AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS CONCERNING GAME AND FISH.
What changed between versions
The bill changed from a single technical correction in section 786(d) to a full act amending four sections of Title 7 (701, 704, 712, and 786), covering game animal classification, hunting methods, Sunday hunting, and raccoon/opossum regulations.
Section 704(g)(4)(b) expands use of handguns and rifles beyond just replacing shotguns during the shotgun deer season to also allow hunting game animals generally, not limited to deer.
New section 704(i) grants the Department authority to permit use of projectile weapons in hunting deer, game animals, and game birds.
Section 712 (Sunday hunting) was substantially rewritten. Previously it only exempted deer hunting seasons from the Sunday ban. The new version permits Sunday hunting for all game birds and game animals during Department-established seasons, on private lands at landowner discretion and on public lands as designated by the applicable government agency.
Section 786(d) narrows the geographic area where year-round raccoon hunting is permitted in Kent County by excluding lands east of Rt. 113, north of the Sussex County line, and south of the St. Jones River.
Section 701 removes European and snowshoe hares from the list of game animals and adds skunk and weasel. The Bryant fox-squirrel is designated as protected wildlife.
Section 704(f) reduces the minimum bore for muzzle-loading rifles from .42 inches (10.67 mm) to .40 inches (10.16 mm), and correspondingly lowers the minimum ball caliber from .42 to .40.
Section 704(g)(1) broadens permitted handgun calibers for deer hunting from .357 to .38 to a range of .30 to .50, increases the minimum cartridge case length from 1.25 inches to 1.30 inches, and adds a separate provision for .41 to .50 caliber with a maximum case length of 1.82 inches.
New section 786(e) allows a .22 caliber rimfire pistol to be used for hunting raccoons and opossums, notwithstanding the general prohibition in section 704(d).
Section 704(g)(4)(a) changes the separate handgun/rifle deer season from 7 days starting the first Saturday in January through the second Saturday, to a period ending on the second Sunday following the first Saturday in January (extending by one day).
New section 704(h) prohibits operating, providing, selling, or using any computer software or service that allows a person not physically present at a hunt site to remotely control a weapon capable of taking a live animal or bird, including internet-based or remote-control devices.
