link and passcode.

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/EshnKPywKdceAA5bLNGPV4DDi1mA8Vpbpv6eODdX5eTYP2m3STNJcNPbP8HAYgKW.8eRPOU__09budA6F?startTime=1778767738000
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05/12/2026

Join Us Thursday...

04/25/2026

NEWS: Lawmakers Receive Briefing on Chronic Wasting Disease in Delaware

APRIL 25, 2026 -- The bipartisan Delaware Sportsmen's Caucus received a briefing this week from a state deer biologist on chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Thursday's presentation followed last week's disclosure by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) that Delaware's first case of CWD had been confirmed in a deer taken in south-central Sussex County.

Chronic Wasting Disease affects cervid species, including deer, elk, and moose. It's caused by prions, a type of misfolded, infectious protein. Prions are poorly understood and, unlike bacteria or viruses, are not living organisms. They contain neither RNA nor DNA. Since they are not alive, they cannot be killed, are highly resistant to heat and disinfection, and can persist in the environment for years.

Scientists believe that CWD prions are spread between animals through bodily fluids, including saliva, blood, urine, and f***s, which can occur through direct contact or indirectly through contamination of soil, food, or water. However, as with the Sussex County detection, CWD can suddenly and inexplicably appear in an area without any obvious link to a nearby infected population.

Until last week, Delaware was one of only 14 states where CWD had not been confirmed. First identified in the U.S. in the 1960s in captive deer herds, CWD was detected in wild deer in 1981. It has also been found internationally in Canada, South Korea, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

In deer infected by CWD prions, the prions appear to act as a template for normal proteins, causing them to also mutate. The misshapen proteins cause progressive, irreversible neurological damage. All deer that contract CWD will get sick and die.

At present, CWD does not appear to be transmissible to humans, dogs, or cats. Eating meat from an infected deer appears to be safe, but experts urge caution and recommend avoiding the consumption of any material from a deer suspected or confirmed to be infected.

Infected deer can take many months to show any signs of the disease. In fact, DNREC Wildlife Biologist Sam Millman told lawmakers at the briefing that the Sussex County deer that tested positive appeared to be very healthy (see photo). The only reason it was detected was a statewide random sampling program conducted by DNREC for more than 20 years. Mr. Millman said that since 2003, up to 600 samples from harvested white-tailed deer have been lab-tested annually.

Division of Fish & Wildlife Director Pat Emory said the lack of obvious symptoms in deer in the early stages of CWD poses a challenge for Delaware, since it could undermine hunting. "We can't stop shooting deer," he said Thursday, noting that hunting is the only means to effectively keep deer numbers in check. He said without it, crop damage and vehicle collisions would rise dramatically, and CWD would spread faster.

"We've got it (CWD), and we're going to have to deal with it," Mr. Emory said. "We have to work to give the public a level of confidence that what they shoot is safe to eat."

He said his agency is currently working on a testing protocol that would allow successful hunters to send samples of their deer to a lab for testing to confirm the presence or absence of prions.

DNREC has established a CWD Management Zone, which encompasses wildlife management zones 14 and 16. These zones are located within the boundaries of RT 13, RT 9, RT 113, and the state line. DNREC will begin cluster sampling in that area to look for additional cases. Mr. Emory said DNREC is also expected to issue emergency regulations to establish restrictions in the zone to slow the spread of the disease.

People who spot deer who are obviously ill, disoriented, behaving oddly, or emaciated should immediately report them to state officials for follow-up.

For more information on chronic wasting disease, please contact Wildlife Biologist Sam Millman, at [email protected] or 302-735-8676.

For more information about CWD visit: de.gov/cwd.

04/23/2026

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04/22/2026

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE DISCOVERED FOR FIRST TIME IN DELAWARE IN DEER NEAR LAUREL

APRIL 21, 2026 -- Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) has confirmed the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a wild white-tailed deer in Sussex County, with a second deer testing presumptive positive.

CWD is a fatal disease that affects the brain and nervous system of the cervid species, including white-tailed deer. It has been reported to occur in animals six months or older and is believed to be spread between animals through bodily fluids which include saliva, blood, urine, and f***s. It may occur through direct or indirect contact through contamination of soil, food, or water. Currently, no treatments or vaccines are available.

DNREC has established a CWD Management Zone, which encompasses wildlife management zones 14 and 16. These zones are located within the boundaries of RT 13, RT 9, RT 113, and the state line. DNREC will begin cluster sampling in that area to look for additional cases.

While there is no evidence that CWD infects humans, DNREC is asking hunters and residents to take precautions to help slow the spread:

• Do not move live deer.

• Do not feed, bait or provide water for wild deer.

• Dispose of carcasses from Delaware at the landfill and do not bring whole carcasses into Delaware from out of state, nor move whole carcasses outside the CWD Management Area.

• Report sick or abnormal deer using DNREC’s Sick and Injured Wildlife Reporting Form. Signs may include weight loss, poor coordination, drooping ears, drooling, difficulty swallowing and frequent urination.

• Do not shoot, handle or eat animals that look sick or act strangely.

• Avoid touching or eating meat from animals discovered dead in the environment.

• Use synthetic deer urine products instead of natural ones and avoid pouring natural deer urine on the ground.

Although recreational deer harvest is closed for the season in Delaware, farmers removing deer from their farms through Deer Damage Assistance Programs should follow precautions.
More information, including the state response plan, a map of the management area, and public guidance on CWD, is available on the de.gov/cwd webpage.

04/21/2026

04/08/2026

At our last meeting, the DSC discussed the status of the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier, with a briefing by State Parks Director Matthew Ritter. (See streamed video post below.)

After more than 80 years, the current pier is reaching the end of its lifespan. Fortunately, the structure still has something left to give and will be serving anglers through 2026.

After the annual inspection of the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier, two areas of prior concern have been further extended. Staff are in the process of moving the fence areas over the next few days. Thank you for your patience as the division works with a consultant to develop alternatives including costs for a future new pier.

03/31/2026

NEWS: Turkey Hunting Season to Offer an Extra Day; Season Opens April 4 and 5 with Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunts

MARCH 31, 2026 -- Delaware’s upcoming spring turkey hunting season has been extended by a day thanks to a recent regulatory change, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.

The season will run from Saturday, April 11, through Sunday, May 10, as published in the Register of Regulations, offering turkey hunters with selected permits (Segment D) an additional day of hunting.

The extra Sunday of turkey hunting for Segment D hunters is noted in the online version of the 2025-26 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide but not in the printed versions, which were produced before the regulations were amended.

The season will open with a special two-day youth and non-ambulatory hunt Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5.

In another regulatory change this year, young people under 16 years old may participate in youth hunts. Youth must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older 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 special youth-day hunt.

Regular-season turkey hunters under the age of 13 also must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older who has completed a Delaware-approved turkey hunter safety class and who possesses a Delaware hunting license or a License Exempt Number (LEN).

For more information, use this link: https://news.delaware.gov/2026/03/31/turkey-hunting-season-to-offer-an-extra-day-season-opens-april-4-and-5-with-youth-and-non-ambulatory-hunts/