Public and Permit-Required Hunting Areas
Access to Permit-Required Hunting Areas is regulated by agreement with private landowners, towns, state agencies, water companies, universities, non-profits, and cooperating sportsmen’s clubs. Most Permit-Required Hunting Areas are open to the public from the third Saturday in October through the last day of February for small game and waterfowl hunting by special permit and are subject to certain restrictions. Hunting during any other period requires landowner permission unless specifically noted as open. No hunting is allowed before the third Saturday in October at Permit-Required areas that are not owned by the State. Access to some DEEP-owned lands is also regulated through a permit system. Maps describing each Permit-Required Area are available on the CT Interactive Public Hunting Area Map. Permit-Required Hunting Areas are posted with yellow plastic signs designating the properties under agreement. A list of Permit-Required Hunting Areas is available on the 2025 Public Hunting Area List (From the 2025 printed guide. Includes information on type of hunting permitted, town, acreage, and any special conditions.)
Online Issuance of Daily Permits: Daily permits for most Permit-Required Hunting Areas can be obtained for free online. These permits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to any persons holding a valid hunting license. Only one online permit can be obtained per selected hunting date. Once the quota is met, no more permits are available for that day. Permits will be issued 3 to 5 days in advance. To see which areas have online permitting, consult the 2025 Public Hunting Area List or the CT Interactive Public Hunting Area Map.
Daily permits can be obtained online through the Online Outdoor Licensing System. Once there, select the OTHER or the BIRDS AND WATERFOWL tab at the top of the page. You should then see a list that includes DAILY PERMITS. If you select ADD, you will see several days worth of permits, along with a list of areas where permits are still available. You can add one permit per day to your cart. You must CHECK OUT to add the daily permit to your license. There is no fee, but you will need to reprint your license and carry it with you to verify that you have a permit for the correct location and date. Instructions for Online Purchases
Firearms Restrictions - Rifles of any caliber or shotgun ammunition larger or heavier than #2 shot and hunting with any pistol or revolver of any caliber are prohibited on permit-required hunting areas, except by landowners, lineal descendants, and regular employees. Waterfowlers hunting from a boat, blind, or stationary position may use up to and including BB size steel shot.
Saturday Pheasant and Small Game Hunting Permits
Saturday permits are required of any hunter wishing to hunt small game or pheasants on Saturdays between October 18 - November 15, 2025, at the select areas listed below. Permits are available for three hunting periods: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, and 1:00 PM-3:00 PM. These areas will be stocked on Saturday morning and prior to each hunting group. Hunters will only be able to make a total of three reservations for the Saturday permits and cancellations cannot be made. All hunters should check-in with the staff on site upon arrival. Hunters who secure a permit may bring along one junior hunter. The junior hunter does not need a separate permit if they accompany a Saturday permit holder. Permit holders who do not bring a junior hunter as a guest, cannot bring an adult guest, this option is for juniors only.
Hunters without permits may hunt these areas after 3:30 PM.
Saturday permits for these areas will only become available on the Online Outdoor Licensing System the Monday preceding the Saturday hunts, starting at 7:00 AM. Specific details about these permits and pheasant hunting in general can be found on the Pheasant Hunting webpage.
- Eversource Skiff Mountain Cooperative WMA
- Naugatuck State Forest (West Block)
Hunting Dog Training and Field Trial Areas
CT 2025 Hunting and Trapping Guide Landing Page
Main Hunting and Trapping Webpage
Content last updated on November 18, 2025.