Pages Tagged With: "outdoors and recreation"
Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Trails Program
The Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Trails Program (ORPT), formerly known as the Delaware Land and Water Conservation Trust Fund (DTF), is a matching grant program assisting with public park land acquisition and outdoor recreation facility development in Delaware.White Clay Creek State Park Master Plan
The Division of Parks and Recreation is in the process of creating a master plan for White Clay Creek State Park. The purpose of this master plan is to provide a vision and a framework for the stewardship and use of the park. [panel type=”success” heading=”ContactTri-Valley Trail at White Clay Creek State Park
The White Clay Creek State Park Trail Plan, adopted in 2011 after extensive public outreach, addressed a future segment of the Tri-Valley Trail. Combined with other trails, the proposed Tri-Valley Trail is part of an 18-mile Greater Newark regional trail network. The Division of Parks and Recreation proposes to fill the trail system gapKillens Pond State Park Trail Concept Plan
DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation is in the process of developing a plan to provide a vision and a framework for the future trail system of Killens Pond State Park.Contact Us
Fork Branch Preserve
The Division of Parks and Recreation proposes to build a small trailhead and 2.75 miles of trail to create public access to the Fork Branch Nature Preserve, in Dover.Contact Us
Cape Henlopen State Park Trail Plan
DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation is in the process of updating the Trail Plan for Cape Henlopen State Park. The purpose of the Trail Plan is to provide a vision and a framework for the future trail system in the park. [panel type=”success” heading=”ContactBrandywine Zoo Master Plan
DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation held an open house in June of 2018 to present future plans for the Brandywine Zoo, in Wilmington.Contact Us
Division of Parks and Recreation 302-739-9210
Brandywine Creek Trail Plan
DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation is in the process of updating the Brandywine Creek State Park Trail Plan. The purpose of the trail plan is to provide a vision and a framework for the future trail system of Brandywine Creek State Park. In summary, the plan outlines 1.6 milesAuburn Valley Master Plan
A document prepared as the beginning of a plan for the Auburn Valley area for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Auburn Valley Master Plan Concept Plan Artist’s Concept Auburn Heights Preserve Farm Lane and Paper Mill BridgesAssawoman Canal Trail Concept Plan
A group of local community leaders and area residents interested in expanding bicycle and pedestrian opportunities developed the Assawoman Canal Trail Concept Plan. This work led to the 2015 opening of a 1.1-mile trail segment between Route 26 and Elliott Avenue along the west bank of the canal in Ocean View.Planning, Preservation and Development
The Planning, Preservation and Development Section administers land acquisition and protection programs, including the Open Space Program, the Office of Nature Preserves and the Cultural Resource Unit.Contact Us
Matthew Ritter Section Administrator 302-739-9235
Sportsmen Against Hunger – The Season for Giving
Few things are better for avid hunters than a successful day in the field. Add the satisfaction of providing for families, creating opportunities for others, and supporting local charities, and you have an even better recipe. Our Sportsmen Against Hunger program represents what the holiday season is all about.“Not My Trash – But I Picked It Up.”
Coastal Cleanup 2020
For 32 years, volunteers cleared tons of trash from Delaware beaches in single-day events. In 2020, to make the Coastal Cleanup accessible and safe for everyone, the effort transitioned to a month-long campaign. Outdoor Delaware: Fun and Education
Get smarter about our environment and enjoy the journey. Learn what makes our natural world tick and how we can help conserve and protect it.Outdoor Delaware: Boating, Fishing and Hunting
Want to go cruisin’, drop a line or test your aim? Here’s where you’ll find out about seasons, safety, licenses and much more.Outdoor Delaware: Adventure
Outdoors or indoors, there are plenty of exciting activities to experience and places to see in Delaware. Discover what’s out there!Our Own Toliara
Toliara is a radiated tortoise who lives at the Brandywine Zoo. Radiated tortoises are reptiles and considered among the most beautiful in the world. His ancestors emerged on land shortly after dinosaurs became extinct some 65 million years ago.From Phragmites Part-Timer to a Wildlife Management Career, Thanks Delaware!
Former Division of Fish and Wildlife Regional Manager Bill Jones reflects on 34 years in state service and his progress from a part-time job to a career in wildlife management.Hunters: What You Need to Know
Find out all you need to know about hunting and trapping seasons, bag limits, licenses and permits, and much more.Time Travelers Dig the John Bell House
The Delaware State Parks Time Traveler program offers a hands-on experience for volunteers to get involved in cultural heritage work at our state parks. And you can literally get your hands dirty.Delaware Hunting Seasons
Delaware hunting seasons generally begin in September and run through early February of the following year. Specific seasons, based on species and method of take, begin and end on different dates throughout that period. Wildlife Area MapsSunday Deer Hunting
State law allows Sunday deer hunting during established deer hunting seasons on private lands, with landowner permission, and on designated publicly-owned lands. Delaware’s 2020/2021 deer seasons fall between Sept. 1, 2020 and Jan. 31, 2021. Hunting on Sundays is allowed using those methods legal for the hunting seasons in effect on each Sunday. DeerNatural Areas and Nature Preserves
The Delaware Natural Areas Preservation System was created by the Delaware General Assembly in 1978 (7 Del. Code, Chapter 73) to ensure that Delawareans of today and the future understand and appreciate natural communities and benefit from the natural, scientific, educational, aesthetic, recreational and cultural values they possess.Visiting Nature Preserves
Delaware is home to 34 state-dedicated Nature Preserves, totaling approximately 7,000 acres of land. From the steep slopes of the White Clay Creek Valley Nature Preserve to the sandy shoreline of Beach Plum Island, there are exceptional natural features and unique areas to enjoy. When You Visit Not all nature preservesDelaware Natural Areas Advisory Council
The Delaware Natural Areas Advisory Council advises the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control on the administration of nature preserves and the preservation of natural areas. They work to ensure that areas of unusual natural significance are preserved for the benefit of present and future generations of Delawareans.2019 Coastal Cleanup Results
The 2019 Delaware Coastal Cleanup, held Sept.14, drew 1,931 volunteers, who collected 3.6 tons of trash and recyclables from 46 sites along more than 125 miles of Delaware’s waterways andThe Delaware Bayshore Initiative
Extending from Pea Patch Island in New Castle County to the City of Lewes in Sussex County, the Delaware Bay shoreline is widely recognized as an area of global ecological significance. Its expansive coastal marshes, shoreline, agricultural lands and forests provide diverse habitat to many species, includingVirtual Public Hearing: Striped Bass Size Limits and Possession Limits
The Division of Fish & Wildlife will conduct a public hearing (Docket #2020-R-F-0015) on proposed revisions to the regulations governing recreational fishing for Striped Bass.Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center
The Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center is one of two state shooting ranges managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. It offers trap and skeet shooting, rifle and pistol shooting, archery, and more. The Ommelanden Training Center is open byWhat is a Red Tide?
