Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Hunting and Trapping Information

News and Notices  |  2025 CT Hunting and Trapping Guide  |  CT Migratory Bird Hunting Guide  |  Hunting at National Wildlife Refuges in Connecticut  | ATV Regulations  |  Thank a Landowner  

Hunting and fishing licenses, stamps, and permits can be purchased 24/7 on the DEEP’s Online Outdoor Licensing System. These items can also be purchased at outdoor equipment retailers and some town halls (please check with your local town hall to find out about availability or any restrictions) and select DEEP offices.

Hunting and fishing licenses purchased through CT's Online Outdoor Licensing System can be signed electronically, allowing you to keep a digitally signed copy on your smartphone instead of needing to have a signed, printed copy! Licenses purchased through a license agent location must still be printed and signed to be valid. 

New to hunting or interested in taking up the activity again? The Hunting Roadmap helps you get started! 

 

Hunting and Trapping News and Notices

Area Closures and Damage Due to August 2024 Flooding Event

Updates as of January 2025; stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

A large section of the Larkin State Park Trail, from Kettletown Road in Southbury to Christian Street in Oxford, remains closed due to damages sustained in the August 2024 flooding event. Trail Closure Map

Southford Falls State Park is closed until further notice due to the recent flooding episode and construction.

Kettletown State Park: Kettletown State Park sustained flood damages as a result of the unprecedented heavy rainfall event in August 2024. The campground and surrounding areas, including the Pomeraug, Crest, and Brook Trails are closed, and will remain closed for the 2025 season. The day-use areas, including the Miller Trail, have been reopened.

Naugatuck State Forest (Naugatuck, Oxford, Beacon Falls): Access to the West Block from Hunters Mt. Rd. in Naugatuck is open to the High Rock Range. Hunters Mt. Road leading up to the fields is now open. There is still no access to the West Block from Cold Spring Road in Beacon Falls. 

Centennial Watershed Forest (Easton, Newtown, Redding, Weston) experienced damage related to the August 2024 flooding. The blue-blazed Saugatuck Trail is temporarily closed at the Little River bridge just south of Newtown Turnpike in Redding. This section of trail is closed to protect safety and public water supply. Recreation on Centennial Watershed State Forest is allowed through a special permit issued by the Department of Public Health. Wading or walking through tributaries is prohibited. Aquarion Water Company and Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) volunteers have fixed all the other remaining bridges.

Report Deer Harvest for the 2024 Deer Hunting Season (running tally this is updated regularly)

Sign up to receive our free electronic newsletter, Hunter Highlights. View the latest issue: Spring/March 2024 
2025 Deer Lottery  

Reminder: Lottery permits for state land and controlled hunt areas may be applied for starting January 2, 2025, starting at 9:30 AM. Lottery permits can be purchased through the Online Outdoor Licensing System or at select DEEP offices. Persons rejected for a lottery permit may obtain a state land no-lottery permit. However, you may buy only one type of state land shotgun deer permit. Select lottery permits not purchased by January 31 will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis starting March 17, 2025, at 9:30 AM.  (More details on the Deer Lottery) (Deer Lottery Instructions)

2025 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide

Find links to the different sections of the 2025 Guide.

Hunters: Help Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade

Connecticut Migratory Bird Hunting Guide

Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations 

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.

Hunting at National Wildlife Refuges in Connecticut

Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge (NWR): Opportunities for hunting at this federally-owned NWR have been expanded to include archery deer hunting on 4 units, archery turkey hunting on 1 unit, and waterfowl hunting on 3 units. The Stewart B. McKinney NWR consists of 10 units located along the coast of Connecticut from Westbrook to Greenwich. Select the links below for each unit to obtain information on allowable hunting, accessibility, regulations, maps, and more, as well as to print out a Hunt Brochure that needs to be signed and carried on your person while hunting at these areas. Use the Find Your Hunt mapping application provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to see maps of the national wildlife refuges in Connecticut.

