Public Hunting Areas
Interactive Hunting Area Maps
Maps and hunting information for State Forests, Wildlife Management Areas, State Parks, Permit-Required Areas, Waterfowl Closures, and other areas managed or leased by DEEP.
Consult the User Guide for desktop and mobile app instructions.
2024 List of Public Hunting Areas from the 2024 CT Hunting and Trapping Guide
ATTENTION: When visiting or hunting at State Forests, State Parks, or Wildlife Management Areas, please DO NOT park in front of closed gates. Even though the gates are closed to the public, DEEP staff may need to use those gates to access the road/area behind them.
Deer/Turkey Managment Zone Map
A map of Deer/Turkey reporting zones by town.
Pheasant Hunting in Connecticut
A link to the pheasant hunting page with further information about and maps of the pheasant areas.
Waterfowl Hunting Areas
A non-inclusive list of popular waterfowl hunting areas with good access.
Connecticut Migrant Goose Zones
Map and list of towns for Connecticut Migrant Canada goose seasons.
Deer/Turkey Management Zones
Waterfowl Hunting Areas
The following areas are open for waterfowl hunting. This list is not inclusive; however, it represents areas where a majority of waterfowl hunting occurs and that have good access. Maps and a full list of areas that are open to waterfowl hunting are on the Interactive Hunting Area Map (select the query button on the top right of the map to obtain a list of areas open to waterfowl hunting).
|
Town |
Waterfowl Hunting Area |
|---|---|
|
Andover |
Bishop Swamp WMA |
|
Barkhamsted |
Peoples State Forest |
|
Bloomfield |
Bloomfield Flood Control Area (Site 2)d |
|
Bolton |
Bolton Aread |
|
Burlington |
Sessions Woods WMAa, d |
|
Canaan |
Robbins Swamp WMA |
|
Canterbury, Plainfield |
Quinebaug River WMA |
|
Colchester |
Salmon River State Forest (including Holbrook Pond) |
|
Colebrook, Hartland |
MDC-Colebrook Reservoir/Hogback Dam |
|
Cornwall |
Wyantenock State Forest |
|
Cromwell, Middletown |
Cromwell Meadows WMA |
|
Durham |
Durham Meadows WMA |
|
East Haddam, Colchester |
Babcock Pond WMAa |
|
East Haddam, Haddam |
Salmon River Cove and Haddam Neckb |
|
East Lyme |
Nehantic State Forestc |
|
East Windsor, Enfield |
East Windsor-Enfield Aread |
|
East Windsor |
Scantic River State Parkc, d |
|
Eastford |
Natchaug State Forestc |
|
Eastford, Union, Ashford |
Yale-Myers Forest (owned by Yale University)d |
|
Enfield, Suffield |
Eversource Kings Island Cooperative WMA |
| Greenwich | Stewart B. McKinney NWR (Calf Island Unit)e |
|
Guilford |
East River Marsh WMAb |
|
Guilford |
Great Harbor WMA |
|
Haddam |
Higganum Meadows WMA |
|
Haddam |
Cockaponset State Forestc |
|
Hartland |
Tunxis State Forest |
|
Harwinton |
Roraback WMA |
|
Hebron |
Raymond Brook WMA |
|
Kent |
Housatonic River WMA |
|
Killingly, Sterling |
Ross Marsh WMA |
|
Lebanon |
Bartlett Brook WMA |
|
Lebanon |
Moween State Park (Red Cedar Lake) |
|
Lebanon, Colchester |
Lebanon Coop. Mgmt. Aread |
|
Lyme |
Lords Cove WMAb |
|
Lyme |
Nott Island WMAb |
|
Lyme |
Selden Neck State Park (Selden Island)b |
|
Mansfield |
Mansfield State-leased Field Trial Area |
|
Mansfield, Chaplin |
Mansfield Hollow State-leased WMA (excluding State Park and Field Trial Area) |
|
Middlefield |
Black Pond WMA |
|
New Harford |
MDC-Greenwoods Pond |
|
North Franklin |
Franklin Swamp WMA |
|
North Haven |
Quinnipiac River Marsh WMAb |
| Norwalk | Stewart B. McKinney NWR (Chimon and Sheffield Islands)e |
|
Old Lyme |
Roger Tory Peterson WMAb |
|
Old Saybrook |
Plum Bank Marsh WMA |
