Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game
Section 26-129. - Forfeiture of fishing tackle.

Any boat, seine, net, spear, torch, fishing tackle or other implement used in taking or catching fish or crustaceans in violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation issued by the commissioner shall be forfeited and may be seized by the commissioner, or any authorized agent of the department, any conservation officer or any other officer authorized to make arrests, and, upon complaint alleging that any such implement was being used in violation of any such provision, the court may order such boat, seine, net, spear, torch, fishing tackle or other implement to be forfeited to the state and delivered to the commissioner to be sold or destroyed within his discretion. If sold, the proceeds of such sale shall be paid by him to the State Treasurer to be credited to the General Fund. The person using or in charge of any boat, seine, net, spear, torch, fishing tackle or other implement used in violation of any such provision may be considered the owner thereof for the purpose of any complaint brought to procure condemnation or forfeiture of any such implement, when the owner is unknown to the informer or prosecuting officer. An appeal may be taken by any party aggrieved, from any judgment upon any such complaint, within fifteen days, to a return day of the superior court in the judicial district in which judgment was rendered, which shall be not less than twelve or more than thirty days after the service thereof, provided the party appealing shall give sufficient bond, with surety for costs, to the adverse party; and the appellate court may proceed in the disposition of such cause in the same manner as in any in rem proceeding.

(1949 Rev., S. 4939; 1957, P.A. 223; 1959, P.A. 398, S. 22; 1971, P.A. 179, S. 19; 872, S. 304; P.A. 76-436, S. 601, 681; P.A. 82-472, S. 102, 183.)
History: 1959 act required that proceeds from sale of forfeited implements be credited to general fund rather than to fish fund; 1971 acts changed time for taking appeal from the next or “next but one” return date to a day between 12 and 30 days after service and required that appeal be made within 15 days after judgment, and replaced references to board of fisheries and game, its members and its director with references to commissioner and department of environmental protection and department agents; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-472 eliminated obsolete reference to the “county” in which judgment was rendered in the provision concerning appeals.
Section upheld and various points discussed. 90 C. 584. Cited. 37 C. 320; 79 C. 701; 318 U.S. 151.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 26 - Fisheries and Game

Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game

Section 26-1. - Definitions.

Section 26-2. - Members. Appointment. Compensation.

Section 26-3. - Powers and duties of commissioner.

Section 26-3a. - Acquisition of easements for maintenance of dams.

Section 26-3b. - Rental, sale, exchange or transfer of real property and buildings in the custody or control of the commissioner. Right of first refusal.

Section 26-3c. - Procedures and processes for use of Internet and other means for issuance of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, permits, stamps and tags. Schedule of retainage by agents.

Section 26-4. - Appointment and duties of director.

Section 26-5. - Appointment of conservation officers, special conservation officers and patrolmen.

Section 26-6. - Powers and duties of conservation officers and patrolmen.

Section 26-6a. - Constables for fish and game protection.

Section 26-6b. - Search of containers by conservation officers.

Section 26-6c. - Immunity from attachments.

Section 26-7. - Volunteer assistants.

Section 26-8. - Ordinances controlling use of waters not applicable to department or employees.

Section 26-9. - Annual exhibition.

Section 26-10 to 26-13. - Board may borrow from General Fund. Game Fund. Fish Fund. Disposition of receipts.

Section 26-14. - Federal aid for fish restoration projects.

Section 26-15. - Fish and wildlife restoration projects. Funds for programs and functions of Bureau of Natural Resources.

Section 26-15a. - Appropriations to Bureau of Natural Resources. Federal aid. Annual report.

Section 26-15b. - Annual report re license, permit, stamp and tag fees and expenditures for fish and wildlife programs.

Section 26-16. - Public hunting and fishing lands and waters.

Section 26-17. - Release of fishing or hunting rights.

Section 26-17a. - Acquisition and preservation of tidal wetlands.

Section 26-18. - Fish or game for propagation.

Section 26-19. - Motor boats in Bantam River.

Section 26-20. - Signs on rights-of-way to state ponds or streams.

Section 26-21. - Notice not to be destroyed.

Section 26-22. - Control of aquatic plants and animals.

