Migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting were expanded in 2015. The refuge's waterfowl 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.
2026 - 2027 FALL HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES AT PRIME HOOK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Prime Hook will offer Deer, Waterfowl, Upland Game/Webless Migratory Bird and Spring Turkey hunting opportunities this year. We allow hunting with archery/crossbow, shotgun, and muzzleloader. No centerfire rifles are permitted. The refuge is 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 the refuge office or online.
Deer:
We will conduct a lottery for Headquarters unit deer hunts. Applications can be picked up at the refuge or printed from the refuge web site. Completed applications can be submitted in person or by mail to the refuge headquarters (address below). The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 15th. Non-Headquarters areas will be open select days. See respective brochures for specific information.
Headquarters hunt dates:
Prime Hook: October 13th (Muzzleloader) and November 17th (Shotgun)
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 the refuge will be open for resident Canada goose and September teal seasons. Waterfowl hunts will be issued via hunter led daily lottery at the Prime Hook hunt check station.
Small Game:
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. See brochures for season dates and closure information. The State of Delaware has closed all hunting of wild bobwhite quail for the 2026/27 season.
Existing deer stands at 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
Prime Hook NWR
12322 Turkle Pond Road,
Milton, DE 19968
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/prime-hook
For information about hunting at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, please visit Hunting at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge | FWS.gov
