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Delaware Turkey Tags Hit All-Time High
Judging by the demand for turkey tags, Delaware has proven itself to be serious turkey country. The numbers from DNREC paint a clear picture: A record-breaking 834 hunters applied for the 2025 spring season lottery, with 544 turkey tags up for grabs. That’s the highest turnout since Delaware started this program in 1991.
The demand shouldn’t come as a surprise for anyone who’s spent time in these woods. What started with just 34 birds brought in from Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New Jersey back in ’84 has grown into something special. Today, more than 6,000 turkeys roam Delaware’s woodlands, and the hunting just keeps getting better.
Jerry Connelly, secretary for the Delaware State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, has watched this transformation unfold. “The wild turkey had disappeared from Delaware around the early 1900s,” he recalls. “But with fundraising, research, habitat work, and many hours of volunteer work throughout the nation, we’ve seen something remarkable happen. Nothing is more exciting to a turkey hunter than having a gobbler respond to the call, come into the decoy, and put on a show.”
Pat Emory, director of the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, sees this as more than just numbers. “Turkey hunting in Delaware continues to grow in popularity, keeping pace with the abundance of birds we now have throughout the state,” he explains. “It’s noteworthy that turkey season is Delaware’s only hunting season that occurs in the spring – and there are a lot of hunting opportunities for wild turkeys on the 68,000 acres managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.”
The 2025 season, running April 12 through May 10, brings something new to the table. For the first time, hunters will have a crack at both Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges. Those 40 federal land permits disappeared quickly – telling you everything you need to know about the quality of hunting these days.
Jeff Hague from the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association shares that enthusiasm: “We have a really good turkey population since the reintroduction, and these seasons have produced a lot of quality birds.” He credits the endless opportunities and strong partnerships between the National Wild Turkey Federation, DNREC, and the Delaware Department of Agriculture for this success. Word seems to be getting out, as hunters from 20 different states tried to get in on this year’s action.
Officials say most permits went to the locals, with 488 going to Delaware residents and 56 to out-of-state hunters. Blackiston Wildlife Area near Clayton topped the list for popularity, with Norman G. Wilder, Cedar Swamp, and Tappahanna Wildlife Areas following close behind.
With birds in all three counties, substantial population numbers, and permits getting harder to come by each year, Delaware’s spring turkey hunting is on solid ground. And if these numbers indicate what’s ahead, the 2026 spring season could be one for the record books.
Those who have applied for the 2025 Spring Season Lottery can check to see if you were drawn for a permit by clicking here.
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