What about mountain lions? can we shoot the CT mountain lions?

Because you said "hunt" which has many restrictions and specific calibers and restrictions, therefore, you cannot hunt with an airsoft or paintball gun. Now if said just for shits and giggles I want to paint my local squirrel well that's another question and answer, lol

Actually, I asked the same question of Skip about 8 years ago. His answer was no, as hunting, pursuing, or harassing game would be prohibited.

Hi Mike,

I am an artist myself and was trying to conduct your experiment with fish but the paint keeps coming off, maybe I'm being to green using non-toxic latex and should try something more permanent. I found I had to lead them a little due to the current (river conditions)and had to max out my psi, I figured if the fish jumped it counted as part of my daily bag limit and the fish swam away unharmed. I did switch from full auto to 2 shot bursts, adhearing to the 2 lines per angler law in trophy trout streams. Remember, if your painting deer, turkey & waterfowl (except for the early goose season), your paint ball gun must be plugged and only capable of holding 3 rounds. I believe that full auto paintball guns have to be registered with the State Police and can only hold ten rounds. Pre bans may be exempt. Also, paint balls broadheads have to be 7/8 of an inch or greater. I suggest using flu-flu arrows.

In answer to your question, definitions under 26-1 & 53a-217e are as follows:

12) "Hunting" means pursuing, shooting, killing and capturing any bird, quadruped or reptile and attempting to pursue, shoot, kill and capture any bird, quadruped or reptile, whether such act results in taking or not, including any act of assistance to any other person in taking or attempting to take any such animal.

(19) "Taking" means shooting, pursuing, hunting, fishing, killing, capturing, trapping, snaring, hooking and netting any species of wildlife and attempting to shoot, pursue, hunt, fish, kill, capture, trap, snare, hook, net or catch any species of wildlife or any act of assistance to any other person in taking or attempting to take such wildlife whether or not such act results in the capture of any such wildlife.


Sec. 53a-217e. Negligent hunting. Penalties. Fines deposited in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. Suspension of hunting license. Forfeiture of hunting weapon. Prima facie evidence of hunting. (a) As used in this section:

(1) "Criminal negligence" shall have the same meaning as "criminal negligence", as defined in section 53a-3;

(2) "Hunting" shall have the same meaning as "hunting", as defined in section 26-1;

(3) "Loaded hunting implement" means (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 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; and

(e) (1) A person is guilty of negligent hunting in the fourth degree when such person, while hunting, (A) hunts without purchasing a license, permit or stamp or other permission required by law, (B) is in possession of a loaded hunting implement at a time of day when hunting is not allowed, (C) hunts with or discharges a firearm less than two hundred fifty feet from any building occupied by people or domestic animals or used for storage of flammable or combustible materials, or less than one hundred twenty-five feet from any such building while hunting in tidal water areas, unless written permission of the owner of such building has been obtained, or (D) hunts from or discharges a hunting implement from or across a public highway.

(2) Negligent hunting in the fourth degree is a class C misdemeanor.

(f) Any person who is convicted of a violation of any provision of subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section or subsection (b) of section 53-206d within five years of a previous conviction for violation of this section shall be considered a persistent negligent hunter. Upon such second conviction within five years, a persistent negligent hunter shall be fined an amount that is not less than twice the minimum fine provided for the second violation and shall be subject to penalties provided for the next more serious degree of negligent hunting under subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section or subsection (b) of section 53-206d.

(g) Any fine imposed for a conviction under subsection (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this section or subsection (b) of section 53-206d shall be deposited in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund established pursuant to section 54-215.

(h) (1) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may suspend the hunting license of any person convicted under subsection (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this section or subsection (b) of section 53-206d for: (A) Indefinitely upon conviction of negligent hunting in the first degree or upon conviction of any violation of subsection (b) of section 53-206d; (B) up to ten years upon conviction of negligent hunting in the second degree; (C) up to five years upon conviction of negligent hunting in the third degree; and (D) up to three years upon conviction of negligent hunting in the fourth degree.

(2) Any person arrested for a violation of subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section or subsection (b) of section 53-206d, except as provided in section 26-85 shall surrender any firearm, bow, crossbow, bolt or high velocity air gun in the person's possession while hunting at the time of the alleged violation. Such property shall be confiscated at the time of arrest by a police officer or conservation officer. Upon nolle or dismissal of charges or acquittal of such person of such violation, such property shall be returned to the person within five business days and in the same condition as when the firearm, bow, crossbow or high velocity air gun was surrendered. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 54-33g and 54-36a, the property shall be turned over to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection upon conviction of such person for such violation. Said commissioner shall (A) retain the property for use by personnel of the Department of Environmental Protection, (B) convey the property to the Commissioner of Administrative Services for sale at public auction, the proceeds of which shall be credited to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund established pursuant to section 54-215, or (C) destroy the property.

(i) 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 shall be prima facie evidence of hunting, 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, as defined in subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, provided a live round is not in the chamber of the rifle or shotgun.


Baiting is only legal on private land in zones 11 & 12, a valid hunting license would be required and if you can find 50 cal. paint balls for my muzzleloader let me know.

Thanks for the greeting to ctf.

yessir!!!