Connecticut Hunting Seasons 2025 Dates, Rules and Licenses

*The season schedules have been updated on September 28, 2025.

Connecticut is ready for the upcoming hunting season in 2025. It is time to enjoy the excitement and thrill outside, everyone! Featuring expansive hunting lands and a variety of interesting wild animals, this state is an ideal destination for both experienced hunters and beginners.

Here we have collected the necessary information for you to prepare well for the Connecticut hunting season for  2025, including the season dates, game species, licenses, and regulations.

Connecticut Deer Hunting Season 2025

To hunt deer in certain state lands and controlled hunt areas, hunters must apply for a deer permit through Connecticut‘s Online Licensing System.

The application period is January 2 – 31.

If you are not selected for a lottery permit, you can also obtain a state land no-lottery permit.

Legal Firearms for Deer Hunting:

1. Breech-loading shotgun in 12, 16, or 20 gauge with single soft alloy projectile ammunition. The shotgun should not be able to hold more than 3 shells.
2. Legal bows include long, recurved, or compound bows with at least 40 pounds of draw weight, along with crossbows.

🔔Notes:

1. All firearms season hunters must purchase a Firearms Hunting License and a separate permit.
2. The legal deer hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
3.  Hunting deer on Sunday is only allowed on private land with the method of archery.
4. Hunters who hunt in Areas 51, 58, 64, and 66 must attend one of the mandatory pre-hunt meetings, which will take place on September 11, 2024, either online or in person.
5. Using dogs, motor vehicles, lights, baits, and deer urine products is prohibited.
6. Deer harvests must be reported within 24 hours either via the Department’s website or by calling 1-877-337-4868.
7. Baiting for deer is only allowed on private land in zones 11 and 12.
8. All hunters must wear a minimum of 400 square inches of bright orange clothing above the waist, visible from all angles. The only exception is for archery deer hunters from November 20 to December 31, who are allowed to take off the orange clothing while hunting from a stand 10 feet high.

Connecticut Turkey Season

Spring Turkey Season

• State and Private Lands: April 30 – May 31, 2025
• Junior Hunter Only: Apr. 13 – 20, 2025

Fall Archery Turkey Season

• Private Land (Zones 11 and 12): Jan. 1- Jan. 31, 2025
• Private Land (All Zones): Sep. 15 –  Dec. 31, 2025
• State Land Bowhunting Only Areas: Sep. 15 – Dec. 31, 2025
• State Land: Sept. 15 – Nov. 18 and Dec. 24 – Dec. 31, 2025

Fall Firearms Turkey Season

• State and private land: Oct. 4 – Oct. 31, 2025

Bag limits are different for each season. The breakdown is as follows:

• Spring Season: 5 bearded turkeys
• Fall Archery Season: 2 either sex turkeys
• Fall Firearm Season: 3 either sex turkeys

🔔Notes:

1. Hours for hunting: from half an hour before sunrise until sunset.
2. Legal guns: Shotguns of at least 20 gauge size with #4, 5, 6, 7, 7-1/2 shot, or a mix of these.
3. Acceptable types of bows are crossbows, longbows, recurved bows, or compound bows with at least a 40-pound draw weight.
4. Arrowheads must have a minimum of two blades and be at least 7/8 inch wide at the widest point.
5. Using artificial decoys is permitted when hunting turkeys.

Connecticut Game Birds Season

Pheasant Season

• Jan. 1 – Feb. 28
• Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

Bag limit: 2 Daily and 10 in total

Chukar and Hungarian Partridge Season

• Jan. 1 – Feb. 28
• Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

Bag limit: 2 Daily and 10 in total

Ruffed Grouse Season

• Oct. 18 – Nov. 29

Bag limit: 1 Daily and 8 in total

Quail Season

• Oct. 18 – Nov. 1

Bag limit: 2 Daily and 10 in total

Crow Season

• Dec. 23, 2024 – March 22, 2025 (Monday through Saturday)
• Aug. 13 – Oct. 11, 2025 (Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays)
• Oct. 22 – Nov. 29, 2025 (Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays)
• Dec. 22, 2025 – March 23, 2026 (Monday through Saturday)

There is no limit on crow hunting.

