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HUNTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS
2011 HUNTING AND TRAPPING FIELD GUIDE
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
WILDLIFE DIVISION

General Restrictions - Legal Firearms - Legal Bows - Fluorescent Orange - Private Land Permission - Definitions - New Laws and Regulations
The use and possession of firearms, ammunition and bowhunting equipment is regulated in the interest of public safety and the conservation of wildlife. Hunters are also subject to any federal, state, or municipal firearms regulations. General restrictions on the use of firearms, air guns and bowhunting equipment are described below.

Hunting - General

Sunday Hunting Prohibited - Possession of hunting implements on Sunday in the open is prima facie evidence of violation. Sunday hunting is allowed on licensed private shooting preserves when the operator has permission from the town.
Prima Facie Evidence of Hunting - Possession by any person of a loaded hunting implement while at or entering or leaving an area where a reasonable person would believe the objective was to take wildlife. Except that a person may, one hour before sunrise during the regulated deer and turkey firearms hunting seasons, be in possession of a loaded rifle or shotgun provided a live round is not in the chamber of the rifle or shotgun.
Loaded Hunting Implement - (A) a rifle or shotgun with a live round in the chamber or in a magazine which is attached to such rifle or shotgun, a muzzle-loaded firearm with the percussion cap in place, or a flintlock firearm with powder in the pan, (B) a bow and arrow with an arrow notched on the bow, (C) a drawn crossbow with or without a bolt in place, or (D) a high velocity air gun that is charged with a projectile in the chamber or in a magazine that is attached to such air gun.
Hunting While Under the Influence or Impaired - No person shall engage in hunting while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, or while impaired by the consumption of intoxicating liquor.
Hunting Near Roads, Buildings, People, and Domestic Animals - Hunting or shooting from or across the traveled portion of any public roadway is prohibited. Shooting toward any person, building, or domestic animal when within range is prohibited.
Motor Vehicle/ATV Use - Hunting or shooting from a motor vehicle is prohibited. The use of all-terrain vehicles is prohibited on state land (see exceptions under Handicapped Hunting Opportunities).
Closed Season - No hunting and no training of dogs from October 1 through 7:00 a.m., EDT, on October 15, 2011, except for the hunting of rails in marshes; waterfowl hunting; legal deer and turkey hunting; licensed private shooting preserves operating under the provisions of Sec. 26-48; field trials held under the provisions of Sec. 26-51 and Sec. 26-52; the training of hunting dogs under the provisions of Sec. 26-49 of the General Statutes; the training of hunting dogs on any area approved by the department for this purpose. There is also a closed season for hunting all other wildlife during the spring wild turkey seasons.
Electronic Calling Devices - The use of electronic calling devices is prohibited when hunting migratory birds (except crows) and turkeys. Electronic calling devices can be used when hunting crows, coyotes, other small game and deer.
Trap and Target Shooting
Trap or target shooting on any state property or public hunting area is prohibited unless the area is a designated shooting range.
There are four state owned public shooting ranges available for target shooting, patterning shotguns and sighting in rifles.
Wooster Mountain State Park Cooperative Shooting Range - Wooster Mountain State Park, Danbury. Operated by the Danbury Shooting Sports Association. Located on Route 7, approximately two miles south of the Danbury Mall. Clay target shooting allowed. Call 845-279-4513 for daily time and fee schedule.
High Rock Cooperative Shooting Range - Naugatuck State Forest, Naugatuck. Operated by the High Rock Shooting Association, Inc. Range hours: Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday, 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm. Range fee: $5.00 for the first hour, fractional for more time. No clay targets allowed. State pistol permit required to shoot handguns. Call 203-879-4658 for information.
Glastonbury Public Shooting Range - Meshomasic State Forest, Glastonbury. Entry at Toll Gate Road. Range hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Two hour periods. Paper targets only, clay targets not allowed. No range fees. Call DEP Eastern District Headquarters for reservations at 860-295-9523 daily between 9:00 am – 4:30 pm (more info).
Nye Holman Field Archery Range - Nye Holman State Forest, Tolland, Rte. 74. Entrance on South River Road. Field course available to public at all times unless posted otherwise. Field points only, arrows with broadheads are strictly prohibited.
Falconry
Individuals wishing to participate in the sport of falconry must obtain both a Connecticut and a federal falconry permit prior to obtaining a falconry bird. Falconers are required to abide by the same regulations that pertain to other hunters who hunt small game and waterfowl. Any public hunting area open for small game or waterfowl hunting may also be used by falconers. Verbal permission is required on private lands. Falconers must wear fluorescent orange and must obtain the same licenses and permits required for small game and waterfowl hunting. (more info about falconry)

Firearms Hunting
The holder of a firearms hunting license may use rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and high-velocity air guns subject to certain restrictions.

