The 2024 Connecticut deer season will be an exciting year of hunting, and sportsmen are preparing for it. Various hunting possibilities are available in the state, including special permit seasons for antlerless deer and deer damage permits, Archery, guns, and muzzleloader seasons. To guarantee a safe and productive hunting trip, sportsmen must adhere to the rules and limits of these changes. We will review the specifics of the Connecticut deer season 2024 on this page, including the season’s dates, bag restrictions, hunting rules, and information needed for a productive hunt. Therefore, this book will provide helpful information to assist you in maximizing your Connecticut deer hunting experience, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newbie.
Table of Contents
Connecticut Deer Season 2024
For the 2024 hunting season, Connecticut provides a range of options for hunters to take down deer. Connecticut’s deer hunting season, split into multiple more minor seasons, typically lasts from the end of September through the beginning of January. These seasons include Archery, shotgun (lottery and non-lottery), rifle, revolver, and muzzleloader. Deers may be hunted in privately owned and state-owned areas with the landowner’s consent.
Deer Lottery Season
Deer LotteryStart DatesEnd Dates Archery-Only Lottery15-Sep-2330-Dec-23 State Land Lottery “A” Season15-Nov-232-Nov-23 State Land Lottery Regular Season15-Nov-235-Dec-23
CT Bow Hunting Deer Season
Bowhunting SeasonStart DatesEnd Dates Private Land (Zones 11 and 12)1-Jan-2331-Jan-23 Private Land (All Zones)15-Sep-2331-Dec-23 State Land Bowhunting Only Areas15-Sep-2330-Dec-23 State Land15-Sep-2314-Nov-23 20-Dec-2330-Dec-23
Shotgun Deer Season
Shotgun SeasonStart DatesEnd Dates No Lottery Season (State Controlled Areas)15-Nov5-Dec
CT Deer Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver
Deer Shotgun/Rifle/RevolverStart DatesEnd Dates Private Lands15-Nov-235-Dec-23 Landowner1-Nov-2330-Dec-23
Deer Muzzleloader Season
Deer MuzzleloaderStart DatesEnd Dates Private Land6-Dec-2330-Dec-23 State Land6-Dec-2319-Dec-23
Bag Limits
Deer SeasonBag Limit Archery Deer Season2 either sex, 2 antlerless (4 total) Additional bag of 1 either sex and 1 antlerless (2 total) during Jan. 1-31 season on private lands in zones 11 and 12 Archery-only Lottery Deer Hunting2 either sex, 2 antlerless State Land Lottery Deer Hunting1 either sex on state land areas; variable on Controlled Hunt Areas State Land No-Lottery Deer Hunting1 either sex Private Land Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver Deer HuntingStatewide (except Zones 2 and 4A): 1 either sex and 1 antlerless; Zones 2 and 4A: 1 either sex (“Antlerless Only” tag NOT valid); Zone 7: 1 additional antlerless; Zones 11 and 12: 2 additional antlerless Landowner Deer Hunting2 deer; 1 either sex and 1 antlerless State Land Deer Muzzleloader Hunting1 either sex Private Land Deer Muzzleloader HuntingStatewide (except Zones 2 and 4A): 1 either sex and 1 antlerless; Zones 2 and 4A: 1 either sex; Zone 7: 1 additional antlerless; Zones 11 and 12: 2 additional antlerless State Land and Controlled Hunt Lottery1 either sex on state land areas; variable on controlled hunt areas Archery-only Lottery2 either sex, 2 antlerless
Deer Hunting Licenses & Permits
Licenses
LicensesResident (16 & 17)Non-resident (Above 12)Adult Resident Firearms Hunting$10 $91 $19 Firearms Hunting and All Waters Fishing$20 $120 $40 Archery Deer/Small Game$21 $135 $41 Archery Deer/Small Game and All Waters$33 -$65 Junior Firearms Hunting$11 $11 Junior Archery Deer/Small Game$19 $10 Age 65+ Annual Hunting License-Free (Annual Renewal)
Permits
CT Deer PermitsResidentResident (12 to 17)Nonresident Private Land Shotgun/Rifle$19 $10 $68 Private Land Muzzleloader$19 $10 $68 State Land Muzzleloader$19 $10 $68 State Land Lottery$19 $10 $68 State Land No-lottery$19 $10 $68 Revolver Deer Endorsement$5 –
Hunting Regulations
- Connecticut requires a one-year Small Game and Deer Archery Permit for small game and deer archery shooting. Photocopies of CE/FS bowhunting training certificates from 1982 or other states or countries are necessary to purchase the permit. Bowhunting on private and state property requires a permit for any archery hunting. 12-15-year-olds may get junior permits. Hunters should realize that bowhunting licenses, permits, and stamps no longer prove course completion.
