Delaware · Squirrel · 2026–27 Edition
Delaware Squirrel Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Gray squirrel season | Statewide | Sep 15 – Nov 12 |
| Gray squirrel season | Statewide | Nov 23 – Feb 28 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily | 6 — gray squirrel only |
|---|---|
| Possession | 12 |
| Delmarva fox squirrel | No open season — state-Endangered and protected, not legally huntable in Delaware |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 15, 2026) 06:14 — 19:39
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, per Delaware's general upland-game hunting hours (squirrel is not among the listed night-hunting exceptions — raccoon, opossum, frogs). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Delaware sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Squirrel hunters in Delaware need a Delaware hunting license — Gray squirrels may be hunted with shotguns statewide, .17–.22 cal. rimfire and .17 cal. pellet firearms, and (south of the C&D Canal only) muzzleloading rifles up to .36 cal.; only shotguns may be used north of the C&D Canal. 400 sq. in. of hunter orange is required when squirrel season overlaps a deer firearms season.
Delaware hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in Delaware — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does squirrel season start in Delaware?
The 2026–27 opener is September 15, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does squirrel season end in Delaware?
The 2026–27 closing date is February 28, 2027.
Is there a difference between fox and gray squirrel rules in Delaware?
See the bag limit table above — most states run one combined limit across both species, but this is worth confirming against Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife before you hunt.
How many squirrels can you shoot in Delaware per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — 6 — gray squirrel only. Possession — 12. Delmarva fox squirrel — No open season — state-Endangered and protected, not legally huntable in Delaware. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting squirrel in Delaware?
On opening day (September 15, 2026) legal light runs 06:14 to 19:39. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, per Delaware's general upland-game hunting hours (squirrel is not among the listed night-hunting exceptions — raccoon, opossum, frogs). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Delaware sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt squirrels on my own land in Delaware without a license?
Delaware residents who own or live on a farm of 20 or more acres, plus immediate family living there, may hunt, fish, and trap it without a license. Deer tags and other harvest requirements still apply.
Verified · Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (DNREC) · Last verified 2026-08-14
Publisher's note. Delaware's own codified rule (7 DE Admin. Code 3900-4.0, 'Seasons') is the base fact for this file, but the live regulations.delaware.gov page renders its text via JavaScript and returned empty to an automated fetch; the same code section was instead read via its Cornell LII mirror (law.cornell.edu/regulations/delaware/7-Del-Admin-Code-SS-3900-4.0), which quotes it verbatim: gray squirrel may be taken 'from September 15 through the last day of February', 'unlawful during the November deer firearms season', and 'unlawful for any person to take more than 6 gray squirrels in any 1 day' — the code text itself does not give a possession limit or shooting hours. DNREC's own official hunting-seasons page (dnrec.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/hunting/seasons/) was confirmed live but its 'Small Game Seasons' link points directly to eregulations.com/delaware/hunting/small-game-hunting — DNREC does not host a separate hunting-guide PDF of its own, so eRegulations functions as the agency's designated season-and-limits publication rather than a third-party aggregator here. That page (last updated June 25, 2026, reflecting the current 2026-27 season) confirms 'Sept. 15–Feb. 28, Closed during Nov. General Firearm Deer Season', daily 6 / possession 12, and general upland-game hours of 1/2 hr before sunrise to 1/2 hr after sunset (squirrel is not one of the listed exceptions — raccoons, opossums, and frogs — so this hours rule is taken to cover squirrel). The exact November firearm-deer closure dates (Nov. 13–22, 2026, statewide) were read from the same site's Deer Seasons page. Delmarva fox squirrel status was confirmed on two DNREC-sourced pages: eRegulations' 'Delaware Squirrels' educational panel states plainly 'you are permitted to hunt gray squirrels but NOT fox squirrels' because Delmarva fox squirrels 'are so rare they are on the state Endangered Species list', consistent with DNREC's own Delmarva Fox Squirrel Conservation page (dnrec.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/conservation/fox-squirrel/) — it has no open season and is not a huntable species in Delaware for 2026-27.