Section 26-23. - Abandoned or discarded fishing or hunting implements. Derelict lobster gear.

Section 26-24. - Use or disposal of seized articles.

Section 26-25. - Commissioner may declare closed season or extend open season.

Section 26-25a. - Regulation of feeding of wildlife on state-owned property.

Section 26-25b. - Disclosure of stocking schedules.

Section 26-25c. - Release of lighter-than-air balloons restricted. Penalty.

Section 26-26. - Enforcement in state boundary waters of fish and game laws.

Section 26-26a. - Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Compact.

Section 26-26b. - Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

Section 26-27. - Licenses required for hunting, trapping and fishing. Exceptions.

Section 26-27a. - Junior licenses.

Section 26-27b. - Stamps required for hunting or taking of migratory birds, resident birds or resident game birds. Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp.

Section 26-27c. - Reproduction and marketing of stamps as artwork. Migratory bird and resident game bird conservation account. Subaccount. Restricted uses of funds.

Section 26-27d. - Citizens' Advisory Board for the Connecticut Migratory Bird and Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamps program.

Section 26-27e. - Sport fishing licenses. Statement re discarding of fishing line or other litter.

Section 26-27f. - Three-day out-of-state bird hunting license. Fee. Regulations.

Section 26-27g. - Lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. Authorization. Regulations.

Section 26-28. - Hunting, trapping and sport fishing license fees.

Section 26-28a. - Combination licenses for servicemen. Fee.

Section 26-28b. - Marine waters fishing license. Exemptions.

Section 26-28c. - Marine waters fishing license fees.

Section 26-29. - Free lifetime fishing license for person who is blind.

Section 26-29a. - Free lifetime fishing licenses for persons with intellectual disability.

Section 26-29b. - Free lifetime hunting, sport fishing or trapping license for person with physical disability.

Section 26-29c. - Free private land deer permit for certain farmers.

Section 26-30. - Applications. Issuance of licenses.

Section 26-31. - Instruction in handling and use of hunting weapons. Required education course for reinstatement of suspended license.

Section 26-31a. - Instruction in fishing techniques.

Section 26-31b. - Hunting and fishing guide services. Licenses. Fee.

Section 26-31c. - Hunting or fishing guide services. Registration. Fee. Exception. Limit on customers in vessel. Regulations. Fine.

Section 26-31d. - Printed fishing guides for 2023 season. Public availability.

Section 26-32. - Permanent license.

Section 26-33. - Issuance of complimentary licenses to nonresidents.

Section 26-34. - License for nonresident servicemen.

Section 26-34a. - License for nonresident servicemen.

Section 26-35. - Expiration date. License not transferable. Restrictions. Wildlife management study area.

Section 26-36. - Record of licenses. Remittance of fees by town clerks.

Section 26-37. - Duplicate licenses.

Section 26-38. - Hunting by minors.

Section 26-39. - Hunting licenses for owners of packs of dogs.

Section 26-40. - Game breeders license. Possession of skunks or raccoons.

Section 26-40a. - Possession of potentially dangerous animal. Exemptions. Seizure, relocation and disposal. Penalties.

Section 26-40b. - Animals, the skin or body of which is not to be sold.

Section 26-40c. - Search and seizure.

Section 26-40d. - Exceptions.

Section 26-40e. - Killing, possession and sale of endangered and threatened species.

Section 26-40f. - Penalty.

Section 26-42. - Licensing of raw fur dealers. Inspection. Regulations.

Section 26-43. - Sale of raw furs to unlicensed nonresident dealer.

Section 26-44. - Licensing of ferrets.

Section 26-45. - Bait dealer's license.

Section 26-46. - Reciprocal fishing privileges.

Section 26-47. - Permits to take wildlife damaging crops. License to control nuisance wildlife.

Section 26-47a. - Use of noise-making devices to repel marauding birds and wildlife.

Section 26-48. - Private shooting preserves; permits; regulations.

Section 26-48a. - Management of salmon, trout and turkey. Issuance of permits, tags or stamps.

Section 26-49. - Training of hunting dogs. Permits for liberation of artificially propagated birds.

Section 26-50. - Permits for training hunting dogs using liberated pheasants.

Section 26-51. - Permits for field dog trials. Fee.