- Guns deer licenses need a guns hunting license. Lot permits may be requested from January 3, 2024, at 9:30 AM. If denied lottery permission, one may still buy a no-lottery permit.
- The Revolver Deer Endorsement permits hunters with a Free Landowner Permit or Connecticut residents with a Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Permit to use a revolver for hunting deer on private holdings of at least 10 acres. Handgun hunters need state/town carry licenses.
- Free Deer Landowner Permits and Landowner Resident Game Bird Stamps are available to Connecticut residents and non-residents with at least ten contiguous acres. They may also take turkeys on their land with a Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp or a stamp without a bag restriction.
- In Deer Management Zones 2 and 4A, the “Antlerless Only” tag is prohibited during the Private Land Shotgun/Rifle and Muzzleloader seasons. These zones only allow “Either-sex” tags.
- Hunting is presumed while entering or leaving a hunting area with a loaded firearm. During deer and turkey firearms shooting seasons, carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun one hour before dawn without a live cartridge in the chamber is legal.
- With limited exclusions, hunting and dog training will be prohibited between October 14 and half an hour before dawn on October 21, 2024. There are exceptions for hunting rails in wetlands, waterfowl, lawful squirrel, deer, turkey, and coyote hunting, licensed private shooting preserves, field trials, and department-approved hunting dog training.
- Electronic calling devices are prohibited for shooting turkeys and migratory birds (excluding crows). These gadgets can hunt crows, coyotes, other small wildlife, and deer.
- Rifles and handguns bigger than. Twenty-two calibre rimfires are forbidden on the state-owned territory. State-leased and Permit-Required Hunting Areas restrict rifles and pistols. Turkeys, ducks, and other federally restricted migratory game birds (excluding crows) cannot be hunted with rifles or pistols. Rifles and revolvers cannot be used to shoot deer, nighttime raccoons, and opossum hunting with more than ammunition.22 calibre is forbidden. Handgun hunters need state/town carry licenses.
- Shotgun ammunition heavier than #2 shot is restricted on state-owned, state-leased, and Permit-Required Hunting Areas and private property during the Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Deer Season. The Private Land Shotgun/Rifle Season restricts deer hunting using shotguns.
- Bowhunters must confirm CE/FS bowhunting course completion or its equivalent from another state or nation to get a minor game/deer archery permit. Connecticut bowhunting license holders since 2002 have supplied this verification.
- Long, recurved, or compound bows with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds and crossbows with a fixed rifle-type stock and a mechanical safety system are legal for deer and turkey shooting. String release mechanisms are allowed. Crossbow bolts must be at least 18 inches long, and arrowheads must have two blades and be at least 7/8 inches broad at their widest point. Legal arrowheads open on impact. The drug, poison, and tranquillizer-coated missiles are illegal. Telescopes are allowed.
- Private deer hunting requires explicit authorization from the landowner. Other species need just verbal authorization. The landowner must sign the permission form, date it for the current season, and list the hunting tools authorized. Trappers must renew their written permission yearly, although landowners and their successors may kill deer without it. Rifle or revolver deer hunting requires at least 10 acres.
- Unless they are archery deer hunters or landowners hunting deer on their property, all deer hunters (including those with deer damage permits) must wear at least 400 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing visible from all sides above the waist from September 1 to February 28. Landowner family members must wear luminous orange.
Note: For Complete 2024 Deer hunting regulations, you may review the CT State Department of Energy & Environmental Protection website.
Frequently Asked Questions
