The 2021 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide is now published on the DEEP website. The printed version is available at town halls, bait and tackle shops, and outdoor equipment stores.

2021 licenses, permits, and stamps are currently on sale on DEEP's Online Licensing System.

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.

Our recently created webpage hopes to offer a variety of game recipes for hunters! While this new page is a work in progress, please check back as we continue to add more recipes. We also welcome recipes from local hunters -- send recipes and photos of your creations to [email protected]. Let's start cooking and enjoy! Now is a great time of year to explore new ways to cook delicious dishes made with wild game, a locally-sourced and sustainable food. Check out our recipe for Wild Goose Barbacoa + Spicy Peach Pico de Gallo (aka Goose Tacos):

2 pounds of goose breast

¼ large red onion, sliced

4 cloves of garlic, smashed and roughly chopped

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (ACV)

½ lime, juiced

1 cup of sliced peaches (2 fresh peaches, or use frozen)

1 can of chile in adobo* (see note)

1 cup of chicken stock

2 tsp. kosher salt

½ tsp. cumin

1 tsp. oregano

¼ tsp. cloves

1 cinnamon stick

Oil for browning (avocado or duck fat, etc.)

Tortillas

Fresh chopped cilantro

Diced red onion

Sliced peaches

You can use breast or thigh meat from geese. 2 pounds is roughly 2 breast from a Canada goose.

*The chile in adobo sauce is a little spicy. For a mild version, remove the chipotle chiles from the can and just add the adobo sauce.

Here are some helpful reminders to help you stay safe in the field and steer clear of violations:

If you have not tried hunting with a muzzleloader yet, there are several great reasons to give it a try next season. First, muzzleloaders provide an increased opportunity with more seasons available than with other firearms -- they can be used during the State Land Shotgun, Private Land Shotgun/Rifle/Revolver, and Landowner seasons. Next, a special muzzleloader season exists on state and private lands when no other firearms are permitted, and no minimum acreage is required for hunting with a muzzleloader on private land (500 foot rule still applies). Muzzleloaders can offer a great learning experience for new firearm users, but depending on the type of muzzleloader used, they can also provide a greater challenge for experienced users. Lastly, purchasing a muzzleloader does not require an Eligibility Certificate to Purchase Long Guns or a State Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers like many other types of firearms, so new users can begin honing their skills faster.

Learning to identify habitat can help put you in the right place for a successful hunt. All wildlife has specific habitat needs unique to each species. The right combination of food types, water availability, shelter, and space will dictate whether certain species can live in an area or not. As a hunter, it can be advantageous to learn what types of habitat your target species uses during the hunting season, in addition to the signs left by animals using the area. According to DEEP Habitat Biologist Pete Picone, “…deer will seek out white oak acorns preferentially in the fall.” Once you know what your game species needs, you can go about scouting those areas. When in the field, you should learn to identify trees and other dominant vegetation to know if you are in the right habitat. To determine white oaks from red oaks, Picone says “White oak trees have light gray colored bark, and the leaves are rounded and not pointed like the red oaks.”

If you are looking for some help identifying the trees in Connecticut, scroll through the Videos section on our Facebook page to see DEEP Forester David Irvin share his tips for learning the major groups of trees.

I was lucky to be exposed to deer hunting from a very early age. I remember taking my hunter safety class as a freshman in high school with my vocational agriculture teacher as the lead instructor. Soon after obtaining my hunter certificate, my family took me out for my first Thanksgiving deer hunt. At the age of 18, I remember buying my first pheasant stamp. I took my youth model 20g. shotgun that I was given and ventured off in the state forest in hopes of finding my first pheasant. Although I had so many high hopes of harvesting my first pheasant that day, it just didn’t work out that way. It wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s, when I was married, that I started to hunt regularly with my father in-law. Each year in early February, we would submit our application for the following deer season.

Over the last 14 years, I have been given the opportunity to hunt a little more each year.  There is something about being outdoors hunting that I find therapeutic. For me, hunting is so much more than the actual harvest of an animal. Hunting allows me to get outdoors and see nature in a way that I wouldn’t normally see on a daily basis. To see the woods come alive just as the sun is rising in the morning is like being in a whole new world.

One of my most memorable experiences was serving as an instructor for my son’s first hunter safety class. Since my son was 4 years old, I have been able to take him out and have him watch me hunt. Prior to the season opening, we would go for short hikes in the woods to scout for locations looking for signs of deer, turkey, or any other wildlife in the area. This year he will turn 12, and I couldn't be more excited to take him out for his first youth hunt.

 If I could give a new hunter any helpful advice, it would be: don’t be afraid to ask questions. I would suggest getting involved in a local Whitetail Unlimited chapter if you have an interest in hunting deer or Delta Waterfowl if you are interested in waterfowl hunting. Getting involved with organizations like these will put you in close contact with like-minded hunters. The last bit of advice that I would give a new hunter would be to have patience. Look at each hunt as a learning opportunity. It may take a little while for your first harvest, but each hunt will offer you priceless information.