Section 26-52. - Permits for shooting birds liberated at field dog trials. Fees.

Section 26-53. - Hunting licenses not required at field trials.

Section 26-54. - Permits for custodians of protected birds and quadrupeds.

Section 26-55. - Permit for importing, introducing into state, possessing or liberating live fish, wild birds, wild mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Regulations. Exemptions. Seizure, relocation and disposal. Penalties.

Section 26-55a. - Possession of diploid grass carp.

Section 26-56. - Permits for importation of wild hares or rabbits.

Section 26-57. - Permits for transportation and exportation of fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

Section 26-57a. - Regulations for the establishment of in-state captive herds of cervids. Pilot program for businesses to maintain reindeer. Importation of reindeer into state from Thanksgiving Day to New Year's Day.

Section 26-58. - Taxidermist's license.

Section 26-59. - Regulation of tanning, curing and mounting; permits.

Section 26-60. - Permits to collect certain wildlife for scientific and educational purposes. Fee.

Section 26-61. - Suspension of license, registration or permit. Restoration. Fines.

Section 26-62. - Hunting accidents; suspension of license or privilege to hunt.

Section 26-63. - Notice of action on license.

Section 26-64. - Fine for violations. Exception.

Section 26-65. - Commissioner authorized to regulate hunting. Landowner permission required for hunting on private land.

Section 26-65a. - Prohibition re reduction of state land where hunting is permitted.

Section 26-66. - Scope of regulations.

Section 26-66a. - Posting of warning signs by the department. Fees.

Section 26-66b. - Hunting field guides produced by the department to include regulations for hunting in proximity to buildings.

Section 26-67. - Regulations.

Section 26-67a. - Confidentiality of reports.

Section 26-67b. - Commissioner to advise law enforcement authorities re fish and game laws.

Section 26-67c. - Complaints re hunting in proximity to certain areas. Hearing. Records to be kept by law enforcement officials. Report to General Assembly.

Section 26-67d. - Falconry: Definitions.

Section 26-67e. - Falconry: Applicable federal regulations. Commissioner authorized to adopt regulations. Fee reciprocity.

Section 26-68. - Emergency declaration of closed seasons.

Section 26-69. - Wildlife management practices.

Section 26-70. - Regulation of hunting of wild birds, wild mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Permit for administration of chemical or biological substance to free-ranging wildlife. Requirements.

Section 26-71. - Penalty.

Section 26-72. - Regulation of trapping of fur-bearing animals.

Section 26-73. - Hunting on Sunday. Bow and arrow hunting of deer on private property.

Section 26-74. - Use of motor vehicles, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles in hunting.

Section 26-75. - Silencer on firearms.

Section 26-76. - Possession limit of game birds, wild quadrupeds, reptiles and amphibians.

Section 26-77. - Taking of waterfowl in open coastal waters.

Section 26-78. - Sale of birds, quadrupeds, reptiles or amphibians.

Section 26-78a. - Donation of game to charitable organizations.

Section 26-79. - Hunting in Putnam Memorial Camp grounds.

Section 26-80. - Disposition of birds, quadrupeds, reptiles or amphibians illegally taken.

Section 26-80a. - Illegal taking of moose or bear. Suspension of hunting license. Penalties.

Section 26-80b. - Sale or use of computer software or service to remotely hunt animals or birds prohibited. Penalty.

Section 26-81. - Penalty.

Section 26-82. - Killing of deer regulated. Damage permit. Jacklight permit. Penalties. Plan by homeowner association, municipality or nonprofit land-holding organization to take deer.

Section 26-82a. - Private land revolver permit to hunt deer. Requirements.

Section 26-83 and 26-84. - Permits to hunt deer. Fee for permit to kill deer.

Section 26-85. - Jacklighting for deer. Forfeiture and disposal of weapons.

Section 26-86. - Deer, moose or black bear killed or wounded by motor vehicle.

Section 26-86a. - Game management. Deer hunting; permitted weapons, locations, bag limits. Consent forms; permits, selection process.

Section 26-86b. - Tags. Report of kill.

Section 26-86c. - Permits to hunt deer and small game with bow and arrow. Fees. Applications. Education course requirement.

Section 26-86d. - Penalty.

