Migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting were expanded in 2015. Ducks Unlimited consistently ranks Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge as one of the top five waterfowl hunting spots in the United States. It is easy to see why. As many as 85,000 ducks and 200,000 snow geese use the refuge in the fall. The refuge's well-managed hunting program includes seven well-spaced State Area fixed duck blinds and five blind sites via GPS coordinates allocated by a lottery drawing that is held two hours before legal shooting time each morning on refuge hunting days. Hunters who are drawn may select available blinds that must be accessed by boat or one of the five walk-in blind sites. Hunters may hunt ducks until 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the state duck season. The refuge also offers hunts for white-tailed deer, dove and rabbit. A late-season snow goose hunt may be available on a first-come, first-serve basis subject to Conservation Order Limits. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is one of the sport's great destinations in the Atlantic Flyway. With such a wealth of hunting opportunities, it's easy to see why many sportsmen return year after year.
2024 - 2025 FALL HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES AT BOMBAY HOOK AND PRIME HOOK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES
Bombay Hook and Prime Hook will offer Deer, Waterfowl, and Upland Game/Webless Migratory Bird hunting opportunities this year. We allow hunting with archery/crossbow, shotgun, and muzzleloader. No centerfire rifles are permitted. The refuges are not open to hunting on Sundays.
In addition to all applicable State and Federal stamps and licenses, all hunters are required to obtain a hunting permit from the refuge for the specific hunt in which they are participating. (i.e. deer permit for deer hunting, waterfowl permit for waterfowl, etc.) Permits include additional information/regulations and are available at each refuge’s office or online.
Deer:
Both refuges will conduct a lottery for Headquarters unit deer hunts. Applications can be picked up at either refuge or printed from refuge web sites. Completed applications can be submitted in person or by mail to either refuge headquarters (addresses below). The deadline to apply is Sunday, September 15th.
Headquarters hunt dates:
Bombay Hook: October 11th (Muzzleloader), November 15th (Shotgun), December 18th (Antlerless)
Prime Hook: October 15th (Muzzleloader) and November 19th (Shotgun)
Bombay Hook will offer permits in units H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, and H-6. There will be 45 permits issued per hunt date.
Prime Hook will offer permits in the 4 headquarters units. There will be 28 permits issued per hunt date.
Waterfowl:
In addition to the regular duck and goose seasons both refuges will be open for resident Canada goose and September teal seasons this year. Bombay Hook hunts on Kelly Island and Mahon Tract will continue to be issued at the Little Creek hunt check station. Prime Hook hunts will be issued via hunter led daily lottery at the Prime Hook hunt check station.
Small Game:
Small game seasons will be open in the South Upland, Steamboat Landing, and Fischer tracts at Bombay Hook. At Prime Hook; Fowler North, Prime Hook North and Prime Hook South units are open for small game. Shotgun shooting shot is the only permitted method of take. Non-toxic shot is required at Prime Hook and highly encouraged at Bombay Hook. See brochures for season dates and closure information. The State of Delaware has closed all hunting of wild bobwhite quail for the 2024/25 season.
Existing deer stands at both refuges may be used at your own risk. These stands are not maintained as we are in the process of gradually removing them all except the designated disabled stands/blinds.
If you have any questions, please call (302) 684-8419 or (302) 653-9345.
Bombay Hook NWR
2591 Whitehall Neck Rd
Smyrna, De 19977
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bombay-hook
Prime Hook NWR
11978 Turkle Pond Road,
Milton, DE 19968
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/prime-hook
