Is there any update on the proposal to eliminate the tags for pheasant hunting. (Just the actual tags, not the authorization form) Thanks

In summary, pheasant tags have been eliminated, we require only a "pheasant stamp" authorization for $28, maintain daily and seasonal pheasant bag limits, establish alternative methods for reporting pheasant hunter activities for survey purposes, extend the pheasant season to the end of February and closes two additional areas for waterfowl hunting.


Here's the whole new regulation if you want to read it. Words in [ ] are deleted, new wording is underlined.

Section 1. Subsection 26-48a-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 26-48a-1. Pheasant season, bag limits, tags, use and reporting.

(a)(1) The open season for taking pheasant shall be from the third Saturday in October through the [second Saturday in January] last day in February.
(2) The second Saturday in October shall be designated as junior pheasant hunting training day. On this day, only hunters having a valid Connecticut junior firearms hunting license and pheasant harvest [tags] stamp may hunt on private lands with permission of the landowner. The accompanying adult mentor shall have in his/her possession a valid Connecticut hunting license. The adult mentor shall not carry a firearm.
(3) The daily bag limit shall not exceed two pheasants and the season bag limit shall not exceed ten pheasants, except as provided in subsection (j) of this section.
(b) No person, required to be licensed per Section 26-27 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended, shall kill, take, possess or transport any pheasant without a valid pheasant [tags] stamp, except as provided in subsection (j) of this section.
[(c) The pheasant tagging system shall consist of a stamp and a seasonal supply of ten pheasant harvest tags. The pheasant tag series may be purchased from any town clerk. The issuing agent shall retain .50 from each series sold to individuals holding current hunting licenses issued per section 26-27 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended and submitting an appropriate application.
(d) No person shall file more than one application for the pheasant harvest tag series for any one pheasant season except that the commissioner upon receiving a completed special application form containing the false statement clause and accompanied by the total appropriate fee may issue to any person a replacement when he is satisfied that the original tags of such person have been lost, destroyed, or mutilated beyond recognition. Any tags obtained through an application containing false or misleading information shall be considered void.
(e) No pheasant tags may be used unless the stamp has been signed by the hunter and affixed to the appropriate space on the license by the issuing agent. The pheasant stamp shall remain permanently affixed to the individual's hunting license, both of which must be carried afield. Pheasant tags become void without a properly validated corresponding stamp in possession.]This whole section eliminated.

[(f)] (c) No person shall [change or alter pheasant tags or loan to another or] allow another to have or use such [tags] stamp issued to himself or use any [tags] stamp issued to another.
[(g) Immediately upon killing a pheasant, and before moving the carcass in any manner from where it was killed, a pheasant harvest tag issued to the person who killed the pheasant must be attached to the carcass as instructed. The pheasant harvest tag shall remain attached to the bird until it is prepared for consumption or mounted for display. Tags shall not be reused.]
[(h)] (d) Pheasants taken under the provisions of Sections 26-48, 26-49 and 26-52 of the Connecticut General Statutes shall not be subject to regulations provided under this section.
[(i)] (e) All [tag] stamp holders[, either having taken pheasant(s) or not shall be required to submit a report as prescribed by the Department.] who are contacted by the department for the purposes of surveying pheasant hunting activity shall complete a hunting season activity report by the method specified in the hunting and trapping guide published annually by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
[(j)] (f)(1) Members and guests of a private hunting club shall not be subject to state pheasant [tagging] stamp requirements or seasonal bag limitations under subsections (a) and (b) of this section when hunting on club lands provided such club has qualified for an exemption pursuant to this subdivision. Members and guests of a private hunting club shall not be subject to daily bag limitations if a club tag is affixed to each pheasant taken on club lands. The club tag shall be affixed to the pheasant immediately upon kill and remain attached to the pheasant until it is prepared for consumption or mounted for display. The following information shall be printed legibly on each club tag: the name of the exempted club, date of taking, and the hunter's current hunting license number. To qualify for an exemption, under this subdivision, a private hunting club shall:
(A) Obtain an application form for exemption from the Wildlife Division of the Department;
(B) Secure the signature of the local Department Conservation Officer on the completed application form prior to submitting it to the Wildlife Division;
(C) Submit the completed form to the Wildlife Division;
(D) Purchase and/or raise pheasants for liberation on club lands; and
(E) Post the boundaries of all club lands to be subject to such exemption in accordance with instructions from the Wildlife Division.
(2) The exemption shall be effective when the completed application form is signed by an authorized representative of the Wildlife Division.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "club lands" shall be defined as those lands which are closed to the public and which the club owns, leases or uses for hunting pursuant to an agreement with a private landowner. "Club lands" shall exclude lands on which pheasants are released under any state cooperative program.
(4) The Commissioner may revoke an exemption for submission of false or misleading statements on the application form or violation of the requirements of section 26-48a-1(j)(1)(C) or (D). Revocation shall be effective when the hunting club receives written notice of revocation.

If I am reading this right you do not have to report any birds unless contacted by the DEEP? Going on the Honor system for bag & season limits? Thanks Encon


[(i)] (e) All [tag] stamp holders[, either having taken pheasant(s) or not shall be required to submit a report as prescribed by the Department.] who are contacted by the department for the purposes of surveying pheasant hunting activity shall complete a hunting season activity report by the method specified in the hunting and trapping guide published annually by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protectionn

Thanks!!!

What Pheasants?

I bought the tags once, the first year they came out with them.....went to an area that was always stocked in past seasons....and there wasn't a single bird there on opening day.

If that's how it was going to be - then never again would I stupid enough to spend money on it.

So the state lost another pheasant hunter that day - so what I guess - the state doesn't really care about stocking pheasants to begin with.....not stocking trout will be next, watch.