Deer Bowhunting

License & Permits: Small Game & Deer Archery Permit. 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 permit you have already provided such proof.
Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.
Legal Bows: 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. There is no minimum acreage requirement for bowhunting.

Use of Crossbows: Crossbows may only be used by physically disabled persons with a special permit or by persons hunting on Private Lands during the January bow season in Zones 11 and 12. Use of a crossbow for hunting under any other circumstances is prohibited.
Special Conditions: Possession of a Firearm - Possession of a firearm while archery hunting is prohibited.
Tagging and Reporting - New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).
Private Land Permission - Signed written consent of the landowner on official forms (available from PDF Library) for current season must be carried while hunting.
State Land Hunting - See Public Hunting Areas for listing of lands open to archery deer hunting. Certain state lands that do not allow firearms deer hunting are designated as bowhunting only areas. These lands are open to deer bowhunting during the state land shotgun and muzzleloader deer seasons (Nov. 18 - Dec. 22).
Nov. 18 - Dec. 31 Time Period - 400 sq. in. fluorescent orange required. On private lands and on state lands designated as bowhunting only, bowhunters may remove fluorescent orange clothing while in a tree stand at least 10 feet off the ground.

Nov. 18 - Nov.21 Time Period - Deer must be brought to an official check station only during the first four days of the shotgun/rifle season.
Decoys - Decoys may be used during the early and late archery deer seasons, but must be covered with 400 sq. in. of fluorescent orange during transport. Decoys can not be used during the Nov. 18 - Dec. 22 time period.
Replacement Tags - Available for this permit type (more info).

State Land Lottery Deer Hunting

License & Permits: Firearms hunting license and a state land lottery permit or a controlled hunt area lottery permit. Only one of these permit types may be bought each year. Lottery permits for state land and controlled hunt areas must be applied for by March 15. Persons rejected for a Lottery Permit may obtain a State Land No-Lottery Permit.
Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.
Legal Firearms: 12, 16, or 20 gauge breech loading shotgun loaded with single soft alloy projectile ammunition. Rifled or smoothbore barrels allowed. Shotgun must not be capable of holding more than 3 shells.
Special Conditions: Tagging and Check Stations - New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).

Junior Hunter Training Days - Saturday November 7 and Saturday November 14 (more info)

State Land No-Lottery Deer Hunting

License & Permits: Firearms hunting license and a State Land No-Lottery permit.You may not purchase a State Land No-Lottery Permit if you have been issued a State Land or Controlled Hunt Lottery Permit.
Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.
Legal Firearms: 12, 16, or 20 gauge breech loading shotgun loaded with single soft alloy projectile ammunition. Rifled or smoothbore barrels allowed. Shotgun must not be capable of holding more than 3 shells.
Special Conditions: Tagging and Check Stations - New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).
Open Areas - Areas 1- 6, 10, 13, 16 - 25, and 57 are open to No-Lottery permittees.
Junior Hunter Training Days - Saturday November 7 and Saturday November 14 (more info)

Private Land Firearms Deer Hunting

License & Permits: Firearms hunting license and Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer permit.
Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.
Legal Firearms: 12, 16, or 20 gauge breech loading shotgun loaded with single soft alloy projectile ammunition. Rifled or smoothbore barrels allowed. Shotgun must not be capable of holding more than 3 shells. Centerfire rifle 6mm (.243 caliber) or larger may be used if landholding is 10 or more acres and the landowner has authorized rifle use on the consent form. No minimum acreage required for shotguns.
Special Conditions: Tagging and Check Stations - New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).
Zone 4a Restriction - “Antlerless Only” tag not valid in deer management zone 4a. Only the “Either-sex” deer tag will be valid in zone 4a.
Private Land Permission - Signed written consent of the landowner on official forms (available from PDF Library) for current season must be carried while hunting.
Replacement Tags - Available for this permit type (more info).
Junior Hunter Training Days - Saturday November 7 and Saturday November 14 (more info)

Landowner Deer Hunting

License & Permits: Free Landowner Deer Permit. Appropriate hunting license required if landowner does not live on qualifying property.
Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.
Legal Firearms: 12, 16, or 20 gauge shotgun loaded with single soft alloy projectile ammunition. Rifled or smoothbore barrels allowed. Shotgun must not be capable of holding more than 3 shells. Centerfire rifle 6mm (.243 caliber) or larger, or muzzleloader (.45 caliber minimum).
Legal Bows: 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.
Special Conditions: Free Landowner Permits are available only to persons owning 10 or more acres of land. Additional permits are available for their spouses, lineal descendants, parents, grandparents and siblings.
Tagging and Reporting - New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).
Fluorescent Orange - Landowners hunting deer on their own land are not required to wear 400 sq. in. of fluorescent orange, but their lineal descendants, parents, grandparents and siblings are required to do so.

