Two separate, one-day, special waterfowl hunting days for youth, veterans, and active military are open on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, and Saturday Feb. 7, 2026, for hunters ages 10 through 15 as well as veterans and active military personnel.

Normal daily waterfowl bag limits and hunting regulations apply, including a limit of 25 snow geese, 1 Canada goose, and 1 brant.

Youth, veterans, and active military waterfowl hunters who are the named permit-holder on a Delaware Tundra Swan Permit may also harvest a Tundra Swan, but only on the Feb. 7, 2025 Youth, veterans, and active military waterfowl day, or during the regular tundra swan hunting season.

Youth hunters must be of sufficient physical size and strength to safely handle a firearm and must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter age 21 or older. That adult may not possess a firearm or hunt during the youth hunt.

Youth hunters ages 13 through 15 must have completed a hunter education course, obtained a hunter education certification card and purchased a Delaware junior hunting license.

Youth hunters age 10 through 12 must possess a license exempt number (LEN) and may have taken a hunter education course.

All youth waterfowl hunters need a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. No state or federal waterfowl stamps are required for youth hunters.

New for the 2025-2026 waterfowl hunting season is the inclusion of veterans and active military personnel, in addition to youth hunters, on these two special hunt days in recognition of their service to our country.

Active military includes members of armed forces on active duty, including National Guard and Reserves (other than active duty for training). Veterans include those who served in the active military, naval or air service and who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Participants in Veterans/Active Military Waterfowl Hunting Days must carry, while hunting, one of the documents which applies to their status to be eligible to participate:

• Active military identification card
• Copy of honorable discharge certificate DD- 214

Participants must have a hunting license, HIP certification and state and federal duck stamps. Regular season limits and waterfowl hunting regulations apply.

Youth waterfowl hunting is available on many state wildlife areas, some of which are accessed through a waterfowl blind lottery drawing.

On these days on these state wildlife areas, participation will be limited to youth and the licensed, unarmed adults age 21 or older accompanying them in order to continue to provide opportunities to youth hunters.

The following wildlife areas issue waterfowl blinds through a lottery drawing: Augustine, Cedar Swamp, Woodland Beach and Assawoman wildlife areas, where a morning lottery is held two hours before legal shooting time; and the Little Creek and Ted Harvey wildlife areas, where a morning lottery is held two and a half hours before legal shooting time.

A State Wildlife Area Waterfowl Blind Permit is not needed during the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day.

Related Topics:  fish and wildlife, hunting, outdoors and recreation, wildlife, youth