Why It Matters: Delaware may be the second-smallest state in the U.S. by land area, but continues to be a leader in sportsmen and women’s issues. Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus)-led House Bill 278 (HB 278) or known as the “Omnibus Sportsmen’s Package” repealed the last remaining legislatively prohibited game species for Sunday hunting (small game) and provided the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) Division of Fish and Wildlife (Division) with more options when it comes to regulating hunting implements and pistol caliber rifles.
Highlights:
- HB 278, sponsored by all 4 Co-Chairs of the Caucus, was signed into law by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member, Governor Matt Meyer, on Wednesday, June 10th, 2026. The enactment of this legislation provided much-needed legislative repeals and updates to Delaware’s hunting statutes.
- This legislation removed the last standing legislative prohibition on Sunday hunting in the First State by removing small game from the list of prohibited species that may be lawfully hunted on Sundays.
- The legislative prohibition on smokeless powder for muzzleloaders was also repealed, which allows the Division to potentially implement the use of FireStick-compatible muzzleloaders and airbows.
- This legislation also clarifies and updates what calibers may be used for straight wall cartridge hunting (greater than .30 cal).
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) testified in person in favor of this legislation in addition to providing written testimony.
The “Omnibus Sportsmen’s Package” included several provisions relating to hunting in the First State. One of the most notable of them all, is the removal of the remaining legislative prohibition on Sunday hunting, which covers small game animals. Additionally, the legislation allows for the update of approved straight wall cartridge calibers and the potential for new hunting implements.
Over the past decade, Delaware has continued to repeal its archaic and longstanding Sunday hunting prohibitions. For example, as previously reported in 2024, Delaware repealed the prohibition on Sunday game bird hunting. Prior to that, in 2016, the Caucus spearheaded the passage of HB 289, which permitted deer hunting on both private and public lands (subject to approval of the appropriate regulatory body) on five Sundays during firearms seasons. Two years later, in 2018, Delaware took things further by passing SB 198, which allowed hunting every Sunday throughout the state’s archery and deer season.
HB 278 provides the Division with the ability to review and make potential regulation changes based on current and advancing technology when it comes to hunting implements and ethical means of harvest via projectile weapons. As advances in technology continue, it is important that legislators work alongside their state fish and wildlife agencies, just like the Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife did, to ensure that the laws and regulations related to new technologies are clearly stated and easily understood by sportsmen and women.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds the Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus for continuing to champion pro-sportsmen and women’s legislation. Additionally, CSF thanks Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member, Governor Matt Meyer, for signing this legislation into law and supporting the First State’s hunters.
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