Take Action: Delaware hunters need to call their state senator and ask for a YES vote on House Bill 289. Tell your Senator that Delaware sportsmen and women deserve the same rights as hunters in 40 other states. Let your Senator know that you want Sunday hunting. Click HERE to find the phone number for your senator.
By an overwhelming 36-3 margin, the Delaware House of Representatives approved legislation on May 10 that would open hunting on five Sundays during deer season. House Bill 289, sponsored by Rep. Helene Keeley (D-Wilmington), would open hunting on five specific Sundays on designated public land and on private land. The five Sundays would include one in October during muzzleloader season, two Sundays in November, and one Sunday in both December and January during deer shotgun season.
“Delaware legislators have the opportunity to remove an antiquated law from the books and allow their sportsmen the opportunity to enjoy their activity on Sunday just like every other group,” said Jake McGuigan, director of state affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “Increasing the value of a hunting license by permitting Sunday hunting is a common sense approach that will help the state economically.”
Many sportsmen and women work six days a week, and have difficulty finding time to get into the woods for hunting. Opening up five additional days in the field provides those citizens a chance to hunt whitetail deer.
Shortly after passing in the House, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Control also favorably reported the bill out of committee on May 19. It now awaits a vote before the full Senate.
“It is important that sportsmen in Delaware reach out and call their state senators today in support of this important bill,” said Luke Houghton, associate director of state services for the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “These additional days of hunting provide both a boon to the economy and to conservation as hunters spend additional dollars in the field for ammunition, hunting supplies, food, fuel and more. It’s truly a win-win.”