State Land Deer Muzzleloader Hunting

License & Permits: Firearms hunting license and State Land Muzzleloader Deer permit.
Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.
Legal Firearms: Muzzleloading rifle or shotgun .45 caliber minimum. Single projectile loaded from muzzle end. Telescopic sights and shotgun converters are permitted.
Special Conditions: Tagging and Reporting - New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).
State Land Hunting - See Public Hunting Areas for listing of state lands open to muzzleloader deer hunting.

Private Land Deer Muzzleloader Hunting

License & Permits: Firearms hunting license and Private Land Muzzleloader Deer permit.
Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.
Legal Firearms: Muzzleloading rifle or shotgun, .45 caliber minimum. Single projectile loaded from muzzle end. Telescopic sights and shotgun converters are permitted. No minimum acreage required for muzzleloaders.
Special Conditions: Tagging and Reporting - New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).
Zone 4a Restriction - “Antlerless Only” tag not valid in deer management zone 4a. Only the “Either-sex” deer tag will be valid in zone 4a.
Private Land Permission - Signed written consent of the landowner on official forms (available from PDF Library) for current season must be carried while hunting.
Replacement Tags - Available for this permit type (more info).

Antlerless Deer

Some deer tags allow the harvest of antlerless deer only. An antlerless deer is defined as any deer which has no visible antlers. "Button Bucks" are considered antlerless deer. Either sex deer tags allow the harvest of antlered or antlerless deer.

Replacement Tags

Replacement Antlerless Tags: If you register an antlerless deer, taken on private land, at one of the check stations which issues replacement tags, you may qualify for a replacement antlerless tag. 

"Earn-A-Buck" Tags: If you register a total of 3 antlerless deer from private land during the same season you may qualify for a replacement either-sex tag.

Note: When new regulations regarding the tagging and reporting of deer become effective (more info), hunters must bring their completed Kill Tag along with their report confirmation number in order to be issued replacement tags.

All replacement tags will be issued in limited numbers based on a zone's deer population managment goals. Replacement tags are available in zones 11 and 12 during the private land shotgun/rifle season, the private land muzzleloader season and the bowhunting season. Consult the Private Land Deer Management Zone Map for a description of zones. A list of eligible zones and the check stations which will be issuing replacement tags comes with your permit. Replacement tags will only be valid for use on private lands within designated zones and only where written consent of the landowner has been granted.

Use of Attractants for Deer Hunting

The following attractants may be used while hunting deer in Connecticut:

1. Deer decoys during the early and late archery seasons only.
2. All types of scent attractants (i.e., doe in heat, buck lure, urine, tarsal glands, food smells, smoke pole) that provide no substance for deer to consume.
3. All types of sound attractants (i.e., doe calls, buck calls, antler rattling, electronic calls).
4. Hunting over planted fields where normal agricultural planting, harvesting, or post-harvest manipulation is used.

In addition to the attractants listed above, the following are allowed on PRIVATE LANDS ONLY while hunting deer in DEER MANAGEMENT ZONES 11 and 12.

1. Minerals or chemicals that may be safely consumed by deer (i.e., salt licks).
2. Artificial or natural foods placed, scattered, distributed or deposited (i.e., hay, grains, fruit, nuts and other foods that may be safely consumed by deer).

Note: It is strongly recommended that individuals hunting on private lands in zones 11 and 12 consult with landowners prior to placing attractants on their property.

Tagging and Transporting Deer

New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).

Deer Check Stations

New regulations effective for 2009 (more info).

Deer Hunter Survey

Deer hunters may be contacted by mail, email, or telephone for surveys regarding their deer hunting activities. 

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD)

What is CWD? CWD is a naturally occurring disease of the brain and nervous system in deer and elk. It attacks the brain of deer and elk, producing small lesions that eventually result in death. CWD was first recognized in the late 1960s in a herd of captive mule deer in Colorado. Although the disease was discovered over 30 years ago, it recently has received much media attention because of its discovery in free-ranging deer in southern Wisconsin and western Colorado. Only four species, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose and elk, appear to be naturally susceptible to CWD. Domestic livestock and humans are not known to be susceptible to CWD.

