Connecticut has archery, gun, and muzzleloader seasons, as well as antlerless deer permit to damage permits. Rules and restrictions are essential for safe and profitable hunting. This guide covers the scehdule, bag limitations, and pursuing guidelines, to help veterans and beginners succeed.
Connecticut Deer Season
The Schedule is split into multiple phases, typically lasts from the end of September through the beginning of January. These seasons include Archery, shotgun (lottery and non-lottery), rifle, revolver, and muzzleloader.
Deer Lottery
Archery-Only Lottery | 15-Sep – 30-Dec |
State Land Lottery “A” Season | 15-Nov – 2-Nov |
State Land Lottery Regular Season | 15-Nov – 5-Dec |
Bow Hunting
Private Land (Zones 11 and 12) | 1-Jan – 31-Jan |
Private Land (All Zones) | 15-Sep – 31-Dec |
State Land Bow Only Areas | 15-Sep – 30-Dec |
State Land | 15-Sep – 14-Nov |
20-Dec – 30-Dec |
Shotgun
No Lottery Season (State Controlled Areas) | 15-Nov – 5-Dec |
Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver
Private Lands | 15-Nov – 5-Dec |
Landowner | 1-Nov – 30-Dec |
Muzzleloader
Private Land | 6-Dec – 30-Dec |
State Land | 6-Dec – 19-Dec |
Bag Limits
Deer Season | Bag Limit |
Archery | 2 either sex, 2 antlerless (4 total); Additional bag of 1 either sex and 1 antlerless (2 total) during Jan. 1-31 season on private lands in zones 11 and 12 |
Archery-only Lottery | 2 either sex, 2 antlerless |
State Land Lottery | 1 either sex on state land areas; variable on Controlled Hunt Areas |
State Land No-Lottery | 1 either sex |
Private Land Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver | Varies by zone; typically 1 either sex and 1 antlerless; additional antlerless allowed in certain zones |
Landowner | 2 deer; 1 either sex and 1 antlerless |
State Land Muzzleloader | 1 either sex |
Private Land Muzzleloader | Varies by zone; typically 1 either sex and 1 antlerless; additional antlerless allowed in certain zones |
State Land and Controlled Hunt Lottery | 1 either sex on state land areas; variable on controlled hunt areas |
Licenses & Permits
Licenses | Resident (16 & 17) | Non-resident (Above 12) | Adult Resident |
Firearms | $10 | $91 | $19 |
Firearms and All Waters Fishing | $20 | $120 | $40 |
Archery Small Game | $21 | $135 | $41 |
Archery Small Game and All Waters | $33 | — | $65 |
Junior Firearms | $11 | $11 | |
Junior Archery Small Game | $19 | $10 | |
Age 65+ Annual License | — | Free (Annual Renewal) |
Permits
CT Deer Permits | Resident | Resident (12 to 17) | Nonresident |
---|---|---|---|
Private Land Shotgun/Rifle | $19 | $10 | $68 |
Private Land Muzzleloader | $19 | $10 | $68 |
State Land Muzzleloader | $19 | $10 | $68 |
State Land Lottery | $19 | $10 | $68 |
State Land No-lottery | $19 | $10 | $68 |
Revolver Deer Endorsement | $5 | --- | --- |
Regulations
- Connecticut requires a one-year Small Game and Archery Permit for small game and archery shooting. Photocopies of CE/FS bowhunting training certificates from 1982 or other states or countries are necessary to purchase the permit. Bowhunting on private and state property requires a permit for any archery. 12–15-year-olds may get junior permits. Hunters should realize that bow licenses, permits, and stamps no longer prove course completion.
- Guns licenses need a guns hunting license. Lot permits may be requested from January 3, 2023, at 9:30 AM. If denied lottery permission, one may still buy a no-lottery permit.
- The Revolver Endorsement permits hunters with a Free Landowner Permit or Connecticut residents with a Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Permit to use a revolver for hunting deer on private holdings of at least 10 acres. Handgun hunters need state/town carry licenses.
