Connecticut hunting and fishing laws

Applicants must show either a valid resident license from the past five years or completion of a Connecticut Conservation Education/Firearms Safety course or an equivalent. Online coursework must have been accompanied by a field day. Bowhunters must show proof when purchasing a small game and deer archery permit that they have completed the CE/FS bowhunting course or its equivalent. No apprentice license was found.

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A person must be 12 years of age or older to hunt. Juniors ages 12 through 15 must be licensed and accompanied by a licensed hunter 18 years of age or older. A person may not supervise more than 2 minors at one time while hunting.

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At least 400 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing must be worn above the waist and visible from all sides during the designated fall and winter period defined in the guide. Blaze pink is not authorized.

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Applies to: Deer

Archery hunters are exempt during designated portions of the fall and winter. Orange may also be removed during a designated late fall and early winter period when hunting from elevated stands 10 or more feet high. Check the guide for the exact dates of each window.

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Public Act 25-138 now permits Sunday hunting on private land for all species using any approved hunting implement, replacing the previous narrow rule that allowed only Sunday bowhunting for deer on private land. Public land is not authorized. Sunday hunting is not allowed within 40 yards of blazed public trails; DEEP has corrected the printed guide, which erroneously says 40 feet.

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Applies to: Waterfowl

Migratory birds remain prohibited on Sundays on all land types, including waterfowl, geese, woodcock, snipe, rails and crows.

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Applies to: Big game

Sunday deer and turkey hunting requires the landowner's written permission, while small game requires verbal permission only. Fish and game club members and their guests with existing agreements do not need separate Sunday hunting consent.

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Applies to: Deer

Deer may be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset in all deer seasons.

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Applies to: Upland and small game

Small game hours run from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, which differs from the deer hours.

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Applies to: Deer

Bait is prohibited in Deer Management Zones 1 through 10 and on state land in Zones 11 and 12. Bait is any food, mineral, or chemical product designed to be eaten by deer. In Zones 11 and 12 on private land only, minerals and salt licks and natural foods such as hay, grains and fruit are permitted. Under a new rule, all use of natural deer urine products is prohibited because of CWD.

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Applies to: Bear

Connecticut has no bear hunting season. State law bans intentionally feeding potentially dangerous wildlife, including bears.

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Applies to: Furbearers

Night hunting is permitted for raccoon and opossum on state-owned and private lands. Rifles or handguns using ammunition larger than .22 caliber rimfire or shotgun shells larger than #2 shot may not be used; .17 rimfire is permitted. It is illegal to take raccoons or opossums with the use of a light from a motor vehicle. During deer season those hours shift to 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.

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Applies to: Furbearers

Coyote follows standard daytime hours. There is no night coyote season.

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Applies to: Big game

Immediately after harvest, fill out the deer or turkey harvest tag; it must stay with the animal until it is processed, and if you leave the animal the tag must remain with it. Report the harvest online or by phone within 24 hours and write the confirmation number on the tag. Check stations are no longer required, except for replacement tags in Zones 11 and 12 (carcass or head within 72 hours).

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Deer and turkey hunters on private land must carry written permission for the current season on the official DEEP consent form, signed by the landowner. Small game hunters need landowner permission every day of the week, but verbal permission is enough. Landowners and their lineal descendants hunting their own land are exempt from carrying written permission.

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