Woodcock Season

• Oct. 24 – Dec. 14

Daily limit: 3 daily and 9 in total

Rail Season

• Sep. 2 – Oct. 22
• Nov. 1 – Nov. 30

For Virginia and Sora rails: the daily limit is 25, the possession limit is 75

For Clapper and King rails: the daily limit is 10, the possession limit is 30

Snipe Season

• Sep. 2 – Oct. 11
• Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

The daily limit is 8, and the possession limit is 24

🔔Note:

1. A Firearms or Archery Hunting License, and Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp are required to hunt game birds such as woodcock, snipe, rails, and crows, along with a valid hunting license.
2. The legal shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset.
3. If hunting small games or pheasants on Saturday, hunters will also need to obtain a Saturday permit.

Connecticut Waterfowl Seasons

🔔Notes:

1. Hunting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. But notice that the hunting hours for the goose season are different. It is 30 minutes after sunset.
2. Hunter orange clothing is not required for waterfowl hunting.
3.  Shotguns are the only firearms that are allowed to be used to hunt waterfowl.
4. Lead shot is prohibited.

Connecticut Furbearer Season

Coyote Season: Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 (Year-Round)

Raccoon Season: Jan. 1 – Jan. 18 and Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

Opossum Season: Jan. 1 – Jan. 18 and Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

Red and Gray Foxes Season: Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 and Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

The bag limits for each Furbearer are:

• Raccoon: 5 Daily and no limit in total
• Opossum: No limit for Daily and total
• Red and Gray Foxes: 3 Daily  and 30 in total
• Coyote:  No limit for Daily and total possession

🔔Notes:

1. There are no restrictions on hunting hours for Raccoon and Opossum. But for Foxes and Coyotes hunting, the legal shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
2. While hunting raccoons or opossums, it is not allowed to use lights.
3. Foxes and Coyotes must be reported to the DEEP reporting system.

Connecticut Small Game Season

Gray Squirrel: Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 and Sept. 1 – Dec. 31

Cottontail: Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 and Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

European Hare: Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 and Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

Snowshoe Hare: Jan. 1 – Jan. 31 and Nov. 15 – Dec. 31

Woodchuck: March 15 – Nov. 15

Bag Limit for each game animal:

• Gray Squirrel: 8 Daily and 40 in total
• Cottontail: 3 Daily and 25 in total
• European Hare: 1 Daily and 10 in total
• Snowshoe Hare: 2 Daily and 10 in total
• Woodchuck: No limit for daily and total possession

Hunting hours start from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset.

Connecticut Hunting Licenses And Permits

The following are the details of the costs for hunting licenses and permits in Connecticut. All the licenses and permits can be purchased through the Online Licensing System.

In order to get a hunting license in Connecticut, every hunter must first finish a Conservation Education/Firearms Safety (CE/FS) Program or a similar program from another state, or have held a Connecticut resident license for firearms hunting within the last five years.

More about hunting licenses:

• Residents over the age of 65 are eligible for free annual firearms hunting and trapping licenses if they meet hunter and trapper education requirements.
• To hunt, an individual must be at least 12 years old and be accompanied by a licensed hunter who is 18 years or older. Trapping does not have a minimum age requirement.
• Hunters with disabilities are eligible for a free hunting or trapping license, whether they are residents or non-residents.
• All active full-time members of the US armed forces will still pay the same fees as residents for a Connecticut hunting license.
• If you lose your license, you can access the online licensing system and obtain a free printed copy at any time.
• Residents aged 16 and 17 receive a 50% discount on all license fees, permits, and stamps. Residents aged 12-15 are eligible for a 50% discount on stamp and permit fees.

Conclusion

The above is all about the hunting seasons in Connecticut. There is no doubt that it will be a great time to hunt in the state! We hope that this season will bring many successful hunts, fresh adventures, and lasting memories to you.

Remember to keep updated on the dates and rules to ensure an ethical hunt.

Read More:

• Full List of 50 State Hunting Seasons in The US
• New York Hunting Seasons
• Rhode Island Hunting Seasons
• Massschussetts Hunting Seasons
• Vermont Hunting Seasons