Section 26-86e. - Regulation of hunting of doe deer.

Section 26-86f. - Hunting of fawn deer prohibited.

Section 26-87. - Taking rabbits by use of ferrets. Authorization. Penalties.

Section 26-88. - Use of explosives.

Section 26-89. - Cutting trees or using fire to take raccoon.

Section 26-90. - False statement, penalty. General penalty.

Section 26-91. - Taking of migratory game birds. Plan by municipality, homeowner association or nonprofit land-holding organization to take Canada geese.

Section 26-92. - Wild birds other than game birds protected, exception. Game birds defined.

Section 26-92a. - State purchase of game birds.

Section 26-93. - Hunting of bald eagle prohibited. Disturbance of nest prohibited. Fine. No access area for bald eagle. Violation and fine or imprisonment.

Section 26-94. - Hunting of swan prohibited.

Section 26-95. - Trapping of birds.

Section 26-96. - Trap shooting.

Section 26-97. - Killing game birds in Westport Fire District prohibited. Penalty.

Section 26-98. - Penalty.

Section 26-99. - Establishment of fish and game refuges.

Section 26-100. - Posting notices.

Section 26-101. - Wildlife refuges and closed areas.

Section 26-102. - Fish spawning areas and refuges.

Section 26-103. - Management and preservation of islands in and marshes in or bordering the Housatonic River.

Section 26-104. - Bantam Lake sanctuary.

Section 26-105. - Lake Wononscopomuc sanctuary. Limited hunting.

Section 26-106. - Milford refuge.

Section 26-107. - Hunting and trapping on wildlife refuge or closed area.

Section 26-107f. - Program for the conservation of nonharvested wildlife.

Section 26-107g. - Citizen's Advisory Board for Nonharvested Wildlife. Membership. Duties.

Section 26-107h. - Annual report.

Section 26-107i. - Sale of wildlife stamps, prints, publications and other items. Allocation of revenue.

Section 26-108. - Inland waters and marine district defined.

Section 26-109. - Dividing lines between inland and marine waters in Groton, Stonington, the Niantic River and the Housatonic River.

Section 26-110. - Demarcation lines.

Section 26-111. - Regulation of fishing.

Section 26-112. - Scope of regulations.

Section 26-113. - Hearings.

Section 26-114. - Prohibited acts.

Section 26-114a. - Purchase or sale of snakehead fish prohibited.

Section 26-115. - Fisheries management practices of commissioner.

Section 26-116. - Exceptions.

Section 26-117. - Fine for violation.

Section 26-118. - Fishing in reservoir.

Section 26-119. - Use of explosives or poisons.

Section 26-120. - Striped bass.

Section 26-121. - Taking of tomcod or frost fish in Saugatuck River.

Section 26-122. - Fishing through ice in Cranberry Pond, Cream Hill Lake and Lake Quonnipaug.

Section 26-123. - Fishing through ice in Long Meadow Pond.

Section 26-124. - Indian Pond.

Section 26-125. - Beach Pond and Killingly Pond.

Section 26-126. - Disposition of fish illegally taken.

Section 26-127. - Conservation of bait species. Daily limit.

Section 26-128. - Carp and goldfish.

Section 26-128a. - Taking of glass eels, elver eels and silver eels prohibited. Penalty.

Section 26-128b. - Trout. Elimination of closed season.

Section 26-129. - Forfeiture of fishing tackle.

Section 26-130. - Sale of fish for stocking; sale of fish management commodities; sale of trout eggs.

Section 26-131. - Registration of private waters. Taking of fish without license.

Section 26-132. - Privately stocked waters.

Section 26-133. - Stocking with different species of fish.

Section 26-134. - Obstructing streams.

Section 26-135. - Pond weirs and nets.

Section 26-136. - Fishways.

Section 26-137. - Fishing near fishways.

Section 26-138. - Draining for taking fish.

Section 26-139. - Responsibility for draining. Penalty.

Section 26-140. - Fishing rights in stream crossing highway.

Section 26-141. - Fine for violation.

Section 26-141a. - Standards for flow of water in rivers or streams.

Section 26-141b. - Adoption of regulations establishing flow standards for rivers and streams. Procedure.