500 Foot Zone - It is prohibited to hunt with, shoot, or carry a loaded firearm within 500 feet of any building occupied by people or domestic animals, or used for storage of flammable material, or within 250 feet of such buildings when waterfowl hunting in tidal areas from land shooting positions or from floating blinds anchored adjacent to land or from rock positions, unless written permission for lesser distances is obtained from the owner and carried. Landowners, their spouse, and lineal descendants are exempt from this restriction, providing any building involved is their own. The 500 foot zone does not apply to bowhunting.
Firearms in Vehicles - It is prohibited to carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
Rifles and Handguns- Rifles or handguns using ammunition larger than .22 caliber rimfire long rifle cartridges are prohibited on state-owned land. Rifles or handguns of any caliber are prohibited on State-leased and Permit-Required Hunting Areas (see Permit-Required and State-Leased Hunting Area sections for exceptions). The use of rifles or handguns to hunt turkeys, waterfowl, or any other federally regulated migratory game bird (except crows) is prohibited. Hunting on private land with ammunition larger than .22 caliber rimfire long rifle during the private land shotgun/rifle deer season is prohibited unless the user has a valid private land deer season permit and landowner consent form. The use of rifles or revolvers to hunt deer is subject to additional restrictions (see Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Season). The use of ammunition larger than .22 caliber rimfire long rifle to hunt raccoon or opossum at night is prohibited. A person using a handgun for hunting must possess any required state/town permits to carry. Note that it is legal to use .17 caliber rimfire firearms in all situations where it is legal to use .22 caliber rimfire long rifle firearms.
Shotguns - The possession of shotgun ammunition larger or heavier than #2 shot is prohibited on state-owned lands, state-leased lands, and Permit-Required Hunting Areas,at all times, and is prohibited on private lands during the Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer Season (see Permit-Required and State-Leased Hunting Area sections for exceptions). However, on any lands, waterfowlers hunting from a boat, blind, or stationary position may use up to and including size BB steel shot. The possession of lead shot while hunting waterfowl is prohibited. The use of shotguns larger than 10-gauge for hunting waterfowl is prohibited. Shotguns must not be capable of holding more than 3 shells when hunting waterfowl, other migratory birds (except crows), deer, and turkey. The use of shotguns to hunt deer or turkey is subject to additional restrictions (see Deer Hunting and Turkey Hunting).
Muzzleloaders - During Muzzleloader Deer Seasons, a muzzleloader means a rifle or shotgun, .45 caliber minimum, incapable of firing a self-contained cartridge, using powder and a single projectile loaded separately at the muzzle end. Shotgun converters and telescopic sights are legal. Restrictions on the use of smoothbore muzzleloaders for hunting small game and waterfowl are the same as those for shotguns. Restrictions on the use of muzzleloading rifles for hunting small game are the same as those for rifles, except that on state-owned land, up to a .36 caliber muzzleloading rifle using round ball ammunition only may be used. A percussion/in-line muzzleloader with a cap or primer installed, an electronic muzzleloader with a battery installed or a flintlock muzzleloader having powder in the pan is considered a loaded firearm.
High-Velocity Air Guns - Restricted to those that use a single ball or pellet-like projectile. Additional restrictions on the use of air guns are the same as those for rifles and handguns.
Bowhunting

Bowhunter Education - All bowhunters must show proof when purchasing a small game/deer archery permit that they have completed the CE/FS bowhunting course (since 1982) or its equivalent from another state or country. If you have previously purchased a 2002, or later, Connecticut bowhunting license you have already provided such proof.
Legal Bows and Arrows - For the purposes of hunting deer and turkey, legal bows and arrows include long, recurved, and compound bows with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds. An arrowhead must have at least two blades and must be at least 7/8 inch wide at its widest point. Arrowheads that are designed to open on impact are legal provided they meet the above requirement. Mechanical string release devices are permitted. Projectiles coated with any drug, poison or tranquilizing substance are prohibited.
Possession of a Firearm - Possession of a firearm while archery hunting is prohibited.
Use of Crossbows: The use of crossbows for hunting is prohibited, except for certain handicapped persons with special authorization or for deer and turkey hunting on private land in Zones 11 and 12 during the January archery season. Legal crossbows must have a draw weight between 125 and 220 pounds and permanent fixed rifle type stock with a functional mechanical safety device. The bolt (arrow) length must be at least 18 inches, excluding the broadhead, and the bolt weight must be at least 450 grains, including the broadhead. The broadhead must have at least two blades and must be at least 7/8 inch wide at the widest point. Crossbows are considered loaded when fully drawn, whether or not a bolt is in place.
Fluorescent Orange Requirement

During the period September 1 through the last day of February, hunters (including persons hunting with deer damage permits) are required to 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.

The following hunters are exempt from this requirement:

Archery Deer Hunters hunting from September 15 to November 15 and from January 1 to January 31.

Archery Deer Hunters hunting during the November 16 to December 31 time period may remove their fluorescent orange clothing when hunting from an elevated stand at least 10 feet above the ground.

Firearms and Archery Turkey Hunters

Waterfowl Hunters while hunting from boats, duck blinds, or other stationary positions.

Crow Hunters while hunting from a blind or a stationary position.

Raccoon and Opossum Hunters when hunting from 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise.

Landowners while hunting deer on their own property. Family members are still required to wear fluorescent orange.