Connecticut Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Hunting in Connecticut

While Connecticut is one of the smallest states in the United States in terms of landmass, it nevertheless provides a variety of games for hunters to pursue. The state includes a variety of small game, but turkeys and deer are the most prevalent big game. Although bears exist throughout the state, hunting them is illegal. They are exclusively available for leisurely touring.

Connecticut Hunting Rules

Connecticut hunters must follow all federal, state, and local hunting laws and restrictions. There may also be additional requirements for governments and private landowners.

The following are Connecticut hunting regulations:

Regulations for Hunting with Firearms:

The following are some of Connecticut’s hunting restrictions regarding the possession and use of firearms:

• The 500-foot rule

Possessing a loaded firearm, hunting wildlife, or discharging a firearm within 500 feet of structures containing persons and/or domestic animals, as well as facilities used to store combustible substances and materials, is illegal.

However, if you acquire permission from the owner of such structures, their family, or their spouses, you may make an exemption. In addition, the 500-foot firearm restriction does not apply to archery hunting in Connecticut.

• Vehicle Possession of Hunting Firearms

Loaded guns in automobiles are prohibited in Connecticut, regardless of whether they are hunting firearms or not. The state’s gun regulations allow only registered handguns and revolvers to be carried in cars.

• Hunting with Rifles and Handguns

For hunting, Connecticut prohibits the use of rifles, revolvers, and handguns that fire.22 caliber or bigger ammunition. Furthermore, any form of rifle or pistol is illegal on state-leased hunting grounds or in regions where hunting permits are required. It is also unlawful to hunt waterfowl, turkeys, and any other migratory birds in the state using handguns or rifles. Crows, on the other hand, are exempt.

• Using firearms for hunting

Shotguns that shoot more than two shots are not permitted for hunting on state-leased or owned land or in areas of the state where hunting permission is necessary. Shotguns are also illegal on private property.

Waterfowl hunting using a lead shot is prohibited. However, you can shoot waterfowl in the state using shotguns that are smaller than 10 gauges.

Shotguns used to hunt waterfowl and other migrating bird species in Connecticut must have no more than three shells: two for the magazine and one for the chamber. There are exceptions for Connecticut turkey hunting, Connecticut crow hunting, and Connecticut deer hunting.

Another exception to Connecticut shotgun restrictions is that unplugged shotguns may be used during the September goose season. There may be extra regulations for the use of shotguns, depending on where you hunt.

• Using muzzle loaders for hunting

Muzzleloaders are shotguns or rifles with a caliber of at least.45 that use gun powder and a bullet connected at the muzzle end of the firearm. It is permissible in Connecticut to use a shotgun converter, but smoothbore muzzleloaders are subject to the same restrictions as shotguns.

There is an exception for the use of muzzleloaders on state-owned territory, where it is permissible to use muzzleloading rifles with.36 calibers and round ball ammunition.

Regulations for Bow Hunting

The following are some Connecticut bow hunting regulations:

• Bowhunter Training

Before you can take wildlife and games with a bow and arrow, you must first complete a bowhunter education course. Connecticut requires all bowhunters to provide confirmation that they have completed the course while hunting small game.

• Arrows and a Lawful Bow

In Connecticut, not all bows and arrows are permitted. In Connecticut, the bows allowed for turkey and deer hunting must be long, compound, recurved, and have a draw weight of at least 40 crossbows and pounds. Mechanical strings are also permitted; however, covering a projectile with chemicals, poison, or narcotics is prohibited.

• Crossbows

Crossbows are legal for hunting a variety of game. The crossbow, on the other hand, should have a draw weight of at least 125 pounds. It must also have a fixed rifle and an effective automatic safety device.

The state also allows the use of adjustable crossbow sticks, but not adjustable folding stocks. The arrow must be at least 18 inches long, not including the broadhead length. When a crossbow has been pulled to its utmost and the bolt is in place, it is said to be loaded.

For deer and turkey hunting in Connecticut, the arrowhead must have at least two blades and be no more than eight inches wide. It makes no difference if an arrowhead is designed to open on impact; as long as it fits these specifications, it is permissible.

• Possession of bowhunting firearms

In Connecticut, carrying a firearm while bow hunting is illegal.

Baggage Restrictions

The bag limit is another crucial restriction that hunters should be aware of. It contains the following items:

• Baggage Limit per Day

This is the number of game species that a hunter can take in a single day, calculated as the hours between 12 a.m. and 12 a.m. the following day. It is illegal for a hunter to take more than the daily limit while hunting during these 24 hours.

• Possession while in storage

This is a seasonal bag limit for the amount of non-migratory wildlife and game species that can be stored from the start of the season for a certain game. Excessive bag limits for a season are a breach of bag limit regulations. Federal hunting laws govern the possession and storage of migratory game such as snipe, ducks, and coots.

