Record Turnout for 2026 Delaware Spring Turkey Season Lottery

State of DE - The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced that the 2026 lottery for State Wildlife Area Spring Turkey Season hunting permits drew the largest applicant pool in the state's history. A total of 992 hunters applied for 540 available permits ahead of the upcoming spring season.

The DNREC Wildlife Section conducted the annual lottery on January 21. The drawing made permits available for all 19 state wildlife areas and two National Wildlife Refuges, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook. These permits cover one of four season segments. The season opens on April 11 and concludes on May 10.

The record number of applications follows last year's record harvest of 801 turkeys. The applicant pool included 869 Delaware residents and 123 non-residents from 22 states.

Residents received 481 permits, accounting for 89.1% of the total. Non-residents received the remaining 59 permits.

Blackiston Wildlife Area near Clayton was the most selected venue for this season's lottery. Other popular locations included Tappahanna Wildlife Area near Hartly, Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area near Townsend, and the Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area in Kent County.

Applicants can verify if they were selected for a 2026 permit by checking their hunting license numbers on the Spring Turkey Season Hunting Permit Lottery webpage. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will also mail permit letters to successful applicants in the coming weeks.

All first-time turkey hunters in Delaware aged 13 or older are required to complete a DNREC-approved turkey education course. Hunters receive a Turkey Harvest Report Card upon course completion or when purchasing their license. Anyone who completed the course but did not receive a card should contact the DNREC Hunter Education Program.

Successful hunters must complete their harvest report card before moving the bird from the harvest location. They are also required to register the harvest within 24 hours via the Digital DNREC portal or by phone. Registration requires reporting beard and spur length, while providing the bird's weight is voluntary.

For additional information regarding state wildlife areas or the permit lottery, visit the official hunting webpage.