Connecticut 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Connecticut's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Nov 1-Dec 31, 2026.
Lottery Archery-Only White-tailed Deer opens Sep 15, 2026 and closes Dec 31, 2026.
General Coyote opens Jan 1, 2026 and closes Dec 31, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Connecticut DEEP.
- firearm deer
- Nov 1-Dec 31, 2026
- archery deer
- Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
- coyote
- Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
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Key seasons by species
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Connecticut DEEP before hunting.
Deer
20 listed rowsWhite-tailed Deer
Archery
Jan 1-31, 2026
Deer Archery Season.
Zone: Private Land (Zones 11 and 12)
White-tailed Deer
Lottery Archery-Only
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Deer Lottery - Archery-Only Lottery.
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Deer Archery Season.
Zone: State Land Bowhunting Only Areas
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Deer Archery Season. Two segments: Sep 15 - Nov 17 and Dec 23 - Dec 31.
Zone: State Land
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Deer Archery Season.
Zone: Private Land (All Zones)
White-tailed Deer
Lottery Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Deer Lottery - Archery-Only Lottery.
White-tailed Deer
Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver - Landowner
Nov 1-Dec 31, 2026
Deer Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver Landowner Season.
Zone: Landowner
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Nov 1-Dec 31, 2026
Deer Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver - Landowner season.
Zone: Landowner
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Junior
Nov 7-14, 2026
Junior Deer Training Day. Excluding Sunday on state land.
White-tailed Deer
Youth
Nov 7-14, 2026
Junior Deer Training Days. Excludes Sunday on state land.
White-tailed Deer
Shotgun - No Lottery
Nov 18-Dec 8, 2026
Deer Shotgun - State Controlled Areas, No Lottery Season.
Zone: State Controlled Areas
White-tailed Deer
Lottery A Season
Nov 18-27, 2026
Deer Lottery - State Land Lottery 'A' Season.
Zone: State Land
Show 8 more deer rows
White-tailed Deer
Lottery Regular Season
Nov 18-Dec 8, 2026
Deer Lottery - State Land Lottery Regular Season.
Zone: State Land
White-tailed Deer
Lottery Firearm
Nov 18-27, 2026
Deer Lottery - State Land Lottery 'A' Season.
Zone: State Land
White-tailed Deer
Lottery Firearm
Nov 18-Dec 8, 2026
Deer Lottery - State Land Lottery Regular Season.
Zone: State Land
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Nov 18-Dec 8, 2026
Deer Shotgun - State Controlled Areas, No Lottery Season.
Zone: State Controlled Areas - No Lottery
White-tailed Deer
Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver
Nov 18-Dec 8, 2026
Deer Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver Season.
Zone: Private Lands
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Nov 18-Dec 8, 2026
Deer Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver.
Zone: Private Lands
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Dec 9-31, 2026
Deer Muzzleloader season.
Zone: Private Land
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Dec 9-22, 2026
Deer Muzzleloader season.
Zone: State Land
Turkey
14 listed rowsWild Turkey
Fall Archery
Jan 1-31, 2026
Fall Archery Turkey Season.
Zone: Private Land (Zones 11 and 12)
Wild Turkey
Archery
Jan 1-31, 2026
Fall Archery Turkey Season.
Zone: Private Land (Zones 11 and 12)
Wild Turkey
Youth/Junior
Apr 18-25, 2026
Junior Spring Wild Turkey Training Day. Excluding Sunday on state land.
Wild Turkey
Youth
Apr 18-25, 2026
Junior Spring Wild Turkey Training Day. Excludes Sunday on state land.
Wild Turkey
Spring General
Apr 29-May 30, 2026
Spring Turkey Season.
Zone: State and Private Lands
Wild Turkey
Spring
Apr 29-May 30, 2026
Zone: State and Private Lands
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Fall Archery Turkey Season.
Zone: State Land Bowhunting Only Areas
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Fall Archery Turkey Season.
Zone: Private Land (All Zones)
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Fall Archery Turkey Season. Two segments: September 15 – November 17 and December 23 – 31.
Zone: State Land
Wild Turkey
Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Fall Archery Turkey Season. Two segments: Sep 15 - Nov 17 and Dec 23 - Dec 31.
Zone: State Land
Wild Turkey
Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Fall Archery Turkey Season.