Where is CWD found? Prior to 2005, the disease had only been found in North America west of Illinois. In 2005, CWD was documented in captive and free-ranging herds in New York and in free-ranging herds in West Virginia. In 2008, it was found in a captive herd in Michigan. CWD has not been found in Connecticut or New England. States and Canadian provinces were CWD has been confirmed include: Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New York, West Virginia, Michigan, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

What is CT doing about CWD? Connecticut, along with many other states, has banned the importation of live cervids (species in the deer/elk family) across state lines. In 2005, Connecticut passed an emergency regulation banning the importation of whole carcasses or parts thereof of any deer or elk from wild or captive herds from other states or Canadian provinces where CWD has been confirmed. The ban on importation does not apply to meat that is de-boned, cleaned skullcaps, hides or taxidermy mounts. The regulation became permanent in 2007.

Since 2003, the Wildlife Division has been testing hunter- and vehicle-killed deer as part of a nationwide CWD monitoring and surveillance program. To date, no evidence of CWD in Connecticut’s deer herd has been detected.

How do I know if an animal has CWD? As the disease advances, infected animals begin displaying abnormal behavior, such as staggering or standing with very poor posture. Infected animals become emaciated and appear to be in very poor health. The only efficient method to diagnose CWD is to dispatch the animal and examine the brain tissue for lesions. Anyone observing a deer exhibiting symptoms of CWD should notify the Wildlife Division (860-424-3011) or the DEP’s 24-hour TIP hotline (1-800-842-HELP). If the animal is dispatched, the head should be kept intact so that a brain sample can be collected for testing.

Should hunters be concerned? No known link exists between CWD and humans, however, health officials advise hunters not to consume meat from animals known to be infected with CWD and recommend boning out meat. As usual, hunters should continue to employ normal precautions when field dressing deer, such as wearing rubber gloves. Concerns about CWD should not keep hunters from participating in Connecticut’s deer seasons. (more info about CWD)

DEER LIVER CONSUMPTION ADVISORY

The Connecticut Departments of Public Health (DPH) and Environmental Protection advise sportsmen to limit their consumption of deer liver. Analysis of livers collected from 49 hunter-killed deer in 1991 indicated that some samples had unacceptably high levels of cadmium, a toxic metal. Sportsmen should note this advisory is only for liver and not for deer meat. Because kidneys also concentrate cadmium, it is recommended that this organ not be consumed.
 

For those who wish to continue to consume liver from deer despite this warning, the following recommendations are made:

1. Eat the liver of younger deer.
2. Reduce the number of meals of deer liver to no more than a few per year.
   

High levels of cadmium in deer livers are not unusual in the northeastern U.S., and with this advisory Connecticut joins several other states in this region that have issued similar warnings. For further information about cadmium toxicity call DPH at (860)509-7742.

DEER LOTTERY {Apply for Lottery Online}

• Area Designation- See the table and map below for description of deer lottery areas. Your application may specify up to 4 hunting areas. At least one area must be specified.
  
• Party Permits- Up to 3 names may appear on an application. All persons must have current firearms hunting licenses and all must sign the application. If a party member's name appears on another application, all names on both applications will be rejected. Junior hunters who will not be 16 years of age by the start of the season should apply for a party permit with an adult hunter who will be at least 18 years old by the start of the season. If a junior hunter applies without an adult and is selected for another season or area, no transfer of permits can be made to reunite the adult and junior applicants.
  
• "A"or "B" Season- Applicants may not specify a season choice. The season is determined by lottery and cannot be changed.
  
• Lottery Questions - Call Deer Program at (860) 642-7239.

Description of Deer Lottery Hunting Areas SF - State Forest     WMA - Wildlife Management Area    SP - State Park

