Updated July 2009
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge offers the following regulated hunts:

Headquarters Area Shotgun*
Regular Area/Fischer Tract Shotgun*
Steamboat Landing Shotgun*
Regular Area/Fischer Tract Muzzleloader*
Special Youth Hunt*
Archery
South Upland Area*
* Requires advanced reservations

Deer, turkey, and small game hunting will be allowed on Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge subject to applicable state and federal regulations and the following special conditions:

General Requirements
All Federal and State hunting regulations apply.

A valid State of Delaware hunting license, unless exempt from Delaware hunting license requirements, and a refuge permit are required to hunt on the refuge. Hunters 15 years and under must be accompanied by a licensed hunter.  Non-hunting adults are allowed only to accompany a permitted juvenile or a hunter with limited mobility.  Non-hunting youths 15 and under may accompany a permitted adult at least 21 years of age on the same deer stand if the adult signs a statement accepting responsibility. 

- The use or possession of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances is prohibited.

- Firearms in vehicles must be unloaded and completely cased or dismantled.

- Use or possession of handguns is prohibited.

- The taking of wildlife other than the permitted species is prohibited.

- Failure to follow regulations may result in a loss of refuge hunting privileges and/or a fine.

Applications can be obtained from the Refuge Visitor Center.  Muzzleloader applications must be postmarked prior to September 15. All other applications must be postmarked by October 8. Only one application per hunter, per hunt area will be accepted.  Duplicate applications will be cause for disqualification.  Fischer and Steamboat Landing Tract archery deer hunters are not required to have advanced reservations.  South Upland Area archery hunters must register at the Little Creek Check Station.

Successful applicants are selected by public lottery.  Failure to appear on the day of the hunt will result in forfeiture of the reservation.  Forfeited reservations and permits not requiring advanced reservation will be awarded to stand-by hunters by a ticket-lottery system the day of the hunt.

All hunters including those using the South Upland Area are required to obtain a daily permit prior to hunting.  The South Upland Area is open to hunting in accordance with applicable Federal seasons.  Permits are available at the Little Creek Check Station. 

All hunters should bring necessary equipment to field dress and drag deer.  Refuge staff will not provide such equipment or assist in tracking and dragging deer.  Driving vehicles in Refuge fields is not permitted.

Hunters, when requested by federal or State enforcement officers must display for inspection all permits, game, hunting equipment and ammunition.

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                                           Deer Hunting
General
Failure to follow regulations may result in a loss of refuge hunting privileges and/or a fine.

Application Fee.  All applications for Regular Area/Fischer Tract, Headquarters Area, and Steamboat Landing Area firearms deer hunts must be accompanied by a $3.00 application fee.

No nailed deer stands, platforms, ladders, or blinds, other than those provided by the government, are permitted.  Tree stands must be portable, temporary in design, and completely removed after use.

Scouting prior to hunt date is encouraged.  Please contact Refuge for permission to scout stand.

All firearms hunters must use assigned stands between the hours of ½ hour before sunrise until 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. until ½ hour after sunset.  Between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the Steamboat and Regular/Fischer Tract areas hunters may leave their stands to hunt or leave the area.  On the Headquarters area all hunting is from stands.  If a hunter leaves, he may return once more during the day and must return prior to 3:00 p.m.  On all other areas, departure from stands prior to 9:00 a.m. or between 3:00 p.m. and ½ hour after sunset, other than to retrieve a deer, may result in loss of future hunt privileges.

It is unlawful to distribute bait or hunt over bait at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

Use or possession of handguns is prohibited.

All Firearm hunters must display a minimum of 400 square inches of solid hunter orange on the head, chest, and back while hunting consisting of a vest and hat or jacket and hat. Orange camouflage is not acceptable.

Only one antlered buck may be taken on the refuge by a hunter during the entire season (September through January).

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Regular Area/Fischer Tract
Shotgun and Muzzleloader Firearms
Individuals selected by advanced reservation must appear at headquarters prior to 1 ½ hour before legal shooting time on the day of the hunt to be issued a daily permit.  A standby ticket-lottery will be held 1 ½ hour before legal shooting time for all forfeited reservations.  An additional drawing will be held at noon for stand vacancies.

Forty-two (42) hunters will be allowed on the Regular Area and 12 will be allowed on the Fischer Tract.  A total of 53 elevated stands are provided.  One site is designed as a stand for non-ambulatory hunters.

Shotguns are permitted only during the 1st Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday of the Delaware November season; the Monday and Thursday of the Delaware December season; and the Friday of the Delaware January season.

Primitive firearms are permitted only during the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the Delaware October muzzleloader season.

A fee of $10.00 will be charged and collected prior to the issuance of a daily permit.
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Archery (Regular Area)
Permits are issued at headquarters by a ticket-lottery one hour before legal shooting time. Entrance fee required: $2.00 daily fee.

Hunting is permitted on the first two Fridays of the State season.  Hunting ends each day at 11:00 a.m.

The maximum number of hunters allowed on the area is 60.
Forty-two (42) elevated deer stands are available for use on a first-come, first-served basis.  Use of stands is optional. Scouting is permitted on all non-hunt days.
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Archery (Fischer Tract)
Archery hunting will be permitted on the Fischer Area during all weekdays (excluding the week of muzzleloader hunt) in October when the State season is open.  The maximum number of hunters allowed on the area is 12. Daily permits will be issued on a self service basis at the entrance to the Fischer Area.  Permits may not be picked up earlier than 2:00 a.m. on the day of the hunt. 

Because of the added special October antlerless firearms season, archery hunters will be required to display a minimum of 400 square inches of solid hunter orange on the head, chest, and back while hunting consisting of a vest and hat or jacket and hat. Orange camouflage is not acceptable.

