Shooting deer to reduce nuisance problems and maintain population balance in Connecticut | White-tailed deer

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Shooting deer to reduce nuisance problems and maintain population balance

Shooting deer with archery equipment or firearms during standard established hunting seasons is the most effective way to maintain deer population balance in areas where it is legal and safe to hunt.

Deer hunting and nuisance control are highly regulated. You cannot shoot deer outside of established seasons and without a proper license or permit.

In urban and suburban environments where hunting is not feasible, consider implementing habitat modification, exclusion, and hazing solutions as first lines of control. If these approaches are unsuccessful, contact your state wildlife agency for guidance.

Laws and regulations to be aware of

Regulations for Connecticut

Trapping and shooting general information for homeowners

Outside of regulated seasons, homeowners are strictly prohibited from trapping and shooting wildlife, unless the animal has been causing property damage or is an obvious threat to public health and safety. If trapping and/or shooting is undertaken under these circumstances, homeowners must still comply with the state’s regulated season trapping laws, which regulate trap types and sizes, baits and lures, location and placement, and how often traps must be checked  Homeowners must also comply with regulated season firearms laws, which regulate allowable weapons and ammunition, and discharge and shooting times.  Finally, homeowners must comply with all state and local firearms regulations and restrictions, and any other applicable local ordinances.  For regulated season trapping and shooting regulations and any other information on the regulated season, see the CT Hunting and Trapping Guide.  Please see the CT Law Library for information on state firearms regulations. Contact your municipality for information on local firearms restrictions and other applicable local ordinances.

Regulated hunting season

In Connecticut, there is a legal hunting season for this species.  Shooting may only be done by a licensed hunter or the landowner of the property, and hunters must follow all laws and regulations regarding allowable weapons and ammunition.  Check the CT Hunting and Trapping Guide for information on season dates and required permits, and for any special conditions.

Deer Crop Damage Permit Program

The Deer Crop Damage Permit Program (Connecticut General Statutes 26-82) provides commercial agriculturalists with a minimum annual gross income of $2,500.00 and an actual or potential loss of this income from their cultivated agricultural crops, the opportunity to reduce damage caused by deer when the firearms deer hunting seasons are closed. For more information, contact the Wildlife Division at (860) 418-5952 or (860)418-5921, Monday through Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, or see Deer Crop Damage Permit Program. 
While we attempt to provide guidance about state and federal regulations pertaining to specific species and control techniques, we do not provide information about local jurisdictions (city, town, county, etc.) where regulations may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge of firearms, transport of animals or use of trapping equipment. Contact your local city or county government to inquire further. No guarantee is made that information (or lack of information) associated with a species or control technique is completely accurate or current. You should become familiar with federal, state and local laws before beginning any wildlife control activities.

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