DOVER, Del. — Some Delaware teenagers will soon be able to hunt and target shoot without direct adult supervision under a new law signed by Gov. Matt Meyer.
House Substitute 1 for House Bill 427 allows 16 and 17-year-olds to hunt or target shoot without direct supervision from an adult age 21 or older.
To qualify, teenagers must have permission from a parent or guardian and complete a hunter education course. Teens who are hunting must also have a valid Delaware hunting license.
The legislation was sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Spiegelman, R-Townsend, Smyrna, Clayton, with state Rep. Bill Carson, D-Smyrna, and state Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, as additional sponsors.
The three lawmakers are co-chairs of the General Assembly’s Delaware Sportsmen’s Caucus, a bipartisan group focused on hunting, fishing and other sportsmen’s issues.
The law also clarifies that municipalities can continue to regulate the discharge of BB guns, projectile weapons and firearms within their jurisdictions.
Spiegelman said the change will help bring more young people into hunting and preserve Delaware’s sporting heritage.
The Delaware General Assembly approved the measure July 1.