Section 26-141c. - Violation of regulations.

Section 26-142. - Registration of nets. Permits to tend or operate.

Section 26-142a. - Definitions. Licenses, permits, registrations and endorsements. Regulations. Prohibitions. Nonresident licenses. Fees. Commissioner authority. Revocation. Violations. Penalties. Limited access licenses.

Section 26-142b. - Resident-held and nonresident-held principal commercial fishing license, general commercial fishing license and commercial lobster pot fishing license. Restrictions on reissuance, transfer and renewal.

Section 26-142c. - Vessel permit exemption for taking lobsters or fish for personal use.

Section 26-142d. - Dual-landing agreements for Winter I Summer Flounder.

Section 26-143. - Nets to be marked.

Section 26-143a. - Nets to be buoyed and marked. Boats to display license or registration flag.

Section 26-144 to 26-148. - Nets for taking tomcod or frost fish. Smelt and tomcod; nets, registration and fee. Taking of smelt and tomcod; open season, net specifications, designated time and area, penalty. Eel pots. Shad; nets; penalty. Set nets fo...

Section 26-149. - Commercial hatcheries. Fees.

Section 26-150 to 26-153. - Registration of fishing boat or vessel; operator's license; fees. Boats to display license number. Drag nets. Drag net or seine, license to operate, required. Mesh of nets.

Section 26-154. - Restricted waters near mouth of stream or estuary. Use of otter trawls in estuaries.

Section 26-154a. - Use of purse seines in Long Island Sound.

Section 26-155. - Fish oil or fertilizer.

Section 26-156 and 26-157. - Crabs. Lobsters.

Section 26-157a. - Lobster management program.

Section 26-157b. - Reports. Penalty.

Section 26-157c. - Regulations governing the taking and possession of lobsters. Regulations implementing the lobster trap allocation buy-back program.

Section 26-157d. - Lobster restoration program. Regulations.

Section 26-157e. - Commissioner to pursue lobster restoration funds. Administration of funds. Entering into contracts.

Section 26-157f. - Lobster Restoration Advisory Committee. Establishment. Membership. Appointment, procedure and compensation.

Section 26-157g. - Lobster v-notch restoration program.

Section 26-157h. - Lobster trap allocation buy-back program.

Section 26-157i. - Economic assistance program for resident commercial lobster fishermen. Establishment. Regulations.

Section 26-157j. - Seafood dealer, wholesaler or shipper possession and sale of undersized lobsters. Conditions. Documentation.

Section 26-158. - Sale of lobsters.

Section 26-159. - Sea sturgeon.

Section 26-159a. - Regulations concerning certain sport and commercial fishing in the marine district and possession of certain species. Penalty.

Section 26-159b. - Taking and selling of sea sturgeon prohibited.

Section 26-159c. - Commissioner to conduct public hearings in coastal areas.

Section 26-160. - Extension zones.

Section 26-161 to 26-163. - Commercial taking of yellow perch. Northern fluke or summer flounder. Alewives and glut herring.

Section 26-164. - Inspection of license.

Section 26-165. - Reports.

Section 26-166. - Obstructions.

Section 26-167. - Stealing fish, lobsters or equipment. Penalty.

Section 26-168. - Sale or taking of salt water fish.

Section 26-169. - Nets and seines prohibited in Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.

Section 26-170. - Use of seine in Norwalk Harbor.

Section 26-171. - Taking smelt in Greenwich.

Section 26-172 and 26-173. - Drag nets along shores of Long Island Sound and Fishers Island Sound. Weirs and pounds.

Section 26-174. - Pawcatuck River.

Section 26-175. - Long Beach and Penfield Reef.

Section 26-176. - Restrictions on type of fishing at certain points on Connecticut, Mystic and Thames Rivers, Niantic Bay and North Cove in Old Saybrook.

Section 26-177. - Mystic River.

Section 26-178. - Thames River.

Section 26-179. - Taking smelt in Groton.

Section 26-180. - Milford Harbor.

Section 26-181. - Chester Cove.

Section 26-182. - Wright's Cove.

Section 26-183. - Use of nets in Long Island Sound adjacent to Stratford.

Section 26-184. - Use of nets in Keney Cove.

Section 26-185. - