Delaware updates hunting guidance following Supreme Court ruling

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has updated its hunting guidance following a Delaware Supreme Court ruling. The high court overturned a previous Superior Court decision that had allowed hunters aged 18 to 20 to hunt without direct supervision when using certain firearms.

The ruling reinstates requirements from House Bill 451, a 2022 law regarding firearm possession and age limits. Under the updated guidance, hunters in the 18-to-20 age bracket must adhere to direct supervision requirements when using specific firearms. Meanwhile, hunters aged 21 and older may continue to hunt unsupervised with any legal firearm.

Separately, House Substitute 1 for House Bill 427 allows 16- and 17-year-old hunters to hunt without direct supervision, provided they have parental or guardian permission, a valid hunting license, and have completed an approved basic hunter education course. A federal case challenging Delaware’s 2022 firearms law remains pending.