|
Old Saybrook |
Ragged Rock Creek Marsh WMAb |
|
Old Saybrook |
South Cove WMA |
|
Oxford, Beacon Falls |
Naugatuck State Forest |
|
Portland |
Wangunk Meadows WMA |
|
Portland, etc. |
Meshomasic State Forest |
| Ridgefield | Bennett's Pond State Park |
|
Salem |
Zemko Pond WMA |
|
Salisbury |
East Twin Lakes Water Access Area |
|
Scotland |
Mohegan State Forest (including Waldo Tract) |
|
Sharon |
Eversource Skiff Mountain Cooperative WMAd |
|
Sharon |
Housatonic State Forest |
|
Simsbury |
Simsbury WMA |
|
Stafford |
Ellithorpe Flood Control Area |
|
Stafford |
Shenipsit State Forest |
|
Stonington |
Barn Island WMA |
|
Stratford |
Stewart B. McKinney NWR (Great Meadows Unit)e |
|
Stratford, Milford, Orange |
Charles E. Wheeler WMAb |
|
Thompson |
West Thompson Dam (Army Corps) |
|
Tolland |
Kollar WMA |
|
Torrington |
John Minetto State Park |
|
Torrington |
Paugnut State Forest |
|
Torrington |
Sunnybrook State Park (west of Newfield Rd.) |
|
Union |
Nipmuck State Forest |
|
Voluntown |
Pachaug State Forestc |
a Handicap accessible blind available
b Access by boat only
c Some areas designated as firearm restricted, bowhunting only
d Permit required
e Permit required through Stewart B. McKinney NWR
Connecticut Migrant Goose Zones
Map showing the intrusion of the NAP Zone into the AFRP Zone.
Migrant Goose Zones by Town
|
Town |
Goose Zone |
Goose Zone Description If Town Has More Than One Zone |
|---|---|---|
|
Andover |
NAP |
|
|
Ansonia |
AFRP |
|
|
Ashford |
NAP |
|
|
Avon |
AP |
|
|
Barkhamsted |
AP |
|
|
Beacon Falls |
AFRP |
|
|
Berlin |
AP |
|
|
Bethany |
AFRP |
|
|
Bethel |
AFRP |
|
|
Bethlehem |
AP |
|
|
Bloomfield |
AP |
|
|
Bolton |
NAP |
|
|
Bozrah |
NAP |
|
|
Branford |
NAP |
|
|
Bridgeport |
AFRP |
|
|
Bridgewater |
AP |
|
|
Bristol |
AP |
|
|
Brookfield |
AFRP |
|
|
Brooklyn |
NAP |
|
|
Burlington |
AP |
|
|
Canaan |
AP |
|
|
Canterbury |
NAP |
|
|
Canton |
AP |
|
|
Chaplin |
NAP |
|
|
Cheshire |
AFRP |
|
|
Chester |
NAP |
|
|
Clinton |
NAP |
|
|
Colchester |
NAP |
|
|
Colebrook |
AP |
|
|
Columbia |
NAP |
|
|
Cornwall |
AP |
|
|
Coventry |
NAP |
|
|
Cromwell |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of I-91 |
|
Cromwell |
AFRP |
Portion of Town West of I-91 |
|
Danbury |
AFRP |
|
|
Darien |
AFRP |
|
|
Deep River |
NAP |
|
|
Derby |
AFRP |
All of Town not in NAP |
|
Derby |
NAP |
Portion of Town lying South of RT 34 to RT 8 and then East of RT 8 |
|
Durham |
NAP |
|
|
E Granby |
AP |
|
|
E Haddam |
NAP |
|
|
E Hampton |
NAP |
|
|
E Hartford |
NAP |
|
|
E Haven |
NAP |
|
|
E Lyme |
NAP |
|
|
E Windsor |
NAP |
|
|
Eastford |
NAP |
|
|
Easton |
AFRP |
|
|
Ellington |
NAP |
|
|
Enfield |
NAP |
|
|
Essex |
NAP |
|
|
Fairfield |
AFRP |
|
|
Farmington |
AP |
|
|
Franklin |
NAP |
|
|
Glastonbury |
NAP |
|
|
Goshen |
AP |
|
|
Granby |
AP |
|
|
Greenwich |
AFRP |
|
|
Griswold |
NAP |
|
|
Groton |
NAP |
|
|
Guilford |
NAP |
|
|
Haddam |
NAP |
|
|
Hamden |
AFRP |
|
|
Hampton |
NAP |
|
|
Hartford |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of I-91 |
|
Hartford |
AP |
Portion of Town West of I-91 |
|
Hartland |
AP |
|
|
Harwinton |
AP |
|
|
Hebron |
NAP |
|
|
Kent |
AP |
|
|
Killingly |
NAP |
|
|
Killingworth |
NAP |
|
|
Lebanon |
NAP |
|
|
Ledyard |
NAP |
|
|
Lisbon |
NAP |
|
|
Litchfield |
AP |
|
|
Lyme |
NAP |
|
|
Madison |
NAP |
|
|
Manchester |
NAP |
|
|
Mansfield |
NAP |
|
|
Marlborough |
NAP |
|
|
Meriden |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of I-91 |
|
Meriden |
AFRP |
Portion of Town West of I-91 |
|
Middlebury |
AFRP |
|
|
