Delaware’s annual Snow Goose Conservation Order allows Delaware hunters to hunt snow geese every day except Sunday through April 13.
Originally implemented in 2009, the conservation order is part of an overall effort to reduce the population of greater snow geese in the Atlantic Flyway. Snow geese are causing extensive damage to their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic and to the wetlands and agricultural areas where they overwinter, including marshes and fields in Delaware.
With high snow goose harvest totals as a goal, special regulations are in effect during the conservation order. Snow goose hunters legally can use unplugged shotguns (in contrast to regular waterfowl seasons when shotguns must be plugged to only hold three shells) and electronic callers, and legal shooting hours are extended to 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. There is no daily harvest limit or possession limit during the conservation order.
To hunt during the conservation order, hunters must obtain a free permit number by registering at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt. Hunters also must have a valid Delaware hunting license or a Maryland resident hunting license, a 2012-13 Delaware waterfowl stamp and a Delaware Harvest Information Program number.
Wildlife areas in New Castle and Sussex counties will be open on a first-come, first-serve basis with no registration required, except at Assawoman Wildlife Area. In Kent County, individual sign-in will not be required at Blackiston, Milford Neck, or Norman G. Wilder wildlife areas. Sign-in will be required at Woodland Beach, Little Creek, and Ted Harvey wildlife areas. To avoid conflicts with Delaware’s spring wild turkey season, snow goose hunting will be prohibited on state wildlife areas after Friday, April 5. (The conservation order ends April 13.)