- Free Deer Landowner Permits and Landowner Resident Game Bird Stamps are available to Connecticut residents and non-residents with at least ten contiguous acres. They may also take turkeys on their land with a Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp or a stamp without a bag restriction.
- In Management Zones 2 and 4A, the “Antlerless Only” tag is prohibited during the Private Land Shotgun/Rifle and Muzzleloader seasons. These zones only allow “Either-sex” tags.
- Hunting is presumed while entering or leaving a hunting area with a loaded firearm. Carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun one hour before dawn without a live cartridge in the chamber is legal.
- With limited exclusions, hunting and dog training will be prohibited between October 14 and half an hour before dawn on October 21.
- Electronic calling devices are prohibited for shooting turkeys and migratory birds (excluding crows).
- Rifles and handguns bigger than. Twenty-two calibre rimfires are forbidden on the state-owned territory. State-leased and Permit-Required game Areas restrict rifles and pistols. Turkeys, ducks, and other federally restricted migratory game birds (excluding crows) cannot be hunted with rifles or pistols. Rifles and revolvers cannot be used to shoot deer,with more than ammunition.22 calibre is forbidden. Handgun hunters need state/town carry licenses.
- Shotgun ammunition heavier than #2 shot is restricted on state-owned, state-leased, and Permit-Required game Areas and private property during the Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer Season. The Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Season restricts using shotguns.
- Bowhunters must confirm CE/FS bowhunting course completion or its equivalent from another state or nation to get a minor game archery permit. Connecticut bowhunting license holders since 2002 have supplied this verification.
- Long, recurved, or compound bows with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds and crossbows with a fixed rifle-type stock and a mechanical safety system are legal. String release mechanisms are allowed. Crossbow bolts must be at least 18 inches long, and arrowheads must have two blades and be at least 7/8 inches broad at their widest point. Legal arrowheads open on impact. The drug, poison, and tranquillizer-coated missiles are illegal. Telescopes are allowed.
- Private deer hunting requires explicit authorization from the landowner. Other species need just verbal authorization. The landowner must sign the permission form, date it for the current season, and list the tools authorized. Trappers must renew their written permission yearly, although landowners and their successors may kill without it. Rifle or revolver pursuing requires at least 10 acres.
- Unless they are archery hunters or landowners hunting deer on their property, must wear at least 400 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing visible from all sides above the waist from September 1 to February 28. Landowner family members must wear luminous orange.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Connecticut Deer Hunting Season?
Archery season for private land (zones 11-12) is January 1–31 and September 15–December 31 for all private land zones. State land archery season is September 15–November 15 and December 21–31. State-only bowhunting sites are accessible from September 15–December 31. Archery-only lottery season goes from September 15 to December 31, while state land lottery “A” and regular lottery seasons run from November 16 to November 25 and November 16 to December 6, respectively. From November 16 to December 6, state and private property shotgun/rifle/revolver deer shooting is allowed without a lottery. Landowner deer is from November 1–December 31. Finally, state land and regulated hunt lottery season run November 16–25 for the lottery “A” and November 16–6 for the regular lottery. State land muzzleloader is available December 7–20, while private land game is December 7–31.
What are the hours for deer hunting in Connecticut?
It is permitted from one-half hour before dawn to sunset.
What licenses are needed to hunt deer in Connecticut, and how much do they cost?
Hunters in Connecticut will need to buy a license, a deer tag, and a permit. A resident license costs $19 for a regular-season deer tag and $47 for a late-season tag and during the regular season costs $115 for non-residents, during the late season costs $232.
What types of weapons are allowed for deer hunting in Connecticut?
Connecticut hunters can pursue with muzzleloaders, shotguns, rifles, revolvers, and Archery. However, there are specific laws and guidelines that must be followed.
What are the rules for using a muzzleloader for hunting deer in Connecticut?
A muzzleloader may be used to hunt deer whenever a rifle or shotgun is permitted. A single bullet fired from the muzzle of the muzzleloader must, however, be no smaller than—45 calibre.
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