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Sunday Deer Hunting On Private Land In Fairfield County Begins In October

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has announced bow hunting on Sundays during the private land archery deer season will be permitted in most deer management zones in the state – except for those in north-central Connecticut.

Photo Credit: File Photo
This image shows where Sunday bow hunting for deer is and is not allowed.

This image shows where Sunday bow hunting for deer is and is not allowed.

“This new opportunity for hunters will support DEEP efforts to maintain healthy deer populations and ecosystems,” said Rick Jacobson, DEEP Wildlife Division director, in a press release. “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.”

A new state law authorizes the department to establish a season for Sunday bow hunting on private properties during the fall archery season in areas of the state with an overpopulation of deer. The law also requires all such hunting must take place at least 40 yards away from blazed hiking trails.

As with all deer or turkey hunting on private lands, hunters must have written permission from the land owner.

Sunday hunting will go into effect starting Oct. 1. This date is a little more than two weeks into this year’s fall archery deer season, which is from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31 in most zones, and through the end of January in deer management zones 11 and 12.

“Regulated deer hunting has proven to be an ecologically sound, socially beneficial, and fiscally responsible method of managing deer populations” said Jacobson in a press release.

“Our efforts have focused on increasing harvest of antlerless deer, coordinating controlled hunts for overabundant deer herds, and assisting communities and large landowners with deer management issues,” said Andrew LaBonte, a Wildlife Division biologist with Connecticut’s Deer Program, in a press release. “Permitting hunting on Sundays is just one more tool to aid in those management efforts.” 

Hunters are reminded all deer harvested must be reported through the state's website or telephone reporting system (1-877-337-4868).

Information on hunting seasons – including Sunday bow hunting on private lands – can be found here.

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