• Season Bag Cap

This is the number of animals and games that can be taken during the open season.

Hunter Harassment Statute

Connecticut also has hunter harassment regulations in place to preserve the sport.

The legislation provides that no one should interfere with a legal hunting practice taking place in a wildlife area or anywhere else in the state.

Violations of this law occur when someone commits any of the following on purpose:

• Wildlife is driven in to disrupt hunting activities.
• prevents hunting by impeding or bothering a hunter while he or she is engaged in the activity.
• Artificial or olfactory stimuli are used to disrupt wildlife behavior patterns.
• Install barriers to prohibit or limit hunters’ actions.
• While attempting to shoot down a game, he enters a hunter’s line of fire.
• Disturb a publicly or privately held property used for authorized game hunting in the state.
• without the approval of people in control, impedes a private land section.

Connecticut Hunting Licenses, Tags, and Permits

Before you can take games or animals in Connecticut, you must acquire a hunting license or permit. Residents and non-residents can purchase a variety of hunting licenses.

The following license tags and permits are available for hunting in Connecticut:

License to Hunt with Firearms

This is a general firearm hunting permit that is available to both Connecticut citizens and nonresidents. It costs $19 for adult residents, $10 for adolescent residents, and $91 for non-residents.

License for Firearms Hunting and Inland Fishing

This license is valid in Connecticut for both hunting and inland fishing. It is offered to both residents and non-residents of the state, with adult residents paying $38, teen residents paying $19, and non-residents paying $110.

All Waters Fishing License and Firearm Hunting License

This license allows for rifle hunting and fishing in all Connecticut bodies of water. It is available to both residents and non-residents and costs $40 for adults, $20 for teenagers (16 and 17), and $120 for non-residents.

License for Firearm Hunting and Marine Water Fishing

This license is valid in Connecticut for both gun hunting and marine water fishing. It is offered to both residents and non-residents for a fee of $25 for adults, $13 for teenagers (16 and 17 years old), and $94 for non-residents.

License for Archery Deer and Small Game Hunting

Holders of this license may take deer with archery and may also take small game animals in Connecticut. It is available to residents as well as non-residents as an out-of-state Connecticut hunting license. Adult residents pay $41, juvenile residents (16 and 17 years old) pay $21, and non-residents pay $135.

Archery Deer and Small Game Hunting License, in addition to an All Water Fishing License

This license permits you to shoot deer and small game as well as fish in all Connecticut bodies of water. Adult residents pay $65 while teenagers (16 and 17 years old) pay $33.

Trapping Permit

This license permits hunters in Connecticut to set traps or bait wildlife and games. Adult residents pay $34, teen residents (16 and 17 years old) pay $17, and non-residents pay $250.

In Connecticut, licenses are also awarded based on age, and they include the following:

Junior Firearms Hunting Permit

This license is available to Connecticut residents and nonresidents between the ages of 12 and 15. Both residents and non-residents must pay $11.

Deer and Small Game Junior Archery License

The license allows Connecticut citizens and nonresidents between the ages of 12 and 15 to take deer and hunt small game. Residents pay $10, while nonresidents pay $19.

Junior Trapping Permit

This is only good for Connecticut residents under the age of 15. It is $11.00.

Annual Hunting Permit

This hunting license is only accessible to Connecticut citizens aged 65 and up. It is completely free.

Annual Trapping Permit

This is a trapping license given to residents aged 65 and up. It is completely free.

Connecticut Fishing Permits and Licenses

The following fishing licenses are available in Connecticut:

Resident All-Water Fishing Permit

This is a resident-only fishing license that allows holders to fish in both inland and coastal waters. Adult residents pay $32 and teenagers pay $16.

Inland Fishing License for Residents

This license allows holders to fish solely in inland waters. Adult residents pay $28 and teenagers pay $14.

Inland fishing and small game hunting are popular pastimes among residents.

Holders of this license will be able to fish in inland waters and hunt small game across the state. It costs $38 for adults and $19 for teenagers to live there.

Residents have access to all-water fishing, bow and arrow hunting, small game hunting, and deer hunting.

This license permits you to fish in all waters and shoot deer and small game with an archery. Adult residents pay $65 and teen residents pay $32.

Season Inland Fishing License for Non-Residents

Nonresidents who want to fish in inland waters must obtain this license. It will set you back $55.

Nonresident All Waters Seasonal Fishing License

Nonresidents are permitted to fish in both inland and marine waters. It will set you back $63.

3-Day Inland Fishing License for Nonresidents

Nonresidents who want to fish in inland waters can obtain this license. It is only good for three days and costs $22.

Residents who have obtained a Marine Water Fishing License

This license allows holders to fish in maritime waters. Adult residents pay $10, while teen residents pay $5.

