Bill May Ban Hunting At Calf Pasture Beach In Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — A bill that would ban hunting at Calf Pasture Beach and turn the area into a wildlife refuge is being considered by lawmakers in the General Assembly. The bill is co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and State Representative Lucy Dathan (D-Norwalk/New Canaan).

A public hearing was held on Feb. 4, during which both residents and non-residents expressed opinions for or against the bill before the legislature’s environment committee. Fishing would still be permitted in the area were it to become a refuge.

"The idea is to ban hunting and only hunting at the beach and in the surrounding area, which is located in the middle of a residential neighborhood," Communications Director Kevin Coughlin said in an email. (To sign up for Norwalk breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

A number of city and state residents hunt waterfowl at the Long Island Sound Park. According to Coughlin, the bill is being considered due to complaints from neighbors, especially parents waiting at bus stops with their children, alarmed by the sounds of gun shots around the area during hunting season.

"We are working with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and legislative non partisan attorneys to make sure that the bill is drafted in such a way as to not have any unintended consequences," Coughlin said. "We want to limit it to just hunting."

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said in an emailed statement to Patch he would like to see legislation approved that would make Calf Pasture Beach off-limits to hunters.

"Both when I was the Police Chief, and now as Mayor, I have received many inquiries and complaints about hunting that occurs at the beach," Rilling said in a statement. "Many feel it is unsafe because of the number of people who walk there and it makes them uncomfortable. Moreover, the noise from the discharge of the weapons is very frightening. I do not know what other public beaches are used for hunting waterfowl. Thank you Senator Duff for bringing this legislation forward."

According to public hearing testimony found on the Connecticut General Assembly website, a number of organizations and residents have expressed support for the bill, however some have also expressed their opposition to it, with some not wanting to see a "valuable resource" like Calf Pasture lost to hunters.

Photo credit: RJ Scofield