P R E S S R E L E A S E

Expanded Deer Hunting to Be Permitted at Stone’s Ranch
Starting October 26
Access Permits to Be Issued Starting October 24

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that expanded deer hunting will be permitted at Stone’s Ranch Military Reservation in East Lyme, starting on October 26. The property consists of approximately 2,000 acres of state-owned land, which is managed by the Connecticut National Guard.
In an effort to meet statewide deer management objectives and reduce problems associated with high deer densities, DEEP and the Connecticut National Guard have agreed to administer a cooperative public hunting program. Access will be strictly controlled through an on-line daily permit system, in addition to an on-site check station as the only point of access for hunters.
“We welcome the opportunity to participate in a joint effort to ensure that deer populations in this region of the state are continuing to be managed properly for public benefit,” said William Hyatt, Chief of the DEEP’s Bureau of Natural Resources.
In years past, deer hunting at Stone’s Ranch was limited to portions of the shotgun and muzzleloader seasons only. This fall, archery deer hunting will be included, as well as turkey hunting with archery equipment. Access periods will be as follows, except during specified days when closure is necessary for military operations:
• October 26 – November 19, Archery Deer/Turkey
• November 9 – November 16, Youth Deer Hunter Training Days
• November 20 – November 29, State Land No-lottery Shotgun “A”
• November 30 – December 10, State Land No-lottery Shotgun “B”
• December 11 – December 24, State Land Muzzleloader
• December 25 – December 31, Archery Deer/Turkey
A maximum of 40 daily permits will be available each day of hunting. Daily permits are available through the on-line sportsmen’s licensing system (www.ct.gov/deep/sportsmenslicensing) up to three days in advance, on a first-come, first-serve basis. All hunters must first purchase the appropriate firearms deer (State Land No-lottery “A,” State Land No-lottery “B,” or State Land Muzzleloader) or archery deer permit, obtain a daily permit ,and check-in and out with staff at the Range Control Building.
More information is available by contacting the DEEP Wildlife Division’s Franklin Wildlife office at 860-642-7239 (Mondays through Fridays, from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM).

Stone’s Ranch is state land and the replacement tag system does not apply. We could in the future, however, decide that we should issue replacement tags at SRMR or any other state land now that the regulations were amended but at this time there are no plans to do that this season at SRMR.

Deer/turkey taken at Stones ranch must be reported under state land area # 336, which is new and has been added to the reporting system. See website posting:

http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2700&q=323414&deepNav_GID=1633

Is there any maps available of the boundaries?