Outlook good for Delaware’s upcoming deer hunting season

A “bountiful harvest” from Delaware’s white-tailed deer herd is expected with statewide shotgun deer hunting season set to open Friday. 

The shotgun deer season runs from Friday, Nov. 14 through Saturday, Nov. 22; the season resumes Jan. 17, 2015. 

The Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said during Delaware’s five-month deer season, the early shotgun season draws the most interest from hunters.

“Nearly 50 percent of the overall annual deer harvest will occur during these eight days in mid-November,” said Deer and Furbearer Biologist Joe Rogerson, Division of Fish & Wildlife. “This year we anticipate Delaware hunters will harvest more than 13,000 deer, with nearly half of them taken during the November shotgun deer season.”

In order to hunt, Delaware residents ages 16-64 are required to purchase a Delaware hunting license; a Delaware junior license is required for ages 13-15. Some license requirements differ for non-resident hunters. 

As a reminder, Rogerson said deer must be tagged immediately after harvest, and tags must remain attached until the deer is processed. Hunters are permitted to harvest a maximum of two antlered bucks for all seasons combined. All other deer taken must be antlerless.

Hunters are also required to register their deer within 24 hours of harvest or before dropping the animal off to a butcher or taxidermist.

Hunters with more than enough venison can also donate their deer to the Delaware Sportsmen Against Hunger Program. All donated deer will be processed free of charge to the hunter, and the meat will be distributed to participating charitable groups.