Hunting Seasons and Dates

When Can I Hunt in Connecticut?

Wondering when to plan your first hunt of the year? Whether you're going after deer, turkey, or waterfowl, this guide will help you mark the right dates on your calendar.

The information provided here reflects the most recent updates from the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP). We’ll continue to update this guide as new season dates and details are released.

That said, it’s always a good idea to double-check official DEEP resources for the latest hunting and trapping season dates before making final plans.

Deer

Some dates and hunt areas involve a lottery system to draw a tag, so be sure to confirm those details when planning your hunt.

Bowhunting

• Private Land (Zones 11 & 12): January 1 – 31, 2026
• Private Land (All Zones): September 15 – December 31, 2025
• State Land Bowhunting Only Areas: September 15 – December 31, 2025
• State Land: September 15 – November 18, 2025 and December 24 – 31, 2025

Shotgun (No Lottery Season): November 19 – December 9, 2025

Deer Lottery

• Archery-Only Lottery: September 15 – December 31, 2025
• State Land Lottery "A": November 19 – 28, 2025
• State Land Lottery Regular Season: November 19 – December 9, 2025

Deer Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver

• Private Lands: November 19 – December 9, 2025
• Landowner: November 1 – December 31, 2025

Deer Muzzleloader

• Private Land: December 10 – 31, 2025
• State Land: December 10 – 23, 2025

Junior Deer: November 8 – 15, 2025 (excluding Sunday)

Turkey

Spring Turkey (State and Private Lands): April 30 – May 31, 2025

Junior Spring Turkey: April 19 – 26, 2025 (excluding Sunday)

Fall Archery

• Private Land (Zones 11 & 12): January 1 – 31, 2026
• Private Land (All Zones): September 15 – December 31, 2025
• State Land Bowhunting Only Areas: September 15 – December 31, 2025
• State Land: September 15 – November 18, 2025 and December 24 – 31, 2025

Fall Firearms (State and Private Lands): October 4 – 31, 2025

Small Game Birds

Pheasant:

• Regular: January 1 – February 28, 2026 and October 18 – December 31, 2025
• Junior Day: October 11, 2025

Chukar and Hungarian Partridge: January 1 – February 28, 2026 and October 18 – December 31, 2025

Ruffed Grouse: October 18 – November 29, 2025

Quail: October 18 – November 1, 2025

Woodcock: October 23 – December 13, 2025

Snipe: September 3 – October 11, 2025, and October 18, 2025 – January 3, 2026

Rails: September 3 – October 25, 2025 and November 3 – 29, 2025

Crow:

• August 13 – October 11, 2025 (Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday)
• October 22 – November 29, 2025 (Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday)
• December 22, 2025 – March 23, 2026 (Monday – Saturday)

Waterfowl

Ducks, Mergansers, & Coots

• Early Season (North Zone): October 11 – 18, 2025
• Late Season
  • North Zone: November 11, 2025 – January 10, 2026
  • South Zone: November 11, 2025 and Noember 15, 2025 – January 20, 2026

Scaup

• North Zone: October 11 – 18, 2025, November 10 – December 17, 2025, and December 18, 2025 – January 10, 2026
• South Zone: November 11, November 15 – December 26, 2025 and December 27, 2025 – January 20, 2026

Canada Geese

• September Early Season
  • North Zone: September 1 – 30, 2025
  • South Zone: September 15 – 30, 2025
• Regular Seasons
  • AP Unit (North Zone): October 11 – 18, 2025 and November 4 – 29, 2025
  • AP Late Season (North Zone): December 15, 2025 – February 14, 2026
  • AFRP Unit (North and South Zones): October 11 – 18, 2025 and November 22, 2025 – February 14, 2026
  • NAP-H Unit (North Zone): October 11 – 18, 2025 and November 11, 2025 – January 14, 2026
  • NAP-H Unit (South Zone): October 11 – 13, 2025 and November 8, 2025 – January 10, 2026
  • NAP-H Late Season (South Zone): January 15 – February 14, 2026

Snow Geese (including Blue Geese)

• North and South Zones: October 1, 2025 – January 10, 2026, and February 17 – March 10, 2026

Brant

• North Zone: December 8, 2025 – January 10, 2026
• South Zone: December 16, 2025 – January 19, 2026

Small Game Mammals

Gray Squirrel: January 1 – February 28, 2026 and September 1 – December 31, 2025

Cottontail Rabbit: January 1 – February 28, 2026

European Hare: October 18 – December 31, 2025

Snowshoe Hare: January 1 – 31, 2026 and November 15 – December 31, 2025

Woodchuck: March 15 – November 15, 2025

Coyote

January 1 – December 31, 2025