“Red Tide” is the common term for a particular type of harmful algal bloom made up of large concentrations of toxic red dinoflagellates called Karenia brevis (K. Brevis). These are tiny red-colored, naturally-occurring aquatic microorganisms which, in sufficient concentrations, can cause a reddish tint to the water. At very high concentrations, they can cause toxicRecreational Water Monitoring
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control monitors recreational waters to ensure their quality for swimming and other recreational uses. The Department tests for Enterococcus bacteria, which indicate the presence of other potentially harmful bacteria and viruses. The results of these tests are available online and though an email alert system.Delaware’s White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer are one of the most important wildlife species managed in Delaware. Wildlife-watchers, photographers, and hunters flock to the state in pursuit of deer. They contribute millions of dollars each year to the state’s economy.Contact Us
Straight-Wall, Pistol-Caliber Rifles Allowed
Rifles chambered for straight-wall ammunition may be used to hunt deer in Delaware. Only straight-wall cartridges usable in handguns may be used that are of .357 to 38 caliber with a case length no less than 1.25 inches and a maximum case length of 1.82 inches, or .41 caliber to maximum of .50 caliber and a maximum caseTurkey Hunting
The 2021 spring wild turkey hunting season will run from April 10 through May 9, 2021. A special one-day hunt for youth and non-ambulatory hunters is set for April 3, 2021. Turkey Hunting RulesManaged Hunts
Managed or controlled hunting is a highly organized effort to reduce the local deer population in urban areas. Hunters must apply and are selected for these hunts. Information on participating in managed hunts is available on the Master Hunter Program page. During the hunt, hunters have specified treestand locations and shooting directions and are notWaterfowl Surveys
Since 1974, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has conducted annual waterfowl surveys to measure long-term trends in duck and goose populations. The survey results help increase biologists’ knowledge about the state’s waterfowl populations and habitat and help the state make informed decisions about habitat management and hunting.Wild Turkeys
From 1984 and through the early 2000s, the Division of Fish and Wildlife released Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) into the state in an effort to reestablish a turkey population in Delaware. With support from the National Wild Turkey Federation, state biologists released 34 wild-trapped turkeys into Kent and Sussex Counties in 1984. The birdsHunting in Delaware
The Division of Fish and Wildlife manages 19 public wildlife areas; over 62,000 acres of land. In addition to providing habitat for a variety of wildlife, these lands provide hunting and other outdoor recreational opportunities. Much of this land, and many acres of private land, provide hunting during a number of seasons. More information is found inHunters with Disabilities
Delaware offers a variety of opportunities for hunters with disabilities. State wildlife areas offer specialized blinds/stands and hunting locations AreaHunting and Fishing Guides, Seasons and Maps
The Division of Fish and Wildlife manages over 62,000 acres of Delaware land at 19 public wildlife areas that provide hunting opportunities as well as habitat for a variety of species. The state features a wide variety of fishing opportunities for every angler, from the Delaware River and Bay, to the ocean, to numerous ponds,Wildlife Area Maps and Regulations
The Division of Fish and Wildlife manages over 62,000 acres of Delaware land at 19 public wildlife areas that provide hunting opportunities as well as habitat for a variety of species. Hunting in State Parks [button type=”info” block=”true”Photo Contest Information and Entry Form
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife holds annual fishing and hunting photography contests to help celebrate Delaware’s traditions of fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation. Contest Themes and Deadlines Fishing: Hooked on Fishing Contest open May 1 through September 30 Hunting: It’sFreshwater Trout Fishing
Delaware’s freshwater trout program is a self-supporting put-and-take fishery in selected streams in northern New Castle County that are stocked with rainbow, brown and/or brook trout. Basic Requirements No minimum size. Four fish per day in fly-fishing streams.Boating and Fishing Access Locations
[giciframeAngler Alert: Snakeheads
The Northern Snakehead (Channa argus), a fish native to China and Russia, has become a problem invasive species in several states, including Delaware. Anyone who catches a snakehead in Delaware is encouraged to kill it and notify the Division of Fish and Wildlife. NorthernArtificial Reef Program
Delaware has 14 permitted artificial reef sites in Delaware Bay and along the Atlantic Coast. Cleaned and stable construction materials, boats, and subway cars create new habitat. They support expanded recreational fishing and diving. Delaware Reef Guide [buttonInvasive Aquatic Species
Delaware, along with other states in the Mid-Atlantic Region, has been invaded by non-native aquatic species that pose a threat to native species, to ecological processes, and to the economy. More Information Delaware Native Species Commission Delaware