Middlefield |
NAP |
|
|
Middletown |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of I-91 |
|
Middletown |
AFRP |
Portion of Town West of I-91 |
|
Milford |
NAP |
That portion of Town to the East and North of RT 15 to the Milford Parkway and North of I-95. |
|
Milford |
AFRP |
The rest of Town not in NAP |
|
Monroe |
AFRP |
|
|
Montville |
NAP |
|
|
Morris |
AP |
|
|
Naugatuck |
AFRP |
|
|
New Britain |
AP |
|
|
New Canaan |
AFRP |
|
|
New Fairfield |
AFRP |
|
|
New Hartford |
AP |
|
|
New Haven |
NAP |
Rest of Town not in ARFP |
|
New Haven |
AFRP |
That portion of Town lying South of I-95 to the West shore of the Quinnipiac River and the portion of Town North of State St and RT 34 |
|
New London |
NAP |
|
|
New Milford |
AP |
|
|
Newington |
AP |
|
|
Newtown |
AFRP |
|
|
Norfolk |
AP |
|
|
North Branford |
NAP |
|
|
North Canaan |
AP |
|
|
North Haven |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of I-91 |
|
North Haven |
AFRP |
Portion of Town West of I-91 |
|
North Stonington |
NAP |
|
|
Norwalk |
AFRP |
|
|
Norwich |
NAP |
|
|
Old Lyme |
NAP |
|
|
Old Saybrook |
NAP |
|
|
Orange |
NAP |
That portion of Town lying North of I-95 and South of RT 34 |
|
Orange |
AFRP |
The rest of Town not in NAP |
|
Oxford |
AFRP |
|
|
Plainfield |
NAP |
|
|
Plainville |
AP |
|
|
Plymouth |
AP |
|
|
Pomfret |
NAP |
|
|
Portland |
NAP |
|
|
Preston |
NAP |
|
|
Prospect |
AFRP |
|
|
Putnam |
NAP |
|
|
Redding |
AFRP |
|
|
Ridgefield |
AFRP |
|
|
Rocky Hill |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of I-91 |
|
Rocky Hill |
AP |
Portion of Town West of I-91 |
|
Roxbury |
AP |
|
|
S Windsor |
NAP |
|
|
Salem |
NAP |
|
|
Salisbury |
AP |
|
|
Scotland |
NAP |
|
|
Seymour |
AFRP |
|
|
Sharon |
AP |
|
|
Shelton |
NAP |
Portion of Town south of RT 8 and east of RT 110 |
|
Shelton |
AFRP |
Rest of Town not in NAP |
|
Sherman |
AFRP |
|
|
Simsbury |
AP |
|
|
Somers |
NAP |
|
|
Southbury |
AFRP |
|
|
Southington |
AP |
|
|
Sprague |
NAP |
|
|
Stafford |
NAP |
|
|
Stamford |
AFRP |
|
|
Sterling |
NAP |
|
|
Stonington |
NAP |
|
|
Stratford |
NAP |
Portion of Town east of RT 110 and North of RT 15 |
|
Stratford |
AFRP |
Rest of Town not in NAP |
|
Suffield |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of RT 159 |
|
Suffield |
AP |
Portion of Town West of RT 159 |
|
Thomaston |
AP |
|
|
Thompson |
NAP |
|
|
Tolland |
NAP |
|
|
Torrington |
AP |
|
|
Trumbull |
AFRP |
|
|
Union |
NAP |
|
|
Vernon |
NAP |
|
|
Voluntown |
NAP |
|
|
Wallingford |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of I-91 |
|
Wallingford |
AFRP |
Portion of Town West of I-91 |
|
Warren |
AP |
|
|
Washington |
AP |
|
|
Waterbury |
AFRP |
|
|
Waterford |
NAP |
|
|
Watertown |
AP |
|
|
West Hartford |
AP |
|
|
West Haven |
NAP |
That portion of Town north of I-95 and South of RT 34 |
|
West Haven |
AFRP |
The rest of Town not in NAP |
|
Westbrook |
NAP |
|
|
Weston |
AFRP |
|
|
Westport |
AFRP |
|
|
Wethersfield |
NAP |
Portion of Town East of I-91 |
|
Wethersfield |
AP |
Portion of Town West of I-91 |
|
Willington |
NAP |
|
|
Wilton |
AFRP |
|
|
Winchester |
AP |
|
|
Windham |
NAP |
|
|
Windsor |
NAP |
East of RT 159 |
|
Windsor |
AP |
West of RT 159 |
|
Windsor Locks |
NAP |
East of RT 159 |
|
Windsor Locks |
AP |
West of RT 159 |
|
Wolcott |
AFRP |
|
|
Woodbridge |
AFRP |
|
|
Woodbury |
AP |
|
|
Woodstock |
NAP |
|
Interactive Hunting Area Maps User Guide
Desktop Guide
Mobile App Guide - Features detailed in the Desktop Guide are mentioned in the Mobile Guide. It is recommended to review the Desktop Guide first.
