Delaware General Assembly

House Natural Resources & Energy 5/19/26

Committee Hearing takes place within twelve legislative days.

5/19/26

Spiegelman

Rep. Carson
Sen. Pettyjohn

Reps. Harris, Hensley, Morris, D. Short, Yearick
Sen. Buckson, Wilson

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES INVOLVING DEADLY WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS.

Hunting and those permitted to hunt in Delaware are strictly regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (the "Department"). Federal and Delaware law and Department regulations specifically regulate and strictly limit the dates, times, locations, methods, and types of firearms or projectile weapons permitted to be used to hunt in Delaware. Every individual age 16 to 17 is required to take a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course administered by the Department prior to the issuance of a Delaware Hunting License. A Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course teaches young hunters safety, ethics, firearm types, safe gun handling, marksmanship techniques, specialty hunting techniques, wildlife management, wildlife identification, survival, and compliance with hunting laws and regulation. This bill establishes that individuals aged 16 to 17 may possess a firearm while hunting without the direct supervision of a person 21 years or older, provided they have completed a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course and have been issued and are digitally or physically in possession of a valid Delaware Adult Hunting License issued by the Department.

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