Delaware hunting season
 

Does anyone know when the Delaware05-06 hunting guide will be out? I need to schedule my days off!!

RE: Delaware hunting season
 

I contacted DNREC last week and they said it will be out by August 1st. I guess they are doing some updates to it because its never taken this long.

I did buy my license and Waterfowl stamp online this weekend. It was pretty painless. So much better than standing in line at the stores.

RE: Delaware hunting season
 

The guide is not yet available, but DNREC has begun to update the website for some of the seasons. Here's the Deer Seasons:

Seasons
Dates
Daily Limit

Archery (1)
State wide
Sept. 1, 2005 - Jan. 31, 2006
4
See Notes

Muzzleloader **
Statewide*
Oct. 7 - Oct. 15, 2005
Jan. 23 - Jan. 28, 2006
4
See Notes

Shotgun ***
State wide*
Nov. 11 - Nov. 19, 2005
Jan. 14 - Jan. 21, 2006
4
See Notes

October Antlerless Season
Shotgun & Muzzleloader
State wide
Oct. 1,17,21,22,24,28,29 & 31, 2005
4
See Notes

December Antlerless Season
Shotgun & Muzzleloader
State wide
Dec. 10 - Dec. 17, 2005
4
See Notes

I cant believe there will be Shotguns in the Woods on 10/1. Then just as the rut should be getting going, people will be blasting away at does. Oh well, fromOct 17th to the 31st, i'll just hunt waterfowl or Bow Only grounds. At least there's no handgun season. Not that Im against a Handgun Season, but if they arent willing to trim the other gun seasons in January, its just to much pressure on the deer IMO.

Hopefully the rest of the guide will be out soon.

RE: Delaware hunting season
 

Picked UP 05-06 Hunting/Trapping Guide today at the R&R bldg in Dover.

Heres the short scoop on hand gun

page10;
Season;Handgun - Jan 7 - Jan 14

page 4;
Handguns; on privately owned lands situated south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and on state owned lands so designated for this purpose by the DNREC.

RE: Delaware hunting season
 

again again again w/ the Delaware handguns... i cant talk about PA so i was wondering whats the deal w/ the handguns. why cant you use them or why are u just now aloud to use them???
seriously [/align]

RE: Delaware hunting season
 

This has been a long time coming. I'm a bit shocked the governor signed it. Last year was election year so nobody wanted to put there name on such a thing as "Hand Gun".

The Governor recently signed a bill into law allowing use of hadguns for deer hunting. There is a topic(June?) in NE forum dedicated to the SB introduced.

Caliber .357 thru .50 cal straight wall ammo. Revolvers and single shot pistols w/barrel length of 5.75 thru 12.5" . Scopes are legal. Must be carried openly on sling or in holster,not concealed.

RE: Delaware hunting season
 

If they do this without reducing the muzzleloader and shotgun seasons in January, its the biggest travesty that could be inflicted against the herd. There are still absolutely NO est. deer numbers per zone from DNREC despite the fact they said at last years meetings that theywould have them by now. I was willing to give DNREC the benefit of the doubt in their deer mgmt. But its beginning to become more and more clear that they are just hell bent on reducing the herd #s at all cost. Its just not right.

I will be sending Emails tomorrow to confirm the facts. More Emails and letters will follow protesting these seasons. Enough is enough! Its time for DNREC to show their facts. If they cant, someone else needs to take over deer mgmt in DE.

Delaware hunting season
 

Duck,
With all due respect what the hek do you mean IF what AJ posted is true. I picked the book up from the Richardson Robinson Bldg today at approx 4:35 pm.

On page 10 (not page 4 as you've shown) its clearly printed as Jan 7 - Jan 14(Handgun). It's a done deal. I don't know how much clearer that could be?

I can tell you there are many hunters out there that have waited many years for a handgun season, and now we have it.

As far has the zones and deer #'s. Call em and raise hek - but what I've said here AND what was posted in an earlier topic(May 22 NE forum) regards the Bill clearly states a season/dates as set forth by the dept of..etc etc.. there is link in thread to SB 46.

Please read for the exact wording. Do you attend any F&W meetings where these issues can be brought up?

RE: Delaware hunting season
 

well i do feel your pain about them not giving good est. deer numbers, and also your statement about reducing the herd at all costs. that seems to be the case around here..
but i really dont think adding handguns will make it worse.. i think if they really want to get rid of the herd they will do that w/ all the tags they release.. then really whats the difference if someone takes a doe w/ a handgun or a shotgun..

RE: Handguns in Delaware
 

My Apologies, posted edited!

And I think you SHOULD have it. Just not if it adds an additional 6 days of firearm hunting to the season. If they want to give you your own week (I believe the bill only gave you 1 week in the season it could be held), then fine. Just trim 3 days off the Jan Shotgun and 3 Days off the Jan. Muzzleloader season. Maybe they could re-write the bill to allow Handguns to be used during the current Shotgun and Muzzleloader Seasons? There are many ways things can be done to accomodate all. But all this is, is another attempt to decrease the overall herd despite lack of herd estimates per zone.Iwant to stopbeating this horse, butwhat I'm saying is clear and needs to be addressed.