Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

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

Hunting and Trapping Information

News and Notices  |  2024 CT Hunting and Trapping Guide  |  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 October 10, 2024; stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

Sections of the Larkin State Park Trail are closed due to flooding.

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

Kettletown State Park is closed due to flooding.

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 flooding and the storm. Aquarion Water Company has repaired all of the parking areas, except for Barn Hill Road in Monroe for the Paugussett Trail. Aquarion plans to reach out to deer hunters who have an access permit for the upcoming archery deer season to remind them to use caution when scouting and hunting this fall.

All footbridges at Centennial Watershed Forest will be out for the foreseeable future. These were part of the Blue Trail System, and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, which is responsible for the footbridges, is considering options. However, repairs are being made to areas that have washed out. 

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 
2024 Deer Lottery  

Reminder: Select lottery permits not purchased by January 31 will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis starting March 15, 2024, at 9:30 AM. Unsold lottery permits can be purchased online or at select DEEP offices up until sold out. All unsold lottery permits must be purchased at the end of the transaction. (More details on the Deer Lottery) (Instructions for purchasing unsold lottery permits)

2024 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide

Find links to the different sections of the 2024 Guide.

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 November 19, 2024.