Connecticut Administrative Code
Title 26 - Fisheries and Game
86a - Deer Hunting
Section 26-86a-6 - Open Seasons
Universal Citation: CT Reg of State Agencies 26-86a-6
Current through September 9, 2024
(a) The hours for hunting deer authorized under the regulated sport hunting season permits shall be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset-prevailing time standard. The hours for hunting deer authorized under deer damage permits issued per Connecticut General Statutes section 26-82 shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset-prevailing time standard.
(b) The open seasons shall be:
(1) for archery deer hunting on state lands
open to archery deer hunting and firearms deer hunting, from September 15
through the second Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day and from the fourth
Wednesday after Thanksgiving Day through December 31;
(2) for archery deer hunting on state lands
open to archery deer hunting and closed to firearms deer hunting, and on
private lands, from September 15 through December 31;
(3) for archery deer hunting on private lands
in deer management zones designated by the commissioner and listed in the
applicable annual Connecticut hunting and trapping guide, from September 15
through January 31;
(4) for
muzzleloader deer hunting on state lands, from the second Wednesday after
Thanksgiving Day through the fourth Tuesday after Thanksgiving Day;
(5) for muzzleloader deer hunting on private
land, from the second Wednesday after Thanksgiving Day through December
31;
(6) for shotgun deer hunting on
state lands, from the second Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day through the
second Tuesday after Thanksgiving Day;
(7) for shotgun or rifle deer hunting on
private land, from the second Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day through the
second Tuesday after Thanksgiving Day;
(8) for revolver, as defined in section 29-27
of the Connecticut General Statutes, with a cartridge of .357 caliber or larger
and subject to the revolver carry permit provisions of subsection (b) of
section 29-28 of the Connecticut General Statutes, deer hunting on 10 or more
acres of private land, the seasons shall be:
(A) by persons authorized to hunt deer
pursuant to a free private land deer permit, as provided for in section 26-86a
of the Connecticut General Statutes, and a revolver deer permit, from November
1 through December 31;
(B) by other
residents of the state authorized to hunt deer pursuant to a private land
shotgun rifle deer permit and a revolver deer permit, from the second Wednesday
before Thanksgiving Day through the second Tuesday after Thanksgiving
Day.
(c) Special seasons shall be:
(1) for rifle,
shotgun or muzzleloader on private land in areas of the state designated by the
commissioner for antlerless deer only, from the fourth Wednesday before
Thanksgiving through the second Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day;
(2) for shotgun deer hunting on state land by
persons authorized to hunt deer pursuant to a Connecticut junior firearms
hunting license and a state land shotgun deer permit, and accompanied by an
adult simultaneously authorized to hunt deer pursuant to a Connecticut hunting
license and a deer permit, from the third Saturday through the second Saturday
before Thanksgiving Day. The adult mentor shall not carry a firearm and shall
remain within physical contact of, and in a position to provide direct
supervision and instruction of, the junior hunter at all times.
(3) for shotgun or rifle deer hunting on
private lands by persons authorized to hunt deer on the subject property
pursuant to a Connecticut junior firearms hunting license, a private land
shotgun rifle deer permit and written permission of the landowner, the junior
firearms permit holder shall be accompanied by an adult who is authorized to
hunt deer on the subject property simultaneously authorized to hunt deer on the
subject property pursuant to a Connecticut hunting license, private land
shotgun rifle deer permit and written permission of the landowner, from the
third Saturday through the second Saturday before Thanksgiving Day. The adult
mentor shall not carry a firearm and shall remain within physical contact of,
and in a position to provide direct supervision and instruction of, the junior
hunter at all times.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Connecticut may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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