Hunting Roadmap
Follow the steps below to get started hunting in Connecticut:
STEP 1
Get your Conservation ID number from DEEP's Online Outdoor Licensing System if you do not already have one. This is the same number used to purchase fishing licenses and a boating certificate. If you have hunter safety certifications from other states that you want transferred to Connecticut, email deep.huntereducation@ct.gov with copies. Make sure you include your CT Conservation ID so your account can be updated.
STEP 2
Learn more about what you need to hunt certain species, including hunter safety certifications (firearms or bow), equipment, licenses, and more.
STEP 3
Sign up for a hunter education course for firearms or bowhunting if you are not already certified. All pre-requisites must be completed PRIOR to signing up for a course.
STEP 4
Find out where you can go hunting on public lands in Connecticut. (List of Public Hunting Areas from the 2024 CT Hunting and Trapping Guide)
- If you plan to hunt on private land, written permission from the landowner to hunt deer or wild turkeys is required using this Private Land Consent Form. Verbal permission is sufficient for small game and waterfowl.
STEP 5
Purchase your license and hunt!
- If you plan to hunt with a firearm and don’t already own one, follow the steps on how to purchase firearms and ammunition as detailed by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Helpful Resources
- 2024 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide
- 2024 Licenses, Stamps, and Permits
- 2024 Hunting Season Quick Reference Summary
- 2024 Public Hunting Area List
- Migratory Bird Hunting Guide
- Junior Hunter Training Days
- Pheasant Stocking and Hunting Areas
- Tagging and Reporting Deer and Turkey Harvests
- Hunting Laws and Regulations
- Use of attractants while deer hunting
- Sunrise/Sunset Table for 2024
- Hunting Opportunities for the Disabled
- Main Hunting and Trapping webpage
Still have questions? Read through these Frequently Asked Questions About Hunting.
Hunter Highlights Newsletter
Want regular updates on hunting seasons, regulations, game recipes, and more? Sign up for our quarterly electronic newsletter, Hunter Highlights.
View the latest issue: Spring/March 2024
Hunting and Fishing Fuel Conservation! 100% of the fees collected from sporting licenses by state law (CGS 26-15a) are allocated from the General Fund to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife. Two grant programs, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration, have been particularly important. These programs were initiated by sportsmen and conservationists to provide states with funding for fish and wildlife management and research, habitat acquisition, and sportsmen education programs.
Content last updated on March 28, 2024.