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Connecticut Whitetail Seasons
These dates represent the “general” season dates. Check the individual hunting unit regulations for the most accurate season dates and regulations.
Archery Season State Land Early Segment
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State land early segment. Bag limit: 2 either sex and 2 antlerless (4 total). Season split into two segments.
Bowhunting State Land Early Segment
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Archery
State land early segment. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Archery Season Private Land All Zones
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Private land in all zones. Bag limit: 2 either sex and 2 antlerless (4 total).
Archery Season State Land Bowhunting Only Areas
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State land bowhunting only areas. Bag limit: 2 either sex and 2 antlerless (4 total).
Bowhunting Private Land All Zones
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Archery
Private land all zones. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Bowhunting State Land Bowhunting Only Areas
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Archery
State land bowhunting only areas. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Lottery Archery Only Lottery
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See pages 31-34 for more information. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Shotgun/rifle/revolver Landowner
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Landowner
Landowner season. Shotgun, rifle, and revolver permitted. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Lottery State Land Lottery A
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State Land Lottery 'A' Season. See pages 31-34 for more information. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
State Land And Controlled Hunt Lottery Lottery A
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Shotgun
Lottery A Season for state land deer and controlled hunt areas. Bag limit is 1 either sex on state land areas; variable on controlled hunt areas. 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. Muzzleloaders also permitted with telescopic sights and shotgun converters.
Lottery State Land Lottery Regular
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State Land Lottery Regular Season. See pages 31-34 for more information. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Shotgun State Controlled Areas No Lottery
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State controlled areas, no lottery required. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Shotgun/rifle/revolver Private Lands
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Private lands. Shotgun, rifle, and revolver permitted. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
State Land And Controlled Hunt Lottery Regular
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Shotgun
Lottery Regular Season for state land deer and controlled hunt areas. Bag limit is 1 either sex on state land areas; variable on controlled hunt areas. 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. Muzzleloaders also permitted.
Muzzleloader State L
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State land. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
State Land Muzzleloader
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Season dates: Dec. 9 - Dec. 22. Additional details on subsequent pages.
Muzzleloader Private L
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Private land. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Private Land Muzzleloader
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Hunting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. Requires firearms hunting license and Private Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit. Telescopic sights and shotgun converters are permitted for muzzleloaders. No minimum acreage required for muzzleloaders. Sunday hunting allowed on private land only, not within 40 yards of blazed public trails. Signed written consent of landowner on official forms must be carried while hunting.
Archery Season State Land Late Segment
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State land late segment. Bag limit: 2 either sex and 2 antlerless (4 total). Season split into two segments.
Bowhunting State Land Late Segment
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Archery
State land late segment. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Archery Season Private Land Zones January
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Ages 11–12
Private land only in Zones 11-12. Additional bag of 1 either sex and 1 antlerless (2 total) during this Jan. 1-31 season.
Bowhunting Private Land Zones 11 And 12
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Archery
Private land only in Zones 11 and 12. See pages 27-33 for limit information.
Lottery Archery Only Controlled Hunt
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Archery-only lottery controlled hunt areas. Bag limits: 2 either-sex and 2 antlerless; hunters will use the archery deer permit tags. Hunting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. The archery-only lottery will not affect the hunter's ability to receive a firearms lottery permit nor will it impact the ability to bow hunt other state lands. No permits available to youth hunters 12 to 17 years old.
Free Landowner Hunting
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Landowner
Available for persons owning 10 or more contiguous acres of land. 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), centerfire rifle 6mm (.243 caliber) or larger, revolver .357 caliber or larger, or muzzleloader (.45 caliber minimum). Revolver Deer Endorsement required if using a revolver. For bow or crossbow, landowners must have a certificate indicating successful completion of a CT Conservation Education/Firearms Safety bowhunting course (or recognized equivalent). Appropriate hunting license required if landowner does not live on qualifying property.
Tribal Member Permit
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Free private land deer permit for Tribal members. One permit per season. Use only on reservation of the Tribe (250+ acres). Allows rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow. Must possess valid Tribal ID. Application must be completed, signed, and emailed to sportsmen.licensing@ct.gov.
Hunter Training Days
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Youth hunters
Training Days
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Youth hunters
Junior Hunter Training Days. Excluding Sunday on state land.
Lottery "a"
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Shotgun
Deer Lottery A Season. Only one area (Area 51 Yale-Myers Forest) in this season category.
Lottery Regular
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Shotgun
Deer Lottery Regular Season Areas. Multiple state forests, WMAs, and other managed areas.
Private Land Shotgun/rifle/revolver
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Private land only. Requires firearms hunting license and Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer permit. Revolver Deer Endorsement also required if using a revolver. Hunting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. Sunday hunting allowed on private land only, not within 40 yards of blazed public trails.
State Land No-lottery Hunting
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Shotgun
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. Muzzleloaders also permitted (see muzzleloader section). Telescopic sights and shotgun converters are permitted for muzzleloaders. See pages 47-58 for areas open to the No-Lottery Season. Junior Deer Hunter Training Days: Nov 7-14, 2026 (excluding Sunday on state land).
State Land Bowhunting Only Areas
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Archery
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). See tables on pages 47-58 for listing of lands.
