Effective October 30, 2009, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in Delaware online course—the official hunter education course of the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your Delaware certification.

Matching Choke to Your Quarry

As described in detail on the previous page, a choke allows you to fine-tune your shotgun for the type of game you're hunting. Built-in or attached to the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke can be constricted to create a tighter pattern of shot, thus controlling pattern density at various distances.The tighter the constriction, the longer the cluster of shot stays together. The looser the constriction, the faster the shot pattern spreads.

The chart below suggests choke and shot sizes for a variety of game. It is intended only as a guide—choice of choke and shot size may vary depending on ammunition, target distance, and hunting conditions.

Quarry	Commonly Used Choke (based on typical distance from quarry)
Goose	Improved Cylinder or Modified
Duck	Improved Cylinder or Modified
Turkey	Full or Extra Full
Pheasant	Improved Cylinder, Modified, or Full
Grouse	Improved Cylinder or Modified
Woodcock, rail or snipe	Improved Cylinder or Modified
Dove	Improved Cylinder or Modified
Quail	Improved Cylinder or Modified
Rabbit	Improved Cylinder or Modified
Squirrel	Modified or Full