Why It Matters: Currently, in Delaware, individuals who are at least 16 years old but under the age of 18 may not hunt with a firearm unless directly supervised by someone who is at least 21 years old and who is the lawful holder of a hunting license or who is lawfully exempt. The supervising person must be within 30 yards and in direct line of sight of the supervisee and must be lawfully allowed to hunt in Delaware. House Substitute 1 (HS 1) for House Bill 427 (HB 427) provides that 16- and 17-year-olds may hunt and participate in target practice without the supervision of someone 21 years or older if they have the required prerequisites. The passage of this legislation will increase access and opportunity for young sportsmen and women to hunt and/or recreational shoot and encourage additional participation in our time-honored traditions.
Highlights:
- HS 1 for HB 427 is sponsored by Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Jeff Spiegelman, Rep. William Carson, and Sen. Brian Pettyjohn.
- This legislation allows 16- and 17-year-olds the ability to hunt with a BB gun, projectile weapon, and/or a firearm without the direct supervision of someone 21 years or older, provided they have permission of a parent or guardian, have completed a hunter education course, and hold a valid Delaware hunting license. For target practice, the same requirements apply, except they are not required to hold a valid Delaware hunting license as they are not hunting.
- HS 1 for HB 427 passed the House of Representatives on June 23 and passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 24. This bill must pass out of the Senate by Sine Die tomorrow, June 30 (Delaware’s Legislative Session’s adjournment date).
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) provided testimony in favor of this legislation.
Many 16- and 17-year-olds can drive a vehicle unsupervised if they have passed the required educational courses and hold a valid driver’s license. They can even hunt using archery equipment and/or a pellet/airgun unsupervised. When it comes to hunting and target shooting with firearms/projectile weapons, Delaware seeks to do something very similar by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds the ability to hunt and participate in target practice with a BB gun, projectile weapon/firearm without direct supervision if they meet certain requirements.
This legislation allows “target practicing with a BB gun, projectile weapon, or firearm by a 16- or 17-year-old without direct supervision of a person age 21 or above, provided the 16- or 17-year-old has permission of a parent or guardian and the 16- or 17-year-old has completed a hunter education course. Additionally, a 16- or 17-year-old is allowed to hunt without direct supervision if they are in possession of a valid Delaware hunting license.”
Additionally, the passage of this legislation furthers the recruitment and retention of our up-and-coming hunters and recreational shooters. Allowing 16- and 17-year-olds the ability to hunt unsupervised is currently allowed in Delaware’s neighboring states of Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania if the hunter has successfully completed their respective state’s hunter safety course and possesses the correct hunting license(s). Ensuring the recruitment and retention of our next generation of sportsmen and women is critical to maintaining and enhancing conservation funding, and consequently, wildlife and habitat management.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds the Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus for continuing to champion pro-sportsmen and women’s legislation that increases access and opportunity for young sportsmen and women to hunt and/or recreational shoot and that encourages additional participation in our time-honored traditions.