Bombay Hook NWR

Regular Area Hunting - Fischer Tract - Steamboat Landing Tract – South Upland Area

Big and Small Game 2020-2021 Season

General 1. Hunters may only access the Refuge two hours before legal shooting c. Archery and crossbow hunting are allowed as a lesser method time until one hour after legal shooting time. of take during the firearm season. 2. Sign-in at tag boards is required for free roam or lottery hunts. d. During gun hunting seasons, all hunters including archers 3. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National must display a minimum of 400 square inches of hunter orange on Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply with all provisions of State and the head, chest and back while hunting consisting of a vest and hat local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with or jacket and hat. refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR e. Hunters in the Regular and Headquarters Hunt Areas will be required to Part 32.) stay within the boundaries of their specific zones. 4. Persons who possess, consume, or are under the influence of drugs or 2. For the lottery hunts in the Headquarters Area, a limited number of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from hunting on the refuge. permits will be issued through a preseason drawing and hunters may 5. Sunday hunting is prohibited. choose their own hunting location anywhere within their assigned hunt 6. When requested by Federal and State enforcement officers, hunters area zones on a first-come, first-serve basis. Non-ambulatory stands will must display all game, hunting equipment, and ammunition for be assigned. inspection. 3. The refuge will participate in all State hunting seasons and bag limits 7. Motor vehicles are restricted to designated routes, parking except the October Antlerless deer season and the late handgun season. areas. The use of ATV’s, UTV’s, etc. is prohibited 4. Hunters must obtain and possess a refuge permit from the refuge office 8. No littering. Bombay Hook NWR is a carry-in/carry-out refuge. or kiosk and have the permit in their possession while hunting. 9. Firearms may not be discharged outside of established hunting seasons. 5. Individuals assisting non-ambulatory deer hunters in the Headquarters Target shooting is prohibited at any time. Area hunt are not permitted to hunt. 10.Hunters may use temporary portable stands. No permanent deer 6. The South Upland Area is open to shotgun and primitive firearms. A daily stands, platforms, ladders, or blinds may be constructed. No screw-in lottery is held 1 ½ hours before legal shooting time and at 12 noon at the steps, tree spikes, screws, or nails are allowed. All parts of temporary Little Creek Checking Station. Hunters are advised to arrive 15 minutes portable deer stands must be removed at the end of each days hunt. prior to the lottery. No refuge fees are charged to hunt in this area, but 11.The use of natural vegetation for camouflaging blinds is prohibited. State fees may apply. 12.The distribution of bait and/or hunting over bait is not allowed. a. Hunting may only take place on an assigned stand 13.Wheelchair accessible stands are available for non-ambulatory hunters b. Deer hunting is closed during the special October antlerless firearms that possess an Interagency Access Passport. season 14. Hunters must be on their stand 15 minutes before legal shooting time c. Additional State Wildlife Area rules apply. Consult Delaware’s Division until 9:00 AM and from 3:00 PM until the end of legal shooting time of Fish and Wildlife’s Little Creek Wildlife Area - Davey Crockett Tract 15. Straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles are not allowed. Hunting Map Small Game, Turkey and Webless Migratory Bird Hunting Deer Hunting 1. No night hunting A. Archery and Crossbow 2. State issued permit is required for turkey hunting. A limited number of 1. Archery and crossbow deer hunting is allowed on four areas of Bombay hunters will be selected through the preseason lottery drawing conducted Hook. No fee or advance reservations are required. Sign in at tag board. by the State. 2. The Regular Area is open to archery and crossbow hunting. Up to 60 hunters 3. The take of red fox and coyote are only allowed incidental to deer firearm are allowed to free roam hunt or hunt from available elevated deer stands on hunting a first-come, first-serve basis. 4. Fischer Tract a. All hunting must stop at 11:00 AM. All hunters must be out of the area by a. Hunters may take grey squirrel, cottontail rabbit, ring-necked 12 noon. pheasant, raccoon, opossum, red fox, coyote and mourning dove in 3. The Fischer and Steamboat Landing Tracts are open to archery and crossbow season in accordance with state hunting regulations. hunting each weekday, all day, when the State archery season is open, except 5. Steamboat Landing Tract during designated muzzleloader, shotgun, and Canada goose hunt days. In a. Hunters may take grey squirrel, cottontail rabbit, ring-necked the Fischer Tract up to 12 hunters are allowed to free roam hunt or hunt from pheasant, raccoon, opossum, red fox, coyote and mourning dove in available elevated deer stands on a first-come, first-serve basis. In the season in accordance with state hunting regulations. Steamboat Landing Tract up to 17 hunters are allowed to free roam hunt or

hunt from available elevated deer stands on a first-come, first-serve basis. 6. South Upland Area- located at end of Marshtown Rd. 4. The South Upland Area is open to archery and crossbow hunting when the (not pictured on Map) State archery season is open free of charge. Archery hunters must register for The refuge has adopted State hunting regulations and seasons for the South an archery zone at the tag board at the Little Creek Checking Station parking Upland Hunting Area with the following restrictions: lot. Zone availability is first come, first serve. a. Hunters must be off the refuge by one hour after legal shooting hours. B. Firearm - Muzzleloader and Shotgun b. Hunters may take turkey, grey squirrel, cottontail rabbit, ring-necked 1. Free-roam hunting is available on a first-come, first-serve basis on days pheasant, bobwhite quail, raccoon, opossum, red fox, coyote and listed below during the State hunting seasons in the Fischer Tract, mourning dove in season in accordance with state hunting regulations. Steamboat Landing and Regular deer hunting areas with the following c. The South Upland Area hunts are managed by the state of Delaware restrictions/requirements: and facilitated at the Little Creek Checking Station. No refuge fees are a. Hunters must register for a hunt zone at the kiosk board. Zone charged to hunt in this area, but State fees may apply. availability is first come, first serve. d. Additional State Wildlife Area rules apply. Consult Delaware’s Division b. Use of existing stands is optional. Portable stands must be removed at of Fish and Wildlife’s Little Creek Wildlife Area - Davey Crockett Tract the end of the days hunt. Hunting Map

2020-2021 Season Hunt Dates

ARCHERY: Regular Area (September 4, 11) Fischer Tract/ Steamboat Landing (September 4- January 29)*Monday-Saturday during DE archery season except, Muzzleloader, Shotgun and Canada goose and Youth hunt days FIREARMS: Muzzleloader: Regular Area (October 12, 14, 16) Fischer and Steamboat Landing Hunt Tracts (October 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) Shotgun: Regular Area (November 13, 14, 18; Antlerless December 14, 17; January 22) Headquarters Area (November 16, 20; Antlerless December 16) Fischer and Steamboat Landing Hunt Tracts (November 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) (December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) (January 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) Youth Hunt: Fischer and Steamboat Landing Hunt Tracts (November 7) Upland Game: South Upland Area- State season Scouting Days/times: Saturdays and Sundays prior to opening day from 7:00a.m. until sunset.