In the January 26 virtual meeting of the Delaware Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife released preliminary deer harvest data for the 2020-2021 hunting season.
At the time of the meeting (keep in mind Delaware’s deer hunting season ended on January 31), 16,807 deer were harvested, compared to the harvest total of 16,969 deer during the entire 2019-2020 hunting season.
Per DNREC, deer harvest methods varied, and data showed that Delaware deer hunters took advantage of the recent regulatory change that allowed the use of straight-walled pistol caliber rifles. While harvest data indicates most Delaware deer are still harvested by hunters with shotguns, harvests with pistol caliber rifles and crossbows are increasing. Harvest percentages are listed below:
- 23% rifle (straight-walled pistol caliber)
- 46% shotgun
- 20% archery (crossbow 66%, vertical bow 34%)
- 10% muzzleloader
- 1% handgun
We’ll post final 2020-2021 deer harvest data as it becomes available.