In winter, snow geese blanket the salt marshes and fields of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Approximately 100,000 of these birds overwinter here, providing long hunting seasons, abundant hunting opportunities and a spectacle that has few rivals on the Atlantic Seaboard. A boat is required to access the snow goose area, as well as, Kelly Island and the Mahon Tract. On these tracts, hunters must use temporary blinds. The refuge also offers excellent opportunities for other waterfowl species, deer, small game and turkey. Each hunting area has specific regulations. Check with the refuge manager before planning your hunt.
2025 - 2026 FALL HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES AT BOMBAY HOOK AND PRIME HOOK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES
Bombay Hook and Prime Hook will offer Deer, Waterfowl, and Upland Game/Webless Migratory Bird hunting opportunities this year. We allow hunting with archery/crossbow, shotgun, and muzzleloader. No centerfire rifles are permitted. The refuges are 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 each refuge鈥檚 office or online.
Deer:
Both refuges will conduct a lottery for Headquarters unit deer hunts. Applications can be picked up at either refuge or printed from refuge web sites. Completed applications can be submitted in person or by mail to either refuge headquarters (addresses below). The deadline to apply is Monday, September 15th. Non-Headquarters areas will be open select days. See respective brochures for specific information.
Headquarters hunt dates:
Bombay Hook: October 10th (Muzzleloader), November 14th (Shotgun), December 17th (Antlerless)
Prime Hook: October 14th (Muzzleloader) and November 18th (Shotgun)
Bombay Hook will offer permits in units H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, and H-6. There will be 45 permits issued per hunt date.
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 both refuges will be open for resident Canada goose and September teal seasons this year. Bombay Hook hunts on Kelly Island and Mahon Tract will continue to be issued at the Little Creek hunt check station. Prime Hook hunts will be issued via hunter led daily lottery at the Prime Hook hunt check station.
Small Game:
Small game seasons will be open in the South Upland, Steamboat Landing, and Fischer tracts at Bombay Hook. At Prime Hook; 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 at Prime Hook and highly encouraged at Bombay Hook. See brochures for season dates and closure information. The State of Delaware has closed all hunting of wild bobwhite quail for the 2025/26 season.
If you have any questions, please call (302) 684-8419 or (302) 653-9345.
Bombay Hook NWR
2591 Whitehall Neck Rd
Smyrna, De 19977
/refuge/bombay-hook
Prime Hook NWR
11978 Turkle Pond Road,
Milton, DE 19968
/refuge/prime-hook
2025-2026 Season Hunt Road Closure Dates
Instead of partial closures, in 2025 we will have 3 full closures of the auto tour route. These closures are for the Headquarters hunts. The visitor center will be open but, all other roads and trails will be closed on HQ hunt days.
Muzzleloader: October 10th
Shotgun: November 14th
Antlerless December 17th
