Here’s information from today’s Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control press release.

DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife announces
turkey check stations for the 2010 spring season

The 2010 Delaware spring turkey hunting season opens Thursday, April 10 and runs through Friday, April 30. Hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. Hunters are reminded that all birds taken must be checked by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt at an authorized turkey check station.

Prior to the regular season opener, youth ages 10-15 and non-ambulatory disabled hunters will have a special one-day hunt opportunity on Saturday, April 3 on private lands statewide. Young hunters must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older.

Check stations for 2010 will be available at the following locations:

New Castle County

Ommelanden Hunter Education Center

Route 9, River Road, just north of Federal Lane, New Castle

302-323?5333

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Kent County

Woodland Beach Wildlife Check Station

Route 9, 4876 Hay Point Landing Road, just north of intersection with Route 6

302-653?4802

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Little Creek Wildlife Area Check Station

Route 9, Bayside Drive just south of the town of Little Creek

302-739?4610

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Williamsville Store

3544 Williamsville Road, at intersection of Deep Grass Lane, Houston

302-422?4455

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Sussex County

LP Sports Center

1 East Street, Spartan Plaza, Harrington

302-398?6373

Hours: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Wildlife Recreations

2722 Tharp Road, Seaford

302-629-4524

Hours: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Rattle and Reel Sporting Center

Leisure Retail Center, Longneck Road, Longneck

302-945?9525

Hours: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Hook’em & Cook’em

3 York Beach Mall, Route 1, South Bethany Beach

302-539?6243

Hours: 6 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Nanticoke Wildlife Area Headquarters

4871 Old Sharptown Road, Laurel

302-381?9842 or 302?650?8449, Monday – Friday

On Saturday, call number posted on office door

Hours: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

For more information, please call Ken Reynolds, Wildlife Section, at 302-735-3600, or visit www.fw.delaware.gov.

I managed to get out in my deer stand for the last 90 minutes of hunting time this evening. All I saw were a groundhog and a fox.

This location was hot early in September, but I have seen few deer around there lately. Since this is one of my suburban hunting spots, I think the deer have already become nocturnal. I get reports from people who live nearby that they are seeing deer during the nighttime hours. This suburban spot typically gets slow this time of year, but it tends to pick up during the rut. It also gets better for does as the weather gets colder.

However, because of where I live in northern Delaware, I am limited on the hunting spots I can quickly drive to after work. I have access to some good spots, but they are all at least 40 minutes from my office. After you add the time it takes to grab my hunting gear and get dressed, I am about an hour away from other spots.

Here’s my public appeal: If you have a deer problem, if you want a hunting partner, or if you are looking to lease out hunting rights, drop me a line at skendus@huntingthefirststate.com! I am always open to entertaining discussions about new hunting grounds!