Want to go cruisin’, drop a line or test your aim? Here’s where you’ll find out about seasons, safety, licenses and much more.
Despite Declining Numbers, Hunting Still has Major Benefits for Participants and Delaware-Fifty years ago, roughly 1 in 20 Delawareans hunted, according to license data maintained by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Today, that figure is more like 1 in 50. But that doesn’t mean hunting’s importance has diminished for those who do take part, as the director of the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife explains in this piece.
Showcasing Delaware’s Beauty: Meet the Five Winners of DNREC’s 2025 Photo Contest-The sun rising over dozens of horseshoe crabs congregating on the beach, dolphins breaching the water with a lighthouse in the background and an idyllic scene of Assawoman Bay at twilight are among the five winning images out of nearly 500 entries submitted to the 2025 Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Photo Contest. See the winning photographs and learn about the artists who took them in this piece from Outdoor Delaware.
What Fish Die-Offs Mean for Delaware and How DNREC Handles Them-As part of its duties overseeing Delaware’s environment and wildlife, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control regularly responds to fish kills. These die-offs can occur in bodies of water as disparate as an ocean or a neighborhood stormwater basin and can consist of just a few fish or literal millions.
Sharks in Delaware Waters-If you’re swimming in Delaware waters, particularly in the ocean, you’re probably swimming near sharks. But they actually have more to fear from us than the other way around.
Good Eats from Nature’s Bounty-Looking for something different on your plate? We asked DNREC folks to share their most wildly delicious recipes for harvested game.
A Season for Giving: Delaware Hunters Against Hunger Program Helps People in Need-The Delaware Hunters Against Hunger program is once again providing venison to people in need, an annual tradition during the holidays. The initiative has distributed almost 328 tons of venison to local food banks since 1996, totaling about 2.62 million meals.
What We Do About Animal Strandings in Delaware-An endangered fin whale was spotted struggling in the waters of Cape Henlopen State Park. Both the Delaware Natural Resources Police and the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute responded. Learn what happened and how we respond to animal strandings in Delaware.
Hunters: What You Need to Know- Hunting season gets underway in Delaware on September 1. Get all the information you need to go afield.
How to Stay Safe on the Water-Delaware’s waterways are packed with boat traffic this summer. Here are some tips and requirements you need to know to stay safe and enjoy your nautical adventures in the First State.
Four Tips for Fishing with Young Anglers-Fishing is a great activity for young people to jump-start interest in the natural environment. Our staff agree, there is no time like the present to encourage the next generation of environmental stewards.
Wildlife Enthusiasts – Check Out Improved Access to the Bayshore!-Enjoy birding, boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, taking photographs or just watching wildlife in their natural habitats when you visit the Delaware Bayshore. It doesn’t take much effort to find your favorite spot to enjoy some time outdoors.
Everything Including the Kitchen “Sink” — Delaware’s Artificial Reefs-Over 20 years, Delaware has recycled more than two million tons of rock, 100,000 tons of concrete, 86 tanks and armored personnel carriers, 1,329 retired subway cars and 27 retired vessels to create new, artificial reefs.