The Connecticut Hunting Area interactive map tool gives the hunter a powerful suite of utilities to help plan a hunt. To launch the app inside a web browser, use the link at the top of this page, or select here (to use alongside this guide, it is recommended to right-click and choose "Open in new window" to work alongside or split screen).
Launching the interactive map shows the state at full extent and the legend for quick reference to an area. Selecting an area will open a window detailing some basic information about the property. Expanding the window will provide a list of what hunting opportunities exist. Viewing the PDF map will allow access to a digital copy of the printed maps previously available at DEEP offices.
Selecting the info button gives a bit more background on some of the utilities available.
One of the most valuable tools available is the Basemap Selector. Options include the default Topographic layer, the relatively new USGS National Map topographic layer, the USA Topo Maps (the classic topographic map that many people are used to using in printed form; old road beds, logging access, and trails are marked on these), and Satellite Imagery with and without labels. By alternating through these views, a hunter can get a very good sense of what terrain to expect and, in some cases, specific habitat types from the comfort of their home.
Another useful tool, not mentioned in the information window, is Measurement. While the DEEP works to continuously update the data layers in the maps, new construction and property additions can lead to omissions. While 500-foot zones are marked on the map, it is the firearms hunter's responsibility to ensure compliance. An example at Franklin Swamp WMA shows how the Measurement tool can help.
After selecting the linear measurement icon (center icon) and changing the units to feet in the pulldown, single-clicking the start point and double-clicking the endpoint will give a linear distance. To measure a complex path, simply single click (as opposed to double) to add a turning point and continue the measurement as needed.
Measurement will also provide coordinates for a selected point, as well as the mouse pointer. Coordinates are only available in Decimal Degrees and Degrees Minutes Seconds. If converting to a grid system, ensure the datum is WGS84.
Mobile App Guide
The data stored in the Interactive Hunting Area Maps is hosted by ESRI. To access on a mobile device, a user should download ESRI ArcGIS Field Maps (formerly called Explorer). Field Maps is available for free for Apple on the App Store and Android on Google Play.
On starting the Field Maps app, select "Continue without Signing In" and search for "Connecticut Hunting Areas Map". On selection of the map, your phone will prompt for location access. If you select to grant that access, your location will be displayed on the map.
With the map open, tools on the top bar consist of Markup (Pencil), Layers (stacked squares), Search, and the options menu (three dots). Markup allows drawing on the screen, which stays on the device. Markups can be shared with other users. Layers allows for toggling on and off closed and open hunting areas, towns, and points of interest. The options menu allows for changing the basemap (broader selection than desktop), accessing Bookmarks/Your Places, viewing the legend, measuring, and sharing maps.
Long pressing a location will drop a pin. A dropped pin can be navigated to by Directions (launched in Maps), navigated to on foot with Compass (gives a heading and unlocks the map orientation to follow movement), or saved to Your Places.
Tapping on an area will allow the same window of information to be pulled up from the desktop. Directions, Compass, and Add to Places are options at the bottom of the screen, as well. Tapping the compass on the map will reorient it to North-Up.
Navigating to a specific coordinate is straightforward with the Search feature. In fact, Search will accept coordinates and addresses. Search is not terribly case or format sensitive and will work with most common coordinate systems. If a specific measurement and/or coordinate unit is preferred, pressing the back button in the top left corner and from the main page selecting the "person" on the top right of the screen, the Units menu can be modified. Once a search has been performed, the same navigation options (Direction, Compass, My Places) are available.
Content last updated in February 2024.