Connecticut Whitetail Licenses
Resident Licenses
| License | Availability | Eligibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Deer/Small Game and All Waters Fishing License - 16-17 Year-old Resident | OTC | Ages 16–17; Youth hunters | $33.00 |
Combination archery deer/small game and all waters fishing license for resident hunters ages 16 and 17. | |||
| Archery Deer/Small Game and All Waters Fishing License - Adult Resident | OTC | — | $65.00 |
Combination archery deer/small game and all waters fishing license. | |||
| Archery Deer/Small Game License - 16-17 Year-old Resident | OTC | Ages 16–17; Youth hunters | $21.00 |
For resident hunters ages 16 and 17. | |||
| Archery Deer/Small Game License - Adult Resident | OTC | — | $41.00 |
| Junior Archery Deer/Small Game License - Resident | OTC | Ages 12–15; Youth hunters | $10.00 |
For junior hunters ages 12 to 15. | |||
| Landowner Deer Permit - Resident | OTC | Landowner | $0.00 |
Free landowner deer permit. See page 29 for more information. | |||
| Private Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit - Resident | OTC | — | $19.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 30 for details. | |||
| Private Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit - Resident Youth | OTC | Ages 12–17; Youth hunters | $10.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 30 for details. | |||
| Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer Permit - Resident | OTC | — | $19.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 28 for details. | |||
| Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer Permit - Resident Youth | OTC | Ages 12–17; Youth hunters | $10.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 28 for details. | |||
| Revolver Deer Endorsement - Resident | OTC | — | $5.00 |
Allows persons hunting with a Free Landowner Permit or Connecticut residents hunting with a Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Permit to use a revolver rather than a rifle or shotgun to hunt deer on private lands of at least 10 acres. A person using a handgun for hunting must possess any required state/town permits to carry. | |||
| State Land Lottery Deer Permit - Resident | DrawOpens January 2, 2026 | — | $19.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required to purchase firearms deer permits. Lottery permits can be applied for starting January 2, 2026, at 9:30 AM. See pages 31-34 for details. Cannot purchase both a State Land Lottery Permit and a State Land No-Lottery Permit. | |||
| State Land Lottery Deer Permit - Resident Youth | DrawOpens January 2, 2026 | Ages 12–17; Youth hunters | $10.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. Lottery permits can be applied for starting January 2, 2026, at 9:30 AM. See pages 31-34 for details. | |||
| State Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit - Resident | OTC | — | $19.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 30 for details. | |||
| State Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit - Resident Youth | OTC | Ages 12–17; Youth hunters | $10.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 30 for details. | |||
| State Land No-Lottery Deer Permit - Resident | OTC | — | $19.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 29 for details. Cannot purchase both a State Land Lottery Permit and a State Land No-Lottery Permit. If rejected for a lottery permit, you may still purchase this permit. | |||
| State Land No-Lottery Deer Permit - Resident Youth | OTC | Ages 12–17; Youth hunters | $10.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 29 for details. | |||
Nonresident Licenses
| License | Availability | Eligibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Deer/Small Game License - Nonresident | OTC | Ages 12+ | $135.00 |
For nonresident hunters age 12 and older. | |||
| Junior Archery Deer/Small Game License - Nonresident | OTC | Ages 12–15; Youth hunters | $19.00 |
For nonresident junior hunters ages 12 to 15. | |||
| Landowner Deer Permit - Non-resident | OTC | Landowner | $0.00 |
Free landowner deer permit. See page 29 for more information. | |||
| Private Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit - Nonresident | OTC | — | $68.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 30 for details. | |||
| Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer Permit - Nonresident | OTC | — | $68.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 28 for details. | |||
| State Land Lottery Deer Permit - Nonresident | DrawOpens January 2, 2026 | — | $68.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. Lottery permits can be applied for starting January 2, 2026, at 9:30 AM. See pages 31-34 for details. | |||
| State Land Muzzleloader Deer Permit - Nonresident | OTC | — | $68.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 30 for details. | |||
| State Land No-Lottery Deer Permit - Nonresident | OTC | — | $68.00 |
A current firearms hunting license is required. See page 29 for details. | |||
Other Licenses
| License | Availability | Eligibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Landowner Deer Permit | OTC | Landowner | $0.00 |
Available for persons owning 10 or more contiguous acres of land. Appropriate hunting license required if landowner does not live on qualifying property. Revolver Deer Endorsement also required if using a revolver. For bow or crossbow, landowners must have a certificate indicating successful completion of a CT Conservation Education/Firearms Safety bowhunting course (or recognized equivalent). | |||
| Free Landowner Deer Permit | OTC | Landowner | $0.00 |
Free for resident and non-resident landowners who plan to hunt on 10 or more contiguous acres that they own in the State of Connecticut. | |||
| Free Landowner Permit | OTC | Landowner | $0.00 |
Available only to persons owning 10 or more contiguous acres of land. Additional permits are available for their spouses, lineal descendants, parents, grandparents, and siblings. | |||
| Free Tribal Member Deer Permit | OTC | — | $0.00 |
Free private land deer permit for Tribal members. One permit per season. Use only on reservation of the Tribe (250+ acres). Allows rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow. Valid Tribal ID required. Tribal land must be 250 acres or greater. Application must be completed, signed, and emailed to sportsmen.licensing@ct.gov. | |||