One Day of Marine Water Fishing for Residents

allows locals to fish in salt water, however the license is only good for one day. Adult residents pay $5, while non-residents pay $3.

Marine Water Fishing and Firearm Hunting Residents

This license permits for both marine fishing and hunting during rifle season. Adult residents pay $25, while teen residents pay $13.

Nonresident Marine Fishing Permit

Non-residents of Connecticut may obtain this license to fish in Connecticut’s marine waters. It is priced at $15.

Nonresident Firearms and Marine Water Fishing License

Non-residents will be able to fish in marine waters and hunt with guns with this license. It will set you back $94.

Three-Day Marine Fishing License for Nonresidents

Non-residents can fish in marine waters with this license, however it is only valid for three days. It will set you back $8.

Marine Water Fishing License for Armed Forces

This is a special license granted to members of the United States military or National Guard for fishing in Connecticut’s marine waters. It costs ten dollars.

Permit for Armed Forces Inland Fishing

This is a special license granted to members of the United States military or the National Guard for fishing on Connecticut’s inland waters. It is priced at $28.

Permit for Armed Forces Inland Fishing with Small Game Firearms Hunting

Members of the United States Armed Forces can now fish in inland waters and hunt small game species in Connecticut.

All Water Permit for Armed Forces

This permission will allow members of the armed forces to fish in all bodies of water in the United States.

2020/2021 Connecticut Hunting Season

Connecticut, like the rest of the western United States, has a favorable climate and weather for hunting season.

Connecticut’s shooting season for various wildlife in 2020-21 includes the following:

Deer Hunting Season in Connecticut

• Archery Season (September 15th to December 31st)
• Shotgun and Rifle Season (Public Lands: November 18th to December 8th; Private Lands: November 2nd to December 31st)
• Muzzleloader Season (December 9th to December 31st for private land and December 9th to December 22nd for state land)

Turkey Hunting Season in Connecticut

• Fall Archery Season (September 15th to September 31st)
• Fall Firearm Season (October 3rd to October 31st)

Small Game Hunting Season in Connecticut

• Cotton Rabbit Season (October 1st to December 31st)
• Squirrel Season (September 1st to December 31st)
• Woodchuck Season (March 16th to November 16th)
• Chukar Partridge Season (October 17th to December 31st)
• Quail Season (October 17th to November 2nd)
• Pheasant Season (October 17th to December 31st)
• Grouse Season (October 17th to December 30th)

Season dates for each species may fluctuate depending on the hunting zone in Connecticut.

Connecticut Game, Fish, and Wildlife

The following are some of the fauna and games accessible for hunting in Connecticut:

Hunting for deer in Connecticut

Whitetail deer shooting in Connecticut is not a revered sport in and of itself, but the deer horns serve as trophies for hunters. Deer hunting is popular in Connecticut because of the excellent deer meat known as venison.

Connecticut Hunting for turkeys

Connecticut turkey hunting is enjoyable. In the state, the game is quite unique. They are difficult to hunt since they blend in well with their surroundings and are really effective games.

Duck Hunting in Connecticut

Duck hunting is a popular pastime in Connecticut. Ducks are quite swift, with the ability to traverse a mile in one minute. Ducks can travel as far as South America and back during their annual migration.

Goose Hunting in Connecticut

Connecticut offers a variety of geese for hunting. It is one of the states popular with goose hunters in the United States. Snow geese, blue geese, and Canada geese are the most common goose species in the state.

Pheasant Hunting in Connecticut

Pheasant hunting in Connecticut is not for the faint of heart. Pheasants blend in with their surroundings and use this to hide from hunters. Pheasants are plentiful in Connecticut, as they are in most other parts of the country. They live in parts of the state such as meadows, woodland areas, and field areas.

Quail Hunting in Connecticut

Quail hunting is a popular activity in Connecticut. They live in the state’s fields and farming towns. They come in a variety of color combinations, including as black, grey, and brown. They are also quite difficult to hunt.

Hunting for Connecticut Grouse

Because of their hues, grouse can blend with their surroundings and hide from hunters. They are common in Connecticut and live in farming regions, wooded areas, meadows, and fields.

Connecticut Gun Ranges

The following are some of the shooting ranges open to the public in Connecticut:

• Cooperative Shooting Range at Wooster Mountain State Park
• Cooperative Shooting Range at High Rock
• Public Shooting Range in Glastonbury
• Field Archery Range Nye Holman

Hunting Land in Connecticut for Sale and Lease

Connecticut hunting lands for sale include the following:

• Litchfield County, 434 acres; Winchester Town, CT 06098.
• Windham County, 645 acres, Killingly Town, CT 06241.
• Windham County, 3 acres, Ashford, Connecticut 06278.
• Windham County, 13.6 acres, Woodstock, CT 06281.