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2021 CT Hunting & Trapping Guide Now Available
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On the cover: On November 30, 2019, Shane and his daughter Aryana (15) headed into the woods. It was a cold morning when Aryana noticed the deer about 30 yards away from their stand. She slowly moved her .243 rifle into position so as to not scare the deer, and then made the successful shot. Shane could not be prouder of his daughter harvesting her first deer. He has been hunting with her since she was 13 years old and continues the tradition every year.
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| Want to Help Study Connecticut's Bobcats? |
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| | Photo courtesy of Michael Whittaker |
The Connecticut Bobcat Project is preparing for the third and final live-trapping season in late summer of 2021. In preparation, they are seeking willing landowners in the following 8 towns to assist with trapping efforts: Canton, Simsbury, Farmington, Avon, Bloomfield, Windsor, West Hartford, and Hartford. Property owners may have the opportunity to learn firsthand the methods of trapping a bobcat and the experience of watching biologists handle live-trapped animals. If you own property in one of these towns and are interested in assisting with trapping efforts, contact the CT Bobcat Project for more information: [email protected] or [email protected]
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Feeding Birds During Winter
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| | Cedar waxwing eating a winterberry. |
Beginning in December, many people will start putting bird feeders back up, as black bears are more likely to be in their winter dens. However, it is critical that bird feeders are removed if a bear gains access to them. In some areas of Connecticut, it is best to skip the bird feeders all together because black bears can still be active throughout winter, particularly during mild weather.
Here are some helpful tips to avoid the negative impacts of feeding bears, while still giving the birds a helping hand:
- Only put bird feeders out during the coldest winter days, when a bird's calorie needs are highest and bears are least likely to be active.
- Only put out a small amount of feed - it is better to refill often than to tempt a bear with a free meal and teach it bad behavior..
- Provide a fresh source of water in a bird bath. You will be able to watch the many other species that are not seed-eaters.
- Put up a roosting box for birds to shelter during winter.
The most effective and natural way to support wild birds year-round is to promote their habitat needs in your yard. Late-season berries, wildflowers that have gone to seed, and tree mast (acorns, pinecones, fruits) all provide food for a far greater number of bird species than the dozen or so "feeder birds" you will attract with birdseed.
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Muzzleloader Season Opens December 9, 2020
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Hunting with a muzzle loading firearm is a unique way to harvest game and feel connected with the traditional roots of hunting in North America. Hunters using muzzleloaders enjoy the benefits of extra opportunities not available to other firearms users. Not only can muzzleloaders be used on some state lands during firearms season, but there is also a designated season only for muzzleloaders on state and private land with no minimum acreage requirements.
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Watchable Winter Wildlife from CT's Beaches
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During winter, many new birds arrive in Connecticut. While some can be seen in your backyard, many others are spending the season at sea, just off the Connecticut coast. About 20 species of diving ducks, which breed across Canada and Alaska in summer, make their way to the Atlantic coast in winter. Diving ducks, like the lesser scaup (pictured right), feed on aquatic invertebrates on the ocean or lake bottom. In winter, large flocks of ducks gather on the water in what is called a "raft", and can be seen from shore using binoculars or a spotting scope. Some of the best places see these rafts of waterfowl include state parks like Hammonasset Beach, Bluff Point, and Harkness Memorial, as well as the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center (Milford), and Connecticut Audubon at Stratford Point. Be sure to dress warm and bring your binoculars!
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Join the Christmas Bird Count
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Audubon's 121st Christmas Bird Count will be conducted between the dates of Monday, December 14, 2020 through Tuesday, January 5, 2021. This early-winter bird census is vital to collecting long-term data that give biologists insights into how movements and population sizes of birds have changed over time, along with other parameters.
There is a specific methodology to the Christmas Bird Count, and all participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle compiler within an established circle, but anyone can participate. If you are interested in participating this season, check out the map to find a count near you!
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Species of the Month: Eastern Coyote
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Coyotes were not originally found in Connecticut, but have extended their range eastward during the last 100 years from the western plains and midwestern United States, through Canada and into the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Coyotes were first reported in Connecticut in the mid-1950s. The eastern coyote is larger than its western counterpart, weighing between 30 to 50 pounds, with males typically weighing more than females. Contrary to what some think, the eastern coyote's social unit is relatively small, consisting of an adult pair and their young; they may be encountered singly, in pairs, or in groups of three or more. Mated pairs maintain territories which are scent-marked and defended against other coyotes as well as foxes.
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You'll find each issue packed with information about wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural resource-related issues in Connecticut.
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The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact Barbara Viadella or Cenit Mirabal, DEEP Office of Diversity and Equity at 860-418-5910 or by email at [email protected] if you are requesting a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, need some other type of accommodation, or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint. In order to facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program or event.
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