News and Notes
2025-2026 Connecticut Migratory Bird Hunting Guide
New for 2025-2026 | Report Waterfowl Bands | Report Violations | Access Restrictions Due to Heightened Security | Hunter Ethics, and Waterfowl Hunting in Urbanized Settings
PDF version of the 2025-2026 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide
CT Interactive Hunting Area Map (includes areas closed to waterfowl hunting)
Sunrise-Sunset-Tide Table for September 2025 through March 2026.
Tides (weather and stream flows)
You can electronically sign your hunting and fishing license, which will allow you to keep a digitally signed copy on your smartphone instead of needing to have a signed printed copy!
New for 2025-2026
Section of Black Hall River Temporarily Closed to Waterfowl Hunting
According to a declaration from the DEEP Commissioner, the section of the Black Hall River in Old Lyme between the Mile Creek Road Bridge (northern boundary) and the second tidal creek upstream of the Amtrak line (southern boundary) has been temporarily closed to waterfowl hunting effective November 7, 2025.
Changes have occurred to HIP permits purchased through third-party license vendors. Learn how the changes affect you. There are no changes if you purchase your HIP permit through DEEP's Outdoor Licensing System.
- Migratory bird hunters are reminded that the new state law allowing Sunday hunting on private lands, which goes into effect on October 1, 2025, does not include migratory birds.
- There are a number of changes to the seasons from last year. The majority pertain to the South Zone and the duck seasons. In 2024, hunters supported the removal of the early duck season in the South Zone. Overwhelming comments in 2025 requested some of those days back. Two days, a Saturday and a holiday, have been returned to the season. In order to provide as many Saturdays and holidays in our seasons, we have taken advantage of our ability to have three segments to the South Zone duck season. There will be two late duck season opening days in the South Zone. Veteran’s Day (Nov. 11) will be the first of these, whereby the South Zone will open for one day. It will then open again on the following Saturday (Nov 15). The three weekdays (Nov. 12-14) between the two opening days, when hunting will not be open, will be used to provide an additional Saturday hunt day in January. This may be confusing at first, but in the absence of Sunday hunting for migratory birds statewide, two weekend hunt days are gained by splitting the season into three segments. If this strategy works out, it will be used in the North Zone in the future as well.
- The other change in 2025-2026 is a 3-bird pintail daily bag limit for the entire Atlantic Flyway. This liberalized daily bag is due to the fact that the Atlantic Flyway sees less than 5% of the continental pintail harvest, thus allowing the additional opportunity, even though in most of the Flyway, it will never be realized.
Please remember that black duck hybrids are classified as black ducks. With the change in the mallard bag limit, and to reduce any confusion in the field, this move reduces the chance of a mistake. (How to identify black ducks.)
CT Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp
The $13 Connecticut Duck Stamp is merged with the $4 Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit into a single $17 Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. ALL migratory bird hunters (including crow hunters), regardless of age, must purchase the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. Hunters under the age of 16 do not need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp to hunt waterfowl.
A 3-day, out-of-state (non-resident) bird hunting license, which costs $35, allows out-of-state hunters to hunt migratory and resident (non-migratory) game birds for 3 consecutive days. Out-of-state hunters must also purchase either a Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp or a Connecticut Resident Game Bird Stamp, depending on what species are being hunted.
Hunters who have encountered problems purchasing the federal Duck Stamp at local post offices can purchase the Electronic Duck Stamp, or E-Stamp, online for immediate use. You may purchase the E-Stamp from another state as DEEP's online system currently is unable to process federal Duck Stamp purchases. The actual stamp will be mailed to you after purchase, but you will have an E-Stamp to use until you receive the actual stamp. Details on how to purchase an E-Stamp are on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
Report Waterfowl Bands
Reporting waterfowl bands is crucial for management decisions. Leg band return data help managers track waterfowl movements, timing of these movements, harvest rates, and other important information. Bands and other markers, such as neck collars, can be reported at www.reportband.gov. When you report band recoveries, you will receive immediate feedback on where the bird was initially banded and can print a Certificate of Appreciation.
Report Violations
Poaching is stealing! Shooting before or after hours, overbagging, shooting out of season, and rallying birds are all unethical and illegal hunting behaviors. If you see violations, report them to the DEEP's 24-hour hotline at 1-800-842-4357. All calls are confidential.
Access Restrictions Due to Heightened Security
Waterfowl hunters are reminded that restrictions are in place in many areas due to heightened security concerns. Of note, per the United States Coast Guard:
- No boat may be anchored within 25 yards of any bridge along any navigable waterway.
- There is a 700-yard security zone around the Millstone Power Plant in Niantic.
- No boats are allowed within 1,500 feet of the downstream side of the Shepaug and Lake Housatonic Dams (Derby/Shelton); 700 feet of the downstream side of the Stevenson Dam (Oxford/Monroe); 300 feet of the downstream side of the Bleachery Dam (New Milford); and 300 feet upstream of all these dams.
Hunter Ethics, and Waterfowl Hunting in Urbanized Settings
As Connecticut becomes more urbanized, a smaller percentage of our population participates in hunting and is familiar with the traditions and values associated with hunting. The image that individual hunters portray to the non-hunting community is often the image that is placed upon the hunting community as a whole. Thus, the way hunters present themselves to the public is very important to the future of the hunting tradition.
Due to the high visibility areas that some waterfowlers use, particularly along the coast, it is imperative that hunters maintain the highest integrity and remain responsible while out in the field. Waterfowl hunting along the Connecticut coast is a long-running, cherished tradition. It has taken place for many years in close proximity to areas of high human use. For the most part, there have been very few conflicts. However, in recent years, some negative encounters have occurred between waterfowl hunters and the non-hunting public. Please give thought to where you hunt, and when you choose to hunt a particular spot. Just because it is legal, does not necessarily mean you should hunt it.
If you choose to hunt in areas that are in the public eye, you must exercise unquestioned ethical hunting practices, avoid conflicts with the non-hunting public, and use common sense. If you do not, the alternative is clear … hunting opportunities will be greatly reduced. To conduct yourself in an ethical and responsible manner, you should:
- Respect property and landowners. Always obtain permission to hunt on private land - this is a legal requirement in Connecticut.
- Know and obey the laws.
- Hunt safely. Shoot in a safe direction. Treat all guns as loaded. Always dress appropriately and be prepared for changes in the weather.
- Avoid potential conflicts with non-hunters.
- Respect the environment and wildlife.
- Don't "skybust." Calling waterfowl in to appropriate gun range is one of the greatest challenges and rewards of waterfowling.
- Don't shoot ducks on the water.
- If a nearby hunting party is working birds, don't try and call those birds to you.
Remember, hunting is a privilege, not a right. The hunting privilege you enjoy could be curtailed due to the unethical and unsportsmen-like actions of a few hunters.
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Content last updated on November 12, 2025.