DelawareHB 4153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)House

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WEAPONS.

Sponsored By: Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 7 costs, 1 mixed.

Licenses denied for unsafe hunting

DNREC can refuse, suspend, or revoke your hunting, fishing, or trapping license for up to one year. This applies if you are convicted of careless use of a firearm or projectile weapon while hunting that injured a person, poultry, or livestock. It also applies if the Department finds you were intoxicated while hunting with a gun or projectile weapon. Other existing grounds still apply.

New fox chase and muskrat seasons

Muskrat open seasons are set by county: New Castle County, Dec 1 to Mar 10 (Mar 20 in embanked meadows or marshes); Kent and Sussex, Dec 15 to Mar 15. Red fox chase hunting is only from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. When deer may be taken with a firearm, chase hunting is allowed only Tuesday to Thursday. No chase hunting of red fox is allowed during deer seasons in Oct, Nov, or Dec; fox may still be killed as allowed by law. From Jan through Apr, chase hunting during deer season is allowed on private land only Tue–Thu and only with the landowner’s permission. The state decides which public lands are open for fox chase hunting during deer seasons.

No guns while training dogs

During closed game seasons, you may not carry a firearm or projectile weapon while training a dog. This prevents disturbing or taking game out of season.

No night hunting with lights

You may not hunt at night with artificial lights, including headlights or devices that amplify light, using firearms or projectile weapons. If weapons are within reach in a vehicle while you use artificial lights, that is treated as evidence of hunting. Exceptions remain: raccoons or opossums may be hunted at night on foot or horseback with a dog and a light, and frogs at night from a boat or on foot with a light.

No shooting near roads or homes

You may not discharge a firearm or projectile weapon on or within 15 yards of a public road or right‑of‑way, except in lawful self‑defense. This ban does not apply inside areas that DNREC, the Department of Agriculture, or the U.S. Department of the Interior has marked open to hunting or trapping. It is also unlawful to fire a firearm or airgun within 100 yards of an occupied house, barn, or similar building, unless you are the owner, an occupant, or have the owner’s permission. For deer hunting with projectile weapons (not airguns), the safety zone is 50 yards during established seasons. Shots and projectiles, including bullets, slugs, arrows, and bolts, may not land on occupied buildings.

No shooting or loaded guns in vehicles

You may not shoot at or kill protected birds or animals while in a motor vehicle, a motorboat or sailboat under power, or on farm machinery. You also may not have a loaded firearm or projectile weapon, or have ammo in the chamber or magazine, in or on those vehicles when taking wildlife. The federal exception for legally hunting crippled migratory birds from a motorboat still applies.

No silencers while hunting

You may not use a silencer or any noise‑reducing device on a firearm or airgun while hunting game or fowl in Delaware. Breaking this rule is a class C environmental violation.

Clearer gun and weapon definitions

The law uses Title 11, Section 222 to define "firearm" and "projectile weapon" for wildlife and hunting rules. This clarifies which tools are covered under Title 7. Hunters, trappers, and officers now follow the same definitions across titles.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Jeffrey N. Spiegelman
Republican • House

Cosponsors

William J. Carson
Democratic • House
Brian Pettyjohn
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 57 • No: 0

Senate vote • 7/1/2025

Passed (2/3 required)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2025