Delaware’s Statewide Hunting Regulations are updated each year in the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide
For more information, call the Blackbird State Forest office at (302) 653-6505.
The following rules & regulations apply ONLY to Redden State Forest Lands:
1. There is NO Sunday hunting on ANY tract of Redden State Forest.
2. Headquarters, Jester, Ellendale, and Chesapeake Tracts are Quality Buck only.
• State Forests are year-round multiple use areas. Hunters share the use of State Forest Lands with other public users such as hikers. Campers, horseback riders, firewood cutters, and loggers.
• No special permits are required to hunt on State Forest lands, except as specified in the DNREC, Division of Fish and Wildlife annual Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. Properly licensed hunters may hunt during any open season except on areas designated, such as those marked with Wildlife Sanctuary, NO HUNTING, or Safety Zone signs.
• Hunting is only permitted as specified on State Forest maps, which are available free-of-charge from State Forest offices and on-line at http://de.gov/forestmaps.
• No permanent deer stands, platforms, ladders, or blinds may be constructed. No screw-in steps, tree spikes, screws, or nails are allowed. All parts of temporary (portable) deer stands must be removed on the final day of the January muzzleloader season; any stands remaining after this date will be removed and become property of the Delaware Forest Service.
• Stands may be placed after August 1 prior to the start of the new year’s hunting season. Owners of deer stands left on State Forest property during the designated time period are required to tag/clearly identify their stand with the owner’s name and phone number. Failure to do so will result in removal of the stand by Delaware Forest Service officials.
• Deer drives by any person or persons are not permitted on any State Forest land at any time.
• Portions of some State Forest tracts are only open to archery hunting for deer. Please contact your local State Forest office for more information.
• Small game hunting is closed on State Forest lands during firearm deer season.
• The Delaware Forest Service reserves the right to close to hunting specific State Forest tracts during specific hunting seasons. Therefore, it is important to consult the current hunting guide for a listing of these closures.
• Trapping rights may be leased for State Forest lands. No other trapping is permitted on State Forest lands.
• Target shooting is prohibited. Firearms are allowed for legal hunting and are otherwise prohibited within designated safe areas on State Forest lands, except as set forth below.
❖ Designated areas shall include State Forest offices and education centers and shall be identified by appropriate signage.
❖ Active duty and qualified retired law enforcement officers may possess firearms within areas administered by the Department, including designated areas.
❖ Delaware residents holding an active current permit to carry a concealed deadly weapon may carry a firearm within areas administered by the Department, including designated areas.
❖ Firearms may be carried within areas administered by the Department, outside of designated areas, by any person not prohibited by 11 Del. C. § 1448.
❖ Law enforcement officers may limit the discharge of firearms and the use of other weapons within areas administered by the Department, in order to protect public safety and preserve the peace.
• No dumping or littering.
• Placing paint, ribbon, flagging, reflectors, etc., is not permitted.
• No living trees, shrubs or other vegetation may be cut, felled, uprooted, removed or otherwise injured or destroyed.
• No off-road vehicles registered or unregistered.
• Camping is available by permit in designated areas only.
• It is unlawful to use bait for hunting purposes on all State lands.
• No parking in front of access gates to State Forest lands.
Related Topics: Delaware State Forests, Hunting