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

Press Releases

DEEP News Release Header

10/04/2024

DEEP Announces Opening Days of Fall Turkey, Pheasant, and Small Game Hunting Seasons

Firearms Turkey Season Opens October 5; Pheasant and Small Game Seasons Open on October 19

(HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced the Opening Days of the following fall hunting seasons:

  • The firearms turkey season opens Saturday, October 5 and continues through October 31.

Peak hunting activity for these species typically occurs during early morning and late afternoon hours during mid-October through mid-December. Hunters are reminded that during September 1 through the last day of February, hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing above the waist and visible from all sides. An orange hat, in addition to a coat or vest, is strongly recommended. All outdoor users are encouraged to wear fluorescent orange clothing or a hat while visiting public areas open to hunting this fall.

Hunting is a great outdoor activity that provides participants the opportunity to obtain locally sourced, sustainable food. DEEP offers several resources for individuals interested in learning more about hunting, including the Hunter Highlights newsletter, the Hunting Roadmap, and mentored Junior Hunting Training Days held free of charge. Hunters must also complete a Hunter Safety Course conducted by the Connecticut Conservation Education Firearms Safety Program prior to obtaining a hunting license.

DEEP also continues to remind all those recreating outdoors to take precautions against mosquito bites this fall until the first hard frost. The Connecticut Mosquito Management Program has issued warnings to Connecticut residents about the risk of mosquito borne illnesses including West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). The latest information on detections of mosquito borne viruses in various areas of the state can be found on the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station website.      

Hikers, hunters, and others spending time in forested areas this fall should also be mindful of hazard trees. Several successive years of storms, drought, and insect infestations have severely damaged a significant number of Connecticut’s trees. A "hazard tree" has a structural defect that makes it likely to fail in whole or in part. Such a tree can fall without warning! Follow these guidelines to manage risks associated with hazard trees:

  • Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid dense patches of dead or distressed trees.
  • Be particularly watchful when it is windy or when branches are covered with snow.
  • Look up while on trails.
  • Avoid parking, picnicking, camping, hiking, and hunting in areas where dead trees or dead limbs could fall.

Additional Information on fall turkey, pheasant, and small game seasons

The Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp is required to hunt all upland game birds (pheasants, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, chukar and Hungarian partridges, and quail), and replaces the pheasant stamp and all wild turkey permits. The stamp costs $28 for resident and non-resident adults and $14 for Connecticut hunters ages 12 to 17. All revenues from the sale of Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamps are deposited into a dedicated, non-lapsing account to use exclusively for game birds and their habitat.

Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp: The Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp has been merged with the HIP permit into a single Stamp, which costs $17 ($9 for resident 12 - 17-year-olds). It is required for anyone hunting waterfowl, rails, snipe, woodcock, and crows. All proceeds from the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp go into a dedicated account that is used solely for wetland habitat management and acquisition or improving hunter access.

The 2024 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide and the 2024-2025 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide, which contain additional information on laws, regulations, and season dates, can be obtained at outdoor equipment vendors, town clerk offices, or on the DEEP Outdoor Guides website. Maps denoting many state-owned hunting areas and most permit-required hunting areas also may be obtained from the DEEP Public Hunting Areas website. 2024 hunting licenses, permits, and stamps can be purchased directly online from the Connecticut Online Sportsmen Licensing System or at one of many participating town halls or outdoor equipment retailers.

Pheasant Hunting

The permit-based Saturday program will continue at ONLY Naugatuck State Forest (Hunter’s Mountain Block) and Eversource Skiff Mountain Cooperative WMA from October 19 - November 16. Areas will be stocked on Saturday morning and prior to each hunting group. All hunters wishing to use these areas on Saturdays before 3:30 p.m. must have a Saturday permit (or be a junior hunter accompanying a permitted hunter) and will only be able to be present during the specified time on the daily permit. Saturday permits for these areas will only become available on the Connecticut Online Sportsmen Licensing System the Monday preceding the Saturday hunts starting at 7:00 a.m. Please check the DEEP Pheasant Hunting webpage frequently as last-minute changes may occur. This webpage also contains additional details, such as area allocations and an updated listing of all major pheasant stocking areas.

 

Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
Facebook: DEEP on Facebook

Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110