CNB Hunting/Fishing Delaware: Wild turkey hunt for youth and non-ambulatory disabled hunters April 4
Sunday, March 29, 2015
DOVER (March 27, 2015) – Prior to the start of Delaware’s 2015 spring wild turkey season, youths aged 10 to 15 and non-ambulatory disabled hunters will have a special one-day turkey hunt opportunity on Saturday, April 4. Youth and disabled hunters will be able to hunt wild turkeys on private property, state wildlife areas and state forest lands.
Hunters ages 13 to 15 must have a valid Delaware junior hunting license and must have completed a hunter education course, as well as a Division of Fish and Wildlife-approved turkey hunter safety class. Hunters age 10 to 12 are exempt from these requirements. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older who is licensed to hunt in Delaware, and who has taken a DNREC-approved turkey hunter safety class. Adult companions may not possess a firearm during the hunt. For more information on safety classes, click Delaware Hunter Education.
As with the regular turkey hunting season, hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. All birds taken must be checked by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt at an authorized turkey check station. A list of 2015 check stations can be found on the Division of Fish & Wildlife website. Bag limit for all turkey hunters is one bearded bird per year; birds without beards may not be taken.
All state forest lands that are open during the regular turkey season will be open for the special hunt, including Redden State Forest, Blackbird State Forest and Taber State Forest. For specific areas, check Forest Maps. For more information, call one of these state forest offices: Redden State Forest, 302-856-2893; Blackbird State Forest, 302-653-6505; and Taber State Forest, 302-698-4500.
All state wildlife areas normally open for hunting during the regular turkey season are also open for the youth/non-ambulatory disabled turkey hunt. No special turkey hunting permits are required for hunting on state wildlife areas on this day. Areas are open on a first-come, first-served basis with no registration required. For wildlife area-specific regulations, click Delaware Hunting Maps.
For more information, including a list of eligible public lands, consult the Wild Turkey Hunting Section on page 28 of the 2014-2015 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. Hard copies of the guide are available at the licensing office in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide.
Delaware hunting licenses are sold online, at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state. To find the participating agent nearest you, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.
Delaware’s regular spring turkey hunting season opens on Saturday, April 11 and runs through Saturday, May 9.
This program is part of Delaware’s Children in Nature Initiative, a statewide effort to improve environmental literacy in Delaware, create opportunities for children to participate in enriching outdoor experiences, combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. Delaware’s multi-agency initiative, which partners state and federal agencies with community organizations, is part of the national No Child Left Inside program.