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

6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 1 mixed.

Fox hunters face limited chase days

Red fox hunting by chase is allowed only on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Those days apply only when deer may lawfully be taken with a firearm or projectile weapon. Existing open-season limits still apply, including the October-through-December deer-season prohibition.

Hunters face broader license penalties

Delaware's natural resources department can revoke or deny hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, or bar those activities, for up to 1 year. The careless-weapon ground now covers firearms and projectile weapons used while hunting. It requires a conviction for carelessness that injured a person, poultry, or livestock. The department can also act when satisfied that someone hunted while intoxicated with either weapon type. Other listed grounds include game or fish law violations, defacing notices, and unlawfully setting fires.

Hunters face wider vehicle weapon limits

People occupying motor vehicles, motorboats, sailboats, or farm machinery cannot shoot protected wildlife with firearms or projectile weapons. When taking wildlife, loaded firearms and projectile weapons cannot be in, against, or on vehicles or farm machinery. That loaded-weapon rule also covers motorboats and sailboats under power, including ammunition in a weapon's magazine or chamber. Both rules retain the federal-law exception for hunting crippled migratory birds from a motorboat.

Hunters face wider weapon use restrictions

Using silencers or noise-reducing devices on airguns while hunting game or fowl is now a class C environmental violation. The firearm restriction remains. Nighttime hunting with artificial light remains banned, with the stated exceptions for raccoon, opossum, and frog. While lights or light-amplifying devices are used, an exposed firearm, projectile weapon, or wildlife-killing tool within immediate reach in a vehicle counts as evidence of hunting. People also cannot carry firearms or projectile weapons while training dogs during closed game season.

More weapons barred near public roads

The law bars firing firearms or projectile weapons on or within 15 yards of public roads or rights-of-way. Lawful self-defense remains an exception. The rule also exempts roads and rights-of-way in qualifying areas government departments designate open to hunting or trapping.

More home protection, tighter hunting limits

The law extends the 100-yard limit near occupied homes and related buildings to airguns used while hunting or trapping. Owners, occupants, and people they permit may fire there, but shooting wildlife requires specific advance permission from the owner or tenant. Deer hunting with projectile weapons other than airguns has a 50-yard safety zone. The law also bars firing firearms or projectile weapons so projectiles land on occupied homes or related buildings. That rule protects occupants but exempts owners, occupants, and people with their permission.

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