Town(s) Acres Area 1 (Permit Quotas: A=616 B=No Lottery) Housatonic SF Sharon 10,749 Robbins Swamp WMA Canaan 1,569 Cent. Wtrshd. - Canaan Blk. Canaan 146 Area 2 (Permit Quotas: A=214 B=No Lottery) Wyantenock SF Cornwall* 4,083 Area 3 (Permit Quotas: A=82 B=No Lottery) Paugnut SF Torrington 1,644 Area 4 (Permit Quotas: A=695 B=No Lottery) American Legion SF Barkhamsted 789 Peoples SF Barkhamsted 2,742 Tunxis SF Hartland* 9,518 Algonquin SF Colebrook 668 Area 5 (Permit Quotas: A=130 B=No Lottery) Nepaug SF New Hartford 1.367 Nassahegon SF Burlington 1,227 Area 6 (Permit Quotas: A=277 B=No Lottery) Hancock Brook Lake Plymouth 707 Mattatuck SF Watertown* 4,672 Topsmead SF Litchfield 179 Area 7 (Permit Quotas: A=53 B=53) Pootatuck SF New Fairfield 1,059 Area 8 (Permit Quotas: A=97 B=97) Paugussett SF Newtown 1,947 Area 9 (Permit Quotas: A=207 B=207) Naugatuck SF Beacon Falls* 4,153 Area 10 (Permit Quotas: A=873 B=No Lottery) Cockaponset SF Haddam* 17,186 Millers Pond Haddam, Durham 280 Area 11 (Permit Quotas: A=481 B=481) Meshomasic SF Portland* 8,972 Wangunk Meadows WMA Portland 637 Area 12 (Permit Quotas: A=396 B=396) Salmon River SF Colchester* 7,205 Larson Lot WMA Colchester 240 Wopowog WMA East Hampton, Haddam 480 Area 13 (Permit Quotas: A=262 B=No Lottery) Nehantic SF East Lyme 4,927 Eightmile River WMA East Haddam, Lyme 312 Area 14 (Permit Quotas: A=107 B=107) Bartlett Brook WMA Lebanon 684 Pease Brook WMA Lebanon 206 Franklin Swamp WMA Franklin 684 Red Cedar Lake SP Lebanon 577 Area 15 (Permit Quotas: A=157 B=157) Nathan Hale SF Coventry* 1,455 Nye Holman SF Tolland* 786 Kollar WMA Tolland 911 Area 16 (Permit Quotas: A=360 B=No Lottery) Shenipsit SF Stafford* 6,792 Ellithorpe Project Stafford 400 Area 17 (Permit Quotas: A=460 B=No Lottery) Nipmuck SF Union* 9,214 Area 18 (Permit Quotas: A=666 B=No Lottery) Natchaug SF Eastford* 13,311 Area 19 (Permit Quotas: A=152 B=No Lottery) Quaddick SF Thompson 1,089 West Thompson Dam Thompson 1,950 Area 20 (Permit Quotas: A=168 B=No Lottery) Quinebaug River WMA Canterbury, Plainfield 1,646 Spignesi W.M.A Scotland 469 Mohegan SF Scotland 826 Talbot WMA Scotland 456 Sugarbrook Field Trial Area Plainfield 200 Area 21 (Permit Quotas: A=541 B=No Lottery) Pachaug SF(S. of Rte. 165) Voluntown 10,825 Area 22 (Permit Quotas: A=109 B=No Lottery) Rose Hill WMA Preston, Ledyard 613 Assekonk Swamp WMA North Stonington 695 Barn Island WMA Stonington 870 Area 23 (Permit Quotas: A=714 B=No Lottery) Pachaug SF (N. of Rte. 165) Voluntown* 14,284 Area 24 (Permit Quotas: A=98 B=No Lottery) Babcock Pond WMA Colchester* 1,500 Zemko Pond WMA Salem 463 Area 25 (Permit Quotas: A=48 B=No Lottery) Goshen WMA Goshen 967 Area 26 (Permit Quotas: A=15 B=15) Trout Brook Valley SP Easton 330 Area 27 (Permit Quotas: A=22 B=22) Camp Columbia SF Morris 470 CONTROLLED HUNT AREAS Area 51 (Permit Quotas: A=230 B=230) Yale Forest Union* 7,700 Area 52 (Permit Quotas: A=75 B=75) Bristol Water Co. Harwinton 4,500 Area 53 (Permit Quotas: A=70 B=70) NU-Maromas (Co-op) Middletown 1,400 Area 54 (Permit Quotas: A=35 B=35) NU-Skiff Mt. (Co-op) Sharon 710 Area 56 (Permit Quotas: A=140 B=140) Centennial Watershed SF Easton, Weston* 3,341 Area 57  (Permit Quotas: A=139 B=No Lottery) MDC Colebrook Res./Hogback Dam Colebrook* 4,159

* and adjacent town or towns

DEER LOTTERY HUNTING AREA MAP

{Deer Lottery Zone Map}

Hunting & Trapping Guide Table of Contents