Big Game Rifle Scopes: Make the Right Selection
Monday, June 17, 2013
Deer Hunting
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, at one of the check stations that issue replacement tags, you may qualify for a replacement either-sex tag.
Note: Hunters must bring their deer or deer head and a completed Harvest Tag along with their report confirmation number in order to be issued a replacement tag. The deer must be reported within 24 hours, but the deer head and confirmation number may be brought to a check station within 72 hours. All replacement tags will be issued in limited numbers based on a zone’s deer population management goals. Replacement tags are available in Zones 11 and 12 during the private land shotgun/rifle season, the private land muzzleloader season and the archery season. Consult the Private Land Deer Management Zone Map for a description of zones. 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.
Deer Hunting Prohibited Activites
- Hunting with or allowing any dog in your charge to hunt, pursue, or kill deer.
- Hunting deer or any other wildlife while in or on a motor vehicle, snowmobile, or all terrain vehicle (See Hunting Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities for special exemptions).
- Hunting deer by aid or use of a light.
- Taking or attempting to take any deer with the aid of real or artificial bait in Zones 1 to 10, or on state lands in Zones 11 and 12. (Any food, mineral, or chemical product designed to be eaten by deer is considered bait.)
- Use of a decoy during the shotgun/rifle and muzzleloader deer seasons.
- Taking of spotted fawns.
Baiting & Use of Attractants
Attractants allowed during the statewide deer hunting seasons.
- Deer decoys during the early and late archery seasons only.
- 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.
- All types of sound attractants (i.e., doe calls, buck calls, antler rattling, electronic calls).
- 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 in deer management zones 11 and 12 during the archery, shotgun/rifle, and muzzleloader deer seasons.
- Minerals or chemicals that may be safely consumed by deer (i.e., salt lick)
- Artificial or natural foods placed, scattered, distributed or deposited (i.e., hay, grains, fruit, nuts–any 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 bait.
Definition of 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.
Tagging & Transporting Deer
Immediately upon killing a deer, complete and sign a Harvest Tag and keep it with the carcass at all times until it is cut up and packaged for consumption. Deer do not have to be open to view during transport. See Tagging & Reporting for more information on Kill Tags and reporting.
Deer Check Stations
NEW: Hunters are no longer required to bring their deer to a check station during the first four days of the shotgun/rifle deer season. However, all deer must be reported within 24 hours using the phone or internet. Hunters only need to bring their deer or deer head, along with a report confirmation number, to a check station if they wish to get a replacement tag for use in deer management zones 11 and 12.
Deer Hunter Survey
Anybody who obtains a deer permit, may be asked to respond to a survey concerning their deer hunting activities. Even if you did not hunt, you should complete the survey. Information gathered from the survey is important to the management of Connecticut’s white-tailed deer population. Surveys may be conducted by mail, telephone, or the internet.
Tree Stands on State Properties
The construction or placement of permanent tree stands involving damage to any tree or shrub is prohibited. The use of portable tree stands (climber, ladder or hang-on) is permissible. The use of a full-body safety harness when using a tree stand is strongly recommended.
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:
- Eat the liver of younger deer.
- 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.
Tree Stand Safety Rules
Serious injury or death can occur to a hunter who improperly uses a tree stand for hunting. If you use a tree stand, follow these safety rules.
- Always use a full-body safety harness or fall-restraint system.
- Only use equipment that is in good condition.
- Avoid hunting from heights greater than 15 feet.
- Maintain a short tether between you and the tree.
- Always use a haul line to raise and lower your hunting equipment.
Regulations in red are new this year.
Purple text indicates an important note.
Conservation Partner Advertisements: The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection allows appropriate advertising in its annual regulation guides in print and online, in order to defray or eliminate expenses to the state, and support enhanced communications with Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Constituents. Through a unique partnership with J.F.Griffin Publishing, LLC & eRegulations.com, ‘Conservation Partners’ have been established that pay for advertising in support of the regulations both in print and online. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection neither endorses products or services listed or claims made; nor accepts any liability arising from the use of products or services listed. Advertisers interested in the Conservation Partners program should contact J.F.Griffin/eRegulations.com directly at 413-884-1001,
J.F. Griffin Media reaches 9,000,000 sportsmen every year through our print and digital publications. We produce 30 hunting and fishing regulation guides for 15 state agencies. For advertising information, please visit: www.jfgriffin.com
