NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Aug. 29, 2008 - Vol. 38, No. 394
For more information, contact Rob Hossler or Ken Reynolds, Wildlife Program Managers, 302-735-3600, or Joanna C. Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Division of Fish and Wildlife Announces Changes and Updates for Upcoming Hunting Seasons
The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife is providing hunters and landowners with a list of changes and updates for several hunting seasons, many of which begin Sept. 1. The following season changes have been approved and will be implemented in the 2008-2009 hunting season:
· The daily bag limit for mourning doves has been increased from 12 to 15 birds per day. The season will begin Sept. 1 and hunting hours will be from one half hour before sunrise to sunset.
· The September Resident Canada Goose Season has been extended by an extra 10 days and will run from Sept. 1-25; however, shooting hours during this season will be one half hour before sunrise to sunset.
· Shooting hours for the September Teal Season (Sept. 18-27) have been changed to one half hour before sunrise to sunset. Teal may only be harvested within the established teal zone during this special season. Resident Canada geese may be harvested within the teal zone when these two seasons overlap.
Hunters using state-built blinds and deer stands issued through a lottery on State Wildlife Management Areas are required to pay a one-time, $20 annual-use permit fee. Permits can be purchased at license agent locations or from the Division of Fish and Wildlife license desk in DNREC’s Richardson and Robbins Building at 89 Kings Highway in Dover. Permits will not be sold at lottery stations.
Due to technical problems, the application for State Wildlife Area deer stands, goose blinds and turkey hunts currently cannot be submitted online. Hunters should use the paper application in the 2008 Hunting Guide or print the application from the Division’s web site at http://www.fw.delaware.gov. These forms should be sent to the Wildlife Section, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
The printed version of the 2008 Hunting Guide has incorrect sunrise and sunset times for October and November. The correct times are listed on the Waterfowl Season Summary Sheet, postings at local license agents, and on page 10 of the online version of the Hunting Guide at http://www.fw.delaware.gov.
The daily bag limit for gray squirrels is six. The Hunting Guide incorrectly indicates the bag limit is four.
The Sportsman Against Hunger Program will continue this year, with participating butchers accepting hunter-harvested deer for donation. A list of butchers participating in the program will be posted on the Division’s website at http://www.fw.delaware.gov in the next few days. In addition to the butcher shops, the Division of Fish and Wildlife maintains five walk-in coolers where hunters can drop off deer for donation. These locations include the Assawoman Wildlife Area near Bethany Beach, Trap Pond State Park near Laurel, Redden State Forest in Georgetown (open until March 1), the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area near Smyrna, and the Augustine Wildlife Area in Port Penn.
Other Waterfowl Season Changes:
· The daily bag limit for wood ducks has been increased from two to three birds per day. The regular duck season will begin Friday, Oct. 24.
· The season for brant has been liberalized to a 60-day, three-bird daily bag limit. The brant season will begin Monday, Nov. 24.
· The season for canvasback is closed.
· The daily bag limit on scaup has a split or hybrid season. During the first 40 days of the regular duck season, only one scaup per day can be harvested. During the last 20 days of the season (Jan. 2-24) two scaup per day can be harvested
