Connecticut Hunting & Fishing
Season Calendar 2026
Connecticut provides quality whitetail deer and wild turkey hunting on its Wildlife Management Areas and private lands. Deer density is among the highest in the Northeast, and bow hunting opportunities are excellent near suburban areas.
Connecticut 2026 — Season Overview
Verified January 2026
🦌
Open Now
Deer (Archery)
Oct 1 – Jan 15
🦌
Open Now
Deer (Rifle)
Nov 25 – Dec 8
🦌
Open Now
Deer (Muzzleloader)
Oct 17 – Dec 26
🦃
Open Now
Turkey (Spring)
Apr 19 – May 31
🦃
Open Now
Turkey (Fall)
Oct 21 – Nov 18
🐦
Open Now
Duck & Waterfowl
Oct 6 – Jan 21
🐦
Open Now
American Woodcock
Oct 1 – Nov 30
🐰
Open Now
Cottontail Rabbit
Oct 1 – Feb 28
🐿️
Open Now
Squirrel
Sep 1 – Nov 30
🦢
Open Now
Canada Goose
Oct 1 – Jan 25
🎣
Open Now
Largemouth Bass
Mar 1 – Oct 31
🎣
Open Now
Rainbow Trout
Apr 1 – May 31
🎣
Open Now
Walleye
Apr 15 – Oct 15
🎣
Open Now
Ice Fishing (Perch)
Dec 1 – Feb 28
🎣
Open Now
Smallmouth Bass
Jun 15 – Oct 31
🐟
Open Now
Catfish
May 1 – Sep 30
🎣
Open Now
Striped Bass
Apr 1 – Nov 30
🎣
Open Now
Crappie
May 1 – Sep 30
🐟
Open Now
Flounder
May 1 – Oct 31
Source: Connecticut DEEP (portal.ct.gov) · Verified January 2026
Complete Visual Reference
Connecticut Season Calendar — All Species × 12 Months
Every hunting and fishing season mapped across all 12 months. Color-coded by activity type. Scroll horizontally on small screens to see all months.
| Species / Season | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing Seasons | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Rainbow Trout | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Walleye | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Ice Fishing (Perch) | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| 🐟Catfish | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Striped Bass | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Crappie | ||||||||||||
| 🐟Flounder | ||||||||||||
| Hunting Seasons | ||||||||||||
| 🦌Deer (Archery) | ||||||||||||
| 🦌Deer (Rifle) | ||||||||||||
| 🦌Deer (Muzzleloader) | ||||||||||||
| 🦃Turkey (Spring) | ||||||||||||
| 🦃Turkey (Fall) | ||||||||||||
| 🐦Duck & Waterfowl | ||||||||||||
| 🐦American Woodcock | ||||||||||||
| 🐰Cottontail Rabbit | ||||||||||||
| 🐿️Squirrel | ||||||||||||
| 🦢Canada Goose | ||||||||||||
Fishing (all species)
Archery Hunting
Rifle Hunting
Muzzleloader
Spring Turkey / Upland
Fall Bird / Bear
Waterfowl
Draw Only / Application
Ice Fishing
Hunting
Connecticut Hunting Season Details — 2026
Connecticut provides quality whitetail deer and wild turkey hunting on its Wildlife Management Areas and private lands. Deer density is among the highest in the Northeast, and bow hunting opportunities are excellent near suburban areas.
White-tailed Deer
3 of 3 seasons open
🏹
Open Now
Whitetail Deer Archery
Archery
Sep 15 – Dec 31
🔫
Open Now
Whitetail Deer Firearms
Firearms
Nov 17 – Dec 5
💨
Open Now
Whitetail Deer Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Dec 7 – Dec 31
Wild Turkey
2 of 2 seasons open
🌿
Open Now
Wild Turkey Spring
General
May 1 – May 31
🌿
Open Now
Wild Turkey Fall
General
Oct 1 – Nov 30
Fishing
Connecticut Fishing Season Details — 2026
Connecticut offers quality bass and trout fishing across its many reservoirs and rivers. The Farmington River is a premier trout stream; striped bass fishing along the Long Island Sound coast is excellent in season.
🎣
Open Now
Connecticut Largemouth Bass Season
General
Jun 1 – Nov 30
Jun 1 through Nov 30. Catch-and-release required on some waters. 5 fish per day. 12 inch minimum.
🎣
Open Now
Connecticut Rainbow Trout Season
Fly Fishing
Apr 6 – Feb 28
Apr 6 through Feb 28. 5 fish per day.
🎣
Open Now
Connecticut Striped Bass Season
General
May 1 – Dec 31
May 1 through Dec 31. 1 fish per day. 28 inch minimum.
🎣
Open Now
Connecticut Walleye Season
General
Mar 15 – Oct 31
Mar 15 through Oct 31. 5 fish per day.
🎣
Open Now
Connecticut Northern Pike Season
General
Feb 1 – Nov 30
Feb 1 through Nov 30. 2 fish per day. 24 inch minimum.
2026 Pricing
Connecticut License & Tag Fees — 2026
Hunting Licenses & Tags
| License / Tag | Resident | Non-Resident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Annual Resident Hunting License | $19.00 | — | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Annual Non-Resident Hunting License | — | $91.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Youth Hunting License (Under 16) | $6.65 | — | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Senior Resident Hunting License (65+) | $9.50 | — | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Spring Turkey License | $21.00 | $151.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Fall Turkey License | $21.00 | $151.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
Fishing Licenses
| License Type | Resident | Non-Resident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Annual Resident Fishing License | $19.00 | — | Senior 65+ free |
| Connecticut Annual Non-Resident Fishing License | — | $40.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut 7-Day Non-Resident Fishing License | — | $28.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut 3-Day Non-Resident Fishing License | — | $22.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut 1-Day Fishing License | $8.00 | $15.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Senior Resident Fishing License (65+) | $9.50 | — | Free for residents 65+. Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Youth Fishing License (Under 16) | $0.00 | — | Free for anglers under 16. Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Combination Hunting & Fishing License | $27.00 | — | Includes base hunting and freshwater fishing privileges. Additional tags, stamps, and endorsements may be required for specific species. Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| Connecticut Trout & Salmon Stamp | $12.00 | $20.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
Questions & Answers
Connecticut Season Calendar — FAQs
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