Hunting ends at 11:00 a.m.   Entrance fee required.  $2.00 daily fee.

Twelve elevated deer stands are available for use on a first-come, first-served basis.  Use of stands is optional.

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Headquarters Area
Shotgun
Individuals having reservations must appear at headquarters prior to 1 ½ hours before legal shooting time on the day of the hunt to be issued a daily permit.

A standby ticket-lottery drawing will be held 1 ½ hours before legal shooting time for all forfeited reservations.  An additional drawing will be held at noon for stand vacancies.
Thirty-nine (39) hunters will be allowed on the Headquarters Area and 34 elevated stands are provided.  Five sites are designed as stands for permanently disabled hunters.  All hunters must confine hunting to their assigned stand.  Permanently disabled hunters may have an assistant accompany them; however, this assistant may not possess a firearm or ammunition nor fire a wepon for any reason.

Hunting is permitted only during the Monday and the second Friday of the November State season, and the Wednesday of the December State season.

No hunters may possess a loaded weapon while away from their assigned stand except to pursue a deer that they have crippled.  Pursuit of a wounded animal must begin within 30 minutes and end within one hour unless authorization to continue the search is given by a refuge employee.

Persons who successfully kill and retrieve a deer may leave the area at any time.

A fee of $10.00 will be charged and collected prior to the issuance of a daily permit.

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Steamboat Landing Area
Shotgun
Individuals selected by advanced reservations must appear at headquarters prior to 1 ½ hours before legal shooting time on the day of the hunt to be issued a daily permit.

A standby ticket-lottery will be held 1 ½ hours before legal shooting time for all forfeited reservations.  An additional drawing will be held at noon for stand vacancies. 

Seventeen (17) hunters will be allowed on the Steamboat Landing Area and 17 elevated stands are provided.
Hunting is permitted only during the Monday and the second Friday of the Delaware November season, the Wednesday of the Delaware December season, and the first Friday of the Delaware January season.

A fee of $10.00 will be charged and collected prior to the issuance of a daily permit. 
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Archery
Archery hunting will be permitted on the Steamboat Landing Area during all weekdays in October when the State season is open, except during muzzleloader season.  The maximum number of hunters allowed on the area is 17.  Daily permits will be issued on a self-service basis at the entrance to the Steamboat Landing Area.  Permits may not be picked up earlier than 2:00 a.m. on the day of the hunt.  Hunting ends at 11:00 a.m.  Because of the added special October antlerless firearms season, archery hunters will be required to display a minimum of 400 inches of solid hunter orange on their head, chest and back while hunting.

Seventeen (17) elevated deer stands are available for use on a first come, first-served basis.  Use of refuge stands is optional.

Entrance fee required.  $2.00 daily fee.

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Special Youth Hunt
A deer hunt limited to youth hunters who must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older will be conducted on the first Saturday in November on the Steamboat Landing and Fisher Tracts as well as on nearby State Management Areas. Adult companions must be licensed to hunt in Delaware (or exempt) but may not possess a firearm during the hunt.  Youths selected by advanced reservations must appear at Refuge Headquarters prior to 1 ½ hours before legal shooting time.  A standby ticket-lottery will be held 1 ½ hours before legal shooting time for all forfeited reservations.  No fee will be charged for either applications or permits.
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Disabled Hunters
Hunters with a certified permanent disability are permitted to hunt from sites or platforms designed to be accessible by wheelchairs.  The platforms are 6’x6’ with an access ramp and are 24 inches above the ground.  Some sites do not have a platform but have an area where a chair may be placed.  Hunting from vehicles is not allowed. Applications for eligibility for these sites are available at the Refuge and must be completed before the hunt drawing.  Disabled hunters are strongly advised to have a non-hunting individual assist them in retrieving and/or field dressing harvested deer.  Refuge staff cannot track, drag, or field dress deer.

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All Game Hunting

South Upland Hunting Area
(Davey Crockett Tract)
All Federal and State hunting regulations apply.  A valid State of Delaware hunting license, unless exempt from Delaware hunting license requirements, and a refuge permit are required to hunt on the refuge.

All deer hunters will check in at the Little Creek Checking Station before hunting. For the muzzleloader and shotgun seasons a daily lottery for unfilled stands will be held 1 ½ hours before legal shooting time and at 12:00 Noon. Hunters are advised to arrive 15 minutes prior to the lottery. All permits must be returned to the checking station at the end of the days hunt. All hunting from state-built deer stands only except during archery season.

Deer hunting will not be open during the special October anterless firearms season.

Archery hunters must register for an archery zone at the tag board at the Little Creek Checking Station parking lot. Zone availability is first come, first serve. Hunters may use state-built stands, hunt from the ground or portable blinds. No permanent stands may be built and all parts of a portable stand must be removed by the end of the days hunt. No nailed or screw-in tree steps allowed. Archery hunting is closed during the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt.

Hunters may take small game in season in accordance to state hunting regulations. Small game hunting is CLOSED during the December and January shotgun deer seasons. Use care to stay on State and Federal Lands. Do not trespass onto private lands.

NON-TOXIC SHOT is required except for hunting deer and turkey.
- Use or possession of handguns is prohibited.
- The use or possession of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances is prohibited. 
- The taking of wildlife other than the permitted species is prohibited.
- Failure to follow regulations may result in a loss of refuge hunting privileges and/or a fine.

No fee will be charged.

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For Further Information Contact:
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
2591 Whitehall Neck Road
Smyrna, DE 19977
Telephone: 302/653-9345
1 800/232-5460 TDD: 1/800/232-5470 voice.
Email: fw5rw_bhnwr@fws.gov
Web Page: http://bombayhook.fws.gov

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1 800/344 WILD
http://www.fws.gov

July 2009