Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Connecticut Migratory Bird Hunting Guide


Waterfowl Hunting Areas


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 hunting area map section of the DEEP website (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

Bishops Swamp WMA

Barkhamsted

Peoples State Forest

Bloomfield

Bloomfield Flood Control Area (Site 2)d

Burlington

Sessions Woods WMAd

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 WMAc (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 WMAb

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. (Season permits for Bloomfield Flood Control Area Site 2, contact the Bloomfield Town Hall. Permits for Yale-Myers Forest are available on the Online Outdoor Licensing System. Yale University will contact hunters through the address email listed in their license profile to provide parking and access information.)
e Permit required through Stewart B. McKinney NWR

Main Hunting and Trapping Webpage

Content last updated in May 2024.