Message from the Director of the DFW

Once again, the hunting season is upon us, and everyone is making preparations. People are making ready their dove fields, considering where they may want to place a new duck blind on their marsh or pond, modifying or putting up new deer stands, repairing and painting old decoys as well as training their dogs for opening day. There is always a level of excitement as everyone prepares for what they hope will be a season of opportunity and adventure.

Each year for me I feel the eagerness of the upcoming season, much like a small child waiting for Christmas day, I dream of all the possibilities for the upcoming year and remembering all those momentous hunts and the cast of individuals I shared them with over the years.

I plan this year to once again hunt with my father, my son and my grandsons as the cycle of hunting knowledge and history is transferred from one generation to the next. Watching my father of 93 years enlighten his great-grandsons on how to decoy and shoot waterfowl and impart that wisdom to them through stories of hunts gone by. These are the moments that are priceless to those of us who are practitioners of the art of hunting.

Mark this year as your opportunity to experience great hunting adventures and make your own memories that will last a lifetime. Take a family member or friend to share these great experiences and enjoy all that nature has to offer here in our great state of Delaware.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife provides numerous opportunities for you to hunt on approximately 68,000 acres of public lands throughout the state. The wildlife areas featured in the Public Lands Hunting and Trapping Section of this guide, offer a variety of diverse hunting opportunities. Take the time to experience what the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife has to offer you.

I wish you all the best and have a safe and exciting hunting season.

Patrick J. Emory - Director