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Small Game Hunting

2020 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide

Resident Game Birds

Migratory Game Birds

Small Mammals

Furbearer Hunting

Resident Game Bird Hunting Seasons

Ruffed Grouse

Species: Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, Quail, Chukar, Hungarian Partridge, and Wild Turkey (turkey hunting season information).

Major Pheasant Stocking Areas

Season Dates

  • Pheasant: Jan. 1 - Feb. 29 and Oct. 17 - Dec. 31

  • Ruffed Grouse: Oct. 17 - Nov. 30

  • Quail: Oct. 17 - Oct. 31

  • Chukar and Hungarian Partridge: Jan. 1 - Feb. 29 and Oct. 17 - Dec. 31

Bag Limits

  • Pheasant: Daily (2); Season (10)
  • Ruffed Grouse: Daily (1); Season (8)
  • Quail: Daily (2); Season (10)
  • Chukar and Hungarian Partridge: Daily (2); Season (10)

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, including Opening Day on October 17, 2020 (New Regulation)

License Requirements: Firearms or Archery Hunting License and a Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp

Special Conditions:

  • Extended Quail Season - Quail may be hunted at the Nod Brook WMA and the Flaherty, Mansfield, and Sugarbrook Field Trial Areas from Jan. 1 - Feb. 29 and from Oct. 17 - Dec. 31.
  • Landowners hunting resident game birds on their own land must obtain the Free Landowner Resident Game Bird Stamp, and are restricted to daily and season bag limits. Private hunting clubs can apply for exemption from stamp requirements. Contact the Wildlife Division for details. Members and guests of such exempt clubs are not subject to seasonal bag limits when hunting on club lands. They are also exempt from daily bag limits if they use club tags on all pheasants taken on such club lands. Club tags must be applied immediately upon kill and contain club name, hunting license number, and date taken. Pheasants identified in this manner do not count towards the statewide daily limit of two.
  • Junior Pheasant Hunter Training Day - Saturday, October 10, 2020

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons

Crow Hunting

Season Dates: (hunting only on certain days)

  • Jan. 11 - March 28; Monday through Saturday
  • Aug. 8 - Oct. 9: Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
  • Oct. 17 - Nov. 30; Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

Bag Limit: No limit

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, including Opening Day on October 17, 2020 (New Regulation)

License Requirements: Firearms or Archery Hunting License and Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp.

Legal Firearms

Special Conditions:

  • While crow hunting from a stationary position a hunter is exempt from the fluorescent orange clothing regulation.
  • In addition to Connecticut hunting laws, migratory bird hunters are subject to all Federal Laws and Regulations. During the crow season, on October 17, 2020, legal hunting starts at 7:00 AM. (The regulation concerning shooting hours for hunting on opening day of the small game season may change. Check back before the season starts.)
Woodcock, Snipe, and Rail Hunting

Species: Woodcock, Snipe, Rails, Coot, Crows

Season Dates: See current Migratory Bird Hunting Guide

License Requirements: Firearms or Archery Hunting License and Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp.

Legal Firearms

Non-toxic Shot - Non-toxic shot is required for coot and rail hunting. The maximum size shot allowed is BB for steel and #2 for other federally approved non-toxic shot types.

Special Conditions: In addition to Connecticut hunting laws, migratory bird hunters are subject to all Federal Laws and Regulations. Legal shooting hours for migratory game birds and waterfowl end at sunset.

Waterfowl Hunting

Species: Ducks, Mergansers, Geese, Brant

Season Dates: See current Migratory Bird Hunting Guide

License Requirements: Firearms or Archery Hunting License and Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. Junior hunters (ages 12-15) are no longer exempt and must obtain the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. Federal Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp also required for hunters 16 years or older. Note, federal waterfowl stamps are not valid unless signed in ink on the face of the stamp. The Connecticut stamp no longer needs to be carried while hunting.

Legal Firearms: Shotguns are the only firearms which may be used. Refer to the Migratory Bird Hunting Guide for regulations regarding the number of shells a shotgun may hold.

Special Conditions:

  • Non-toxic Shot - Non-toxic shot is required for waterfowl hunting. The maximum size shot allowed is BB for steel and #2 for other federally approved non-toxic shot types.
  • Possession of Lead Shot - possessing lead shot while waterfowl hunting is prohibited.
  • Federal Regulations - in addition to Connecticut hunting laws, waterfowl hunters are subject to all Federal Laws and Regulations. Legal shooting hours for migratory game birds and waterfowl end at sunset.
  • No Hunting Buffer Zone - while hunting in tidal areas from land or from floating blinds anchored to land or rock positions, the no hunting buffer zone around permanent buildings is 250 feet.
  • Fluorescent Orange Clothing - while hunting waterfowl from boats or stationary positions, a hunter is exempt from the fluorescent orange clothing regulation.

Junior Waterfowl Hunter Training Days: are usually two Saturdays in the fall. Dates are published in the current Migratory Bird Hunting Guide. 

Small Game Mammals

Season Dates

  • Gray Squirrel: Jan. 1 - Feb. 29 and Sept. 1 - Dec. 31
  • Cottontail: Jan. 1 - Feb. 29 and Oct. 17 - Dec. 31
  • European Hare: Jan. 1 - Feb. 29 and Oct. 17 - Dec. 31
  • Snowshoe Hare: Jan. 1 - Jan. 31 and Nov. 21 - Dec. 31
  • Woodchuck: March 16 - Nov. 16

Bag Limits

  • Gray Squirrel: Daily (8); Season (40)
  • Cottontail: Daily (3); Season (25
  • European Hare: Daily (1); Season (10)
  • Snowshoe Hare: Daily (2); Season (10)
  • Woodchuck: Daily and Season (no limit)

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, including Opening Day on October 17, 2020 (New Regulation)

License Requirements: Firearms or Archery Hunting License

Special Conditions: None

Furbearer Hunting Seasons

Season Dates

  • Raccoon: Jan. 1 - Jan. 18 and Oct. 17 - Dec. 31
  • Opossum: Jan. 1 - Jan. 18 and Oct. 17 - Dec. 31
  • Red and Gray Foxes: Jan. 1 - Feb. 29 and Oct. 17 - Dec. 31
  • Coyote: Jan. 1 - Dec. 31

Bag Limits:

  • Raccoon: Daily (5); Season (no limit)
  • Opossum: Daily and Season (no limit)
  • Red and Gray Foxes: Daily (3 combined); Season (30 combined)
  • Coyote: Daily and Season (no limit)

Hunting Hours:

  • Raccoon and Opossum: No restrictions on state-owned lands open to hunting and on private lands where landowners have given permission.
  • Foxes and Coyotes: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, including Opening Day on October 17, 2020 (New Regulation)

License Requirements: Firearms or Archery Hunting License

Special Conditions:

  • Raccoons and Opossums: When hunting at night, rifles or handguns using ammunition larger than .22 caliber rimfire or shotgun shells larger than #2 shot may not be used. Note that rifles or handguns using .17 caliber rimfire ammunition are permitted for hunting at night. It is illegal to take raccoons or opossums with the use of a light from a motor vehicle.
  • Foxes and Coyotes taken by hunting must be reported online or by telephone (1-877-337-4868). Or, they can be pelt tagged. To be sold, all fox and coyote pelts must be tagged.

Hunting and Trapping Guide Table of Contents

Content last updated on March 13, 2020.