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3900 Wildlife

23.0 Non-native/Invasive Wildlife

(Penalty Section 7 Del.C. §103(d))

23.1 Non-native Wildlife

23.1.1 Coyotes

23.1.1.1 It shall be unlawful to possess, buy, sell, barter, trade, or transfer any live coyote to or from another person unless permitted by the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

23.1.1.2 Coyotes may be killed or trapped in accordance with the regulations found within this Section with the following: longbow, crossbow, shotgun, rimfire rifle or centerfire rifle up to .25 caliber, a muzzle-loading rifle, foothold trap, cable restraint, or box trap. Notwithstanding the foregoing, coyotes may be killed in accordance with § 802 of Title 7.

23.1.1.2.1 Notwithstanding subsection 23.1.1.2 of this section, during any deer firearms season, it shall be unlawful to hunt coyotes with any firearm that is not also legal for deer hunting.

23.1.1.3 Hunting Season. Coyotes may be hunted and harvested from September 1 through the last day of February.

23.1.1.4 Trapping Season. Coyotes may be trapped in accordance with the statutes and regulations of the State of Delaware governing the trapping coyotes: from December 1 through March 10 using foothold, cable restraints, or cage/box traps.

23.1.1.5 Reporting Harvest. After harvesting a coyote, a hunter and/or trapper must report the harvest to the Division of Fish and Wildlife by the end of the next business day using its established reporting system(s).

23.2 Invasive Wildlife

23.2.1 Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

23.2.1.1 It shall be unlawful to possess, buy, sell, barter, trade, or transfer any live nutria to or from another person unless permitted by the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

23.2.1.2 Nutria may only be trapped during the lawful season to trap muskrats. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nutria may be killed in accordance with §802 of Title 7.

23.2.1.2.1 Any nutria captured within a trap must be killed and may not be released back into the wild.

23.2.1.3 Anyone harvesting a nutria must notify the Division of Fish & Wildlife by the end of the next business day using its established reporting system(s).

23.2.2 Feral Swine

23.2.2.1 It shall be unlawful for any person to release swine into the wild. If swine kept in captivity escape and cannot be recaptured within 72 hours the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife and the Delaware Department of Agriculture must be contacted.

23.2.2.2 It shall be unlawful for any person to kill feral swine without first obtaining a permit from the Division.

23.2.2.2.1 It shall be unlawful to recreationally hunt feral swine.

23.2.2.2.2 It shall be unlawful for a landowner to charge a fee for the purpose of killing feral swine.

12 DE Reg. 496 (10/01/08)

14 DE Reg. 52 (07/01/10)

15 DE Reg. 1505 (04/01/12)

17 DE Reg. 746 (01/01/14)

19 DE Reg. 927 (04/01/16)