Deer Lottery

A lottery is conducted to award a limited number of permits for deer hunting on state lands and Controlled Hunt areas. You may apply for a lottery permit online or by mail. To apply, you must possess a hunting license for the current year. Mail applications are available from town clerks and some DEP field offices. There is no fee to apply for the deer lottery. Applications must be mailed after January 1, and must be postmarked (metered mail stamps not a substitute) by the June 1st deadline. Incomplete, inaccurate, or unsigned applications will be rejected. Do not submit more than one application. If your name appears on another application, both will be rejected. APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE RESULTS BY MAIL BY August 1st. IF RESULTS ARE NOT RECEIVED BY THIS DATE, CONTACT THE DEER PROGRAM AT (860) 642-7239 OR dep.franklinwildlife@ct.gov.

Lottery Questions: Email dep.franklinwildlife@ct.gov or call Deer Program at 860-642-7239.

One State Land Shotgun Deer Permit Only: If you are going to apply for a Lottery permit, DO NOT PURCHASE a No-Lottery permit. If you are not awarded a Lottery permit, you will still have time to purchase a No-Lottery permit before the season.

Mail Applications: If you apply by mail, you must use the BLUE Deer Lottery Application forms. These applications have detailed information about the lottery areas.

Area Designation: See the table and map for description of deer lottery areas. Your application may specify up to 4 hunting areas. At least one area must be specified.

Party Permits: Up to 3 names may appear on an application. All persons must have current firearms hunting licenses and all must sign the application. If a party member’s name appears on another application, all names on both applications will be rejected. Junior hunters who will not be 16 years of age by the start of the season should apply for a party permit with an adult hunter who will be at least 18 years old by the start of the season. If a junior hunter applies without an adult and is selected for another season or area, no transfer of permits can be made to reunite the adult and junior applicants.

“A” or “B” Season: Applicants may not specify a season choice. The season is determined by lottery and cannot be changed.

Deer Lottery Changes

There were significant changes that affected state land deer hunting in 2010. Areas 1, 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 57 are no longer Lottery Areas. If you want to hunt on those areas, you should purchase either a No-Lottery “A” Season or a No-Lottery “B” Season Permit. The tables to the right list the hunting areas and permit types required for deer hunting during the “A” and “B” seasons. Remember, you are only allowed to purchase one type of state land shotgun deer permit; a State Land/Controlled Hunt Lottery Permit, a State Land No-Lottery “A” Permit, or a State Land No-Lottery “B” Permit.

• If you are going to apply for a Lottery permit, do not purchase a No-Lottery Permit. If you are not awarded a Lottery permit, you will still have time to purchase a No-Lottery Permit before the season.
• The application deadline for applying for a Lottery permit has been changed to June 1st.
• You can apply for the lottery online at www.ct.gov/dep/hunting.
• If you apply by mail, you must use the blue Deer Lottery Application forms. These new applications have detailed information about the lottery areas.

Description of Deer Lottery Hunting Areas