  • Calf Island Unit, Greenwich: Waterfowl and archery deer hunting only. Hunters must have a signed USFWS Hunt Brochure at all times.
  • Great Meadows Unit, Stratford: Waterfowl and archery deer hunting only. Waterfowl may be hunted on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday during the regular state season. After the close of the regular waterfowl season, Canada and snow goose hunting is permitted every day except Sunday. Hunters must have a signed USFWS Hunt Brochure at all times.
  • Chimon and Sheffield Islands, Norwalk: Waterfowl and archery deer hunting only. Hunters must have a signed USFWS Hunt Brochure at all times.
  • Salt Meadow Unit, Westbrook: Fall archery deer (tree stand) and turkey hunting only. Hunters must have a signed USFWS Hunt Brochure at all times.

Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge: Hunting and fishing information for the Silvio O. Conte NWR, including a Hunt Brochure for hunters to print and carry with them when hunting on Refuge lands, can be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website. Hunters must have a signed USFWS Hunt Brochure at all times. 

 

Registered Hunting and Fishing Guide List

Outdoor Safety Tips

Frequently Asked Questions about Hunting

Game Bird Harvest Tags

Take a Firearms, Bowhunting, or Trapping Safety Course

Advanced Hunter Education

2023 Connecticut Deer Program Summary

2023 Wild Turkey Program Report

Follow the DEEP Wildlife Division on Social Media:

   

 

Regulations for Riding All-Terrain Vehicles in Connecticut
  • All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) MAY NOT be operated on any state lands (exceptions may be granted for paraplegics and sanction events).
  • Written permission is required to operate an ATV on private land (If permission is not obtained, may result in a Criminal Trespass Fine).
  • ATVs MAY NOT be operated in any manner which would harass wildlife or domestic animals.
  • All ATVs require a valid registration.
  • ATV operators MUST STOP upon request from any law enforcement officer.
  • ATVs MAY NOT be operated on any railroad right-of-way.
Potential Impacts of ATV Misuse

Damage to a hiking trail caused by an illegal all terrain vehicle.

  • The heavy weight of an ATV compacts soil, often leading to excessive runoff where sediments have negative impacts on aquatic habitats for fish, amphibians, and other wildlife.
  • Water quality can also be impacted by suspended sediments blocking light, which reduces the ability of aquatic plants to photosynthesize and reduces oxygen levels in the water column. Reduced oxygen levels cause negative effects on survival and productivity in aquatic ecosystems.
  • Vegetation and fragile habitats can be damaged by riding in wetland habitats.
  • Invasive plant seeds and plant fragments can be transported long distances on ATVs, causing negative impacts to native plant communities.
  • Excessive noise has been shown to disrupt normal behavior patterns of wildlife species, such as nesting, reproduction, and feeding.
  • More information about ATVs on State Land
Please ride responsibly and follow all ATV rules and regulations.

 

Thank a Landowner!

Private landowners create recreational opportunities by granting outdoor users access to their property. This access is a privilege, so please remember to take time every year to extend your appreciation to private landowners who offered you access for fishing, hunting, hiking, or wildlife watching opportunities on their properties. If you have been recreating on local land trust or other private non-profit conservation lands, be sure to include those groups on your thank you list as well. Following are some suggestions for hunters, anglers, and other outdoor users when thanking private property owners who allow access for outdoor recreation:

  • Express your appreciation thoughtfully and personally. If you are mentoring a new or junior hunter, angler, birder, or naturalist, include him or her in the process of thanking the landowner.
  • Consider providing the landowner with some of your fish or game harvest, or share images or a list of the wildlife you saw on their property.
  • Send a personal note or card thanking the landowner for the opportunity to use his or her land. Consider giving a small gift, such as a gift certificate or gift basket. In the case of a non-profit landowner, make a donation to their organization.
  • Offer to help with tasks around the property, or identify, clean up, and properly dispose of any illegal dumping that has occurred.
  • Document and report suspicious or illegal activities on the property to the DEEP Environmental Conservation Police at 860-424-3333 (24 hours) or deep.EnConPolice@ct.gov.

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration logo and tagline.

Content last updated on January 29, 2025.