Hunting Season Begins: Post Your Photos On Patch

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced the Opening Days of the upcoming fall firearms hunting seasons. Peak hunting occurs during early morning and late afternoon, primarily during the period from mid-October through mid-December.

Don’t forget - you can post photos of your game on Patch.

• The fall firearms turkey season opens statewide on Saturday (October 1), and will continue through October 31.
• The regular waterfowl season opens statewide on Wednesday, October 12, in both the north and south hunting zones.
• Small game hunting season opens at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15, for pheasant, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, chukar partridge, crow, and cottontail rabbit.
• The statewide firearms deer hunting season begins Wednesday, November 16.

Junior hunter training days are scheduled for pheasants on Saturday, October 8, on private land only; waterfowl on Saturday, October 1, and Saturday, November 5; and deer on Saturday, November 5, and Saturday, November 12.

The 2011 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide and the 2011-2012 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide, which contain additional information on laws, regulations, and season dates, can be obtained at any town clerk or Wildlife Division office, or they can be found on the DEEP Web site at www.ct.gov/deep/hunting. Maps denoting many state-owned hunting areas and most permit-required hunting areas may be obtained from the DEEP Web site.

Small Game Season and Permit-required Information

With the exception of opening day (October 15) small game hunting is allowed for most species from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. Waterfowl hunting is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Further details and permit forms are available from the DEEP Web site (www.ct.gov/deep/hunting).

Pheasant Prospects Remain Good; Tags No Longer Required

This year, the DEEP will purchase 16,789 adult pheasants, based on revenues from the sale of 4,680 pheasant stamps in 2010. Due to an increase in revenues, the number of pheasants stocked this year will be 1,014 more than were stocked last year.

A recent change in hunting regulations eliminates the need for pheasant hunters to use “harvest tags” in the field. Pheasant hunters now must purchase a “pheasant stamp” authorization for a $28 fee, in addition to their firearms hunting license, to hunt on public lands. Hunters who have already purchased the pheasant stamp authorization are reminded that they will not be receiving tags in the mail. An additional regulation change extends the pheasant season to the last day in February. The pheasant bag limits remains at two per day and 10 per season.

Stocking Areas Maintained – Limited Stocking During Deer Season Opener

A total of 45 major public hunting areas will be stocked with pheasants during the 2011 fall season. A number of lower quality/lower public use areas will not be stocked in an effort to maintain sufficient allocations on the higher quality sites.

For additional details, such as area allocations and an updated listing of all major stocking areas, visit the DEEP Web site at www.ct.gov/deep/hunting.