Weston-Redding-Easton Hunters: New Law Allows Sunday Deer Hunting During Archery Season

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced recently that bow hunting will be allowed in most areas on Sundays during the private land archery deer season, according to a DEEP release.

“This new opportunity for hunters will support DEEP efforts to maintain healthy deer populations and ecosystems,” said Rick Jacobson, DEEP Wildlife Division Director. “When the density of the deer population in a given area is too high – as it is in much of the state – it is not healthy for deer, other species, or forest lands.”

The past session of the General Assembly approved Public Act 15-204, which authorizes bow and arrow hunting on private property on Sundays. The new law requires that all hunting must take place at least 40 yards away from hiking trails.

Sunday hunting will go into effect starting on Oct. 1, 2015. This year’s fall archery deer season runs from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31 in most zones. The season runs through the end of Jan. 2016 in Deer Management Zones 11 and 12.

The CT DEEP determined that Sunday archery deer hunting on private lands will be allowed in all but three of the state’s Deer Management Zones (DMZs). The decision is based on its assessment of the deer population in each of the zones. The three zones where Sunday hunting will not be permitted are DMZ zones 2, 3, and 4A located in north central Connecticut, including portions of Hartford, Litchfield, and Tolland Counties. The DMZs where Sunday hunting on private land will be permitted include 1, 4b, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 (see map).

To locate your hunting area, click here.

“Sunday hunting is expected to increase – by a small percentage – the current annual harvest of about 10,000-13,000 deer for all hunting seasons,” Jacobson said.

Hunters are reminded that all deer harvested must be reported through DEEP’s online harvest here: https://www.ct.wildlifelicense.com/HunterReporting/Login.aspx or by calling 877-337-4868.

Information on hunting seasons can be found at www.ct.gov/deep/hunting.

Photo: CT DEEP