Court Ruling Eliminates ‘Direct Supervision’ Provision in State Law Affecting Delaware Hunters Ages 18 to 21
Kent County Resident Judge Renata Green-Streett found in favor of the plaintiffs in a recent decision in Delaware Superior Court (Birney et al. v. Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security et al) that Delaware’s constitutional right to keep and bear arms extends to all Delawareans aged 18 or older. This eliminates a provision in Delaware Code from a 2022 law that stated hunters between 18 and 21 years old would require direct supervision from a person age 21 or older. This decision will be in effect when the state’s hunting seasons open Monday, September 1st.
The ruling affects Delaware’s hunting supervision rules for the 2025-2026 hunting seasons. Provisions in the 2022 law, HB 451, that do not affect the rights of 18 to 20 year olds will remain intact.
DNREC will adjust the online version of 2025-26 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide to clarify that individuals between the ages of 18 and 21 can hunt without being under the direct supervision of a person age 21 or older, while the requirements for under 18 remain.