Zone: Private Land (All Zones)
Wild Turkey
Archery
Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026
Fall Archery Turkey Season.
Zone: State Land Bowhunting Only Areas
Show 2 more turkey rows
Wild Turkey
Fall Firearms
Oct 3-31, 2026
Fall Turkey Firearms Season.
Zone: State and Private Lands
Wild Turkey
Firearm
Oct 3-31, 2026
Fall Turkey Firearms season.
Zone: State and Private Lands
Waterfowl
Ducks, Mergansers, Geese, Coot
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
See current Migratory Bird Hunting Guide. State and federal stamps required.
Waterfowl
Youth
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Junior Waterfowl Training Days - two Saturdays in fall. See 2026-2027 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide for dates.
Waterfowl
Youth/Junior
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Junior Waterfowl: Two Saturdays in fall. See the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide for dates.
Waterfowl (ducks, mergansers, geese, coot)
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and federal stamp required. Dates deferred to Migratory Bird Hunting Guide.
Pheasant
Pheasant
General
Jan 1-Feb 28, 2026
Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required. Two separate seasons: Jan 1 - Feb 28 and Oct 17 - Dec 31.
Pheasant
Youth/Junior
Oct 10-10, 2026
Junior Pheasant Training Day.
Pheasant
Youth
Oct 10-10, 2026
Junior Pheasant Training Day.
Pheasant
General
Oct 17-Dec 31, 2026
Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required. Second season segment.
Quail
Quail
General
Oct 17-31, 2026
Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required. Extended season in some areas.
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
General
Oct 17-Nov 30, 2026
Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required.
Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit and European Hare
General
Jan 1-Feb 28, 2026
Two separate seasons: Jan 1 - Feb 28 and Oct 17 - Dec 31.
Cottontail Rabbit and European Hare
General
Oct 17-Dec 31, 2026
Second season segment.
Snowshoe Hare
General
Jan 1-Feb 28, 2026
Two separate seasons: Jan 1 - Feb 28 and Nov 21 - Dec 31.
Snowshoe Hare
General
Nov 21-Dec 31, 2026
Second season segment.
Squirrel
Gray Squirrel
General
Jan 1-Feb 28, 2026
Two separate seasons: Jan 1 - Feb 28 and Sep 1 - Dec 31.
Gray Squirrel
General
Sep 1-Dec 31, 2026
Second season segment.
Furbearer
Raccoon and Opossum
General
Jan 1-17, 2026
Two separate seasons: Jan 1 - Jan 17 and Oct 17 - Dec 31.
Raccoon and Opossum
General
Oct 17-Dec 31, 2026
Second season segment.
Red and Gray Foxes
General
Jan 1-Feb 28, 2026
Two separate seasons: Jan 1 - Feb 28 and Oct 17 - Dec 31.
Red and Gray Foxes
General
Oct 17-Dec 31, 2026
Second season segment.
Small Game
Woodchuck
General
Mar 15-Nov 15, 2026
Migratory Birds
Woodcock, Snipe, Rails
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required. Dates deferred to Migratory Bird Hunting Guide.
Coyote
Coyote
General
Jan 1-Dec 31, 2026
Year-round season.
Other
Chukar and Hungarian Partridge
General
Jan 1-Feb 28, 2026
Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required. Two separate seasons.
Chukar and Hungarian Partridge
General
Oct 17-Dec 31, 2026
Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required. Second season segment.
Crow
General
Dec 22, 2025-Mar 23, 2026
Monday through Saturday. Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required. Fall crow season dates subject to change pending a regulations change.
Crow
General
Aug 8-Oct 9, 2026
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday only. Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required. Fall crow season dates subject to change pending a regulations change.
Crow
General
Oct 17-Nov 28, 2026
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday only. Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required. Fall crow season dates subject to change pending a regulations change.
Crow
General
Dec 21, 2026-Mar 20, 2027
Monday through Saturday. Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required.
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Connecticut Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Connecticut?
September 15, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Connecticut; it is lottery archery-only white-tailed deer Sep 15-Dec 31, 2026.
When is Connecticut's firearm deer season?
Nov 1-Dec 31, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Connecticut. Check zone and permit details with Connecticut DEEP before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Connecticut?
A current spring turkey opener is not listed for Connecticut yet. Check Connecticut DEEP for the latest turkey dates.
Do I need a license to hunt in Connecticut?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Connecticut hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Connecticut DEEP.