2021 Summary of Hunting Season Dates

Connecticut Hunting

For further information regarding specific bag, possession, and season limits, please visit the pages noted in the table below. See Mentor a Junior Hunter for details on Junior Hunter Training Days.

Gamebirds

Season	Season Dates
Upland Birds	See Migratory Game Bird Hunting for limit information
Pheasant A	Jan. 1 – Feb. 27 Oct. 16 – Dec. 31
Chukar and Hungarian Partridge A	Jan. 1 – Feb. 27 Oct. 16 – Dec. 31
Ruffed Grouse A	Oct. 16 – Nov. 30
Quail A B	Oct. 16 – Oct. 30
Crow C	Jan. 9 – Mar. 31 (Mon. through Sat.) Aug. 14 – Oct. 8 (Wed., Fri., Sat.) Oct. 16 – Nov. 27 (Wed., Fri., Sat.)
Woodcock – Snipe – Rails ^C	See current Migratory Bird Hunting Guide; State stamp required
Waterfowl ^C (ducks, mergansers, geese, and coot)	See current Migratory Bird Hunting Guide State and federal stamps required
A Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required. B See Migratory Game Bird Hunting for areas with extended season dates. C Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required.

Small Game Mammals

See Small Game Hunting for limit information.

Season	Season Dates
Gray Squirrel	Jan. 1 – Feb. 27 Sep. 1 – Dec. 31
Cottontail Rabbit European Hare	Jan. 1– Feb. 27 Oct. 16 – Dec. 31
Snowshoe Hare	Jan. 1 – Jan. 30 Nov. 20 – Dec. 31
Woodchuck	Mar. 15 – Nov. 15

Furbearers

See Furbearer Trapping Seasons & Regulations for trapping seasons and regulations.

Season	Season Dates
Coyote	Jan. 1 – Dec. 31
Red and Gray Foxes	Jan. 1 – Feb. 27 Oct. 16 – Dec. 31
Raccoon and Opossum	Jan. 1 – Jan. 16 Oct. 16 – Dec. 31

Junior Hunter Training Days

See Mentor a Junior Hunter for specific details.

Season	Season Dates
Junior Spring Wild Turkey	April 17 – 24, 2021 (excluding Sunday)
Junior Waterfowl	Two Saturdays in fall (see 2021–2022 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide for dates)
Junior Pheasant	October 9, 2021
Junior Deer	Nov. 6 – 13, 2021 (excluding Sunday)

Turkey

Season	Season Dates
Spring Turkey ^A	See Turkey Hunting for limit information
State Land Private Land Landowner	Apr. 28 – May 29
Fall Turkey Archery ^A	See Turkey Hunting for limit information
Private Land (zones 11–12)	Jan. 1 – Jan. 30
Private Land (all zones)	Sep. 15 – Dec. 31
State Land Bowhunting Only Areas	Sep. 15 – Dec. 31
State Land	Sep. 15 – Nov. 16 Dec. 22 – Dec. 31
Fall Turkey Firearms ^A	See Turkey Hunting for limit information
State Land Private Land Landowner	Oct. 2 – Oct. 30
A Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required.

Deer

Season	Season Dates
Deer Bowhunting	See Deer Hunting Seasons for limit information
Private Land (zones 11–12)	Jan. 1 – Jan. 31
Private Land (All zones)	Sep. 15 – Dec. 31
State Land Bowhunting Only Areas	Sep. 15 – Dec. 31
State Land	Sep. 15 – Nov. 16 Dec. 22 – Dec. 31
Deer Shotgun – State Controlled Areas	See Deer Hunting Seasons for limit information
No Lottery Season	Nov. 17 – Dec. 7
Deer Lottery	See Deer Lottery for lottery application and bag limit information
Archery-Only Controlled Hunt Lottery	Sep. 15 – Dec. 31
State Land and Controlled Hunt Lottery “A” Season	Nov. 17 – Nov. 26
State Land and Controlled Hunt Lottery Regular Season	Nov. 17 – Dec. 7
Deer Shotgun/Rifle – Private Lands	See Deer Hunting Seasons for limit information
Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver	Nov. 17 – Dec. 7
Landowner	Nov. 1 – Dec. 31
Deer Muzzleloader	See Deer Hunting Seasons for limit information
Private Land	Dec. 8 – Dec. 31
State Land	Dec. 8 – Dec. 21