Open Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits for Upland Game Birds and Mammals

The following seasons are subject to the closures provided in subsections (i) and (j) of this section: (a) The open season for taking chukar partridge shall be from the third Saturday in October through the second Saturday in January. The daily bag limit shall not exceed two chukar partridge, and the season bag limit shall not exceed ten chukar partridge. (b) The open season for taking European hare and cottontail rabbit shall be from the third Saturday in October through the last day of February. The daily bag limit shall not exceed one European hare and three cottontail rabbits, and the season bag limit shall not exceed ten European hare and twenty-five cottontail rabbits. The open season for taking ruffed grouse shall be from the third Saturday in October through the last day of November. The open season for taking gray squirrel shall be a split season starting the first day in September and running through the last day of September and starting the third Saturday in October and continuing through the last day of February. The daily bag limit shall not exceed one ruffed grouse and eight gray squirrels and the season bag limit shall not exceed eight ruffed grouse and forty gray squirrels. (c) The open season for taking snowshoe rabbit shall be from the third Saturday in November through January 31. The daily bag limit shall not exceed two and the season bag limit shall not exceed ten. (d) The open season for taking raccoon and opossum shall be from the third Saturday in October through the third Saturday in January. During the shotgun season for hunting deer, raccoon and opossum hunting will not be permitted during the daylight hours from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. The daily bag limit shall not exceed five for raccoon. There shall be no daily or seasonal bag limits on opossum. (e) The open season for taking quail shall be from the third Saturday in October and continue for two consecutive weeks, except that the season shall continue through the second Saturday in January on the following state-controlled field trial or dog training areas: Dr. John E. Flaherty Field Trial Area, Mansfield Hollow Dam, Nod Brook Management Area and Sugarbrook Field Trial Area. The daily bag limit shall not exceed two and the season bag limit shall not exceed ten. (f) There shall be no open season on Hungarian partridge, northern and southern flying squirrel, mink, moose, muskrat, beaver, otter, Canada lynx, harbor seal, pine marten, Indiana bat, black bear, fisher, bobcat and mountain lion (felis concolor). (g) There shall be no closed season except as provided in section 26-66-1 (c) and subsection (j) of this section and no daily or season bag limits on any of the following species: coyote, porcupine, red squirrel, weasel, or skunk. (h) The open season for taking red fox and gray fox shall be from the third Saturday in October through the last day in February. The daily bag limit shall not exceed three and the season limit shall not exceed thirty, in combination. (i) There shall be a closed season for all hunting and the training of dogs from the second Saturday in October through 7:00 a.m., e.d.t. on the third Saturday in October except for turkey and archery deer hunting; rail and gallinule hunting in tidal marsh; waterfowl hunting; coyote hunting; the hunting of foxes and rabbits under the provisions of section 26-39 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended; hunting on licensed private shooting preserves operating under the provisions of section 26-48 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended; junior pheasant hunting training day under the provisions of Section 26-48a-1(a) of the Regulations of Connecticut state agencies; field trials held under the provisions of section 26-51 and section 26-52 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended, the training of dogs under the provisions of Section 26-49 of the Connecticut General Statutes as amended; or the training of hunting dogs on any area approved by the Department for this purpose. (j) There shall be no open season for hunting any wild game birds or mammals other than turkeys during the open spring turkey season beginning the last Wednesday in April and ending the last Saturday in May. (k) The open season for taking woodchuck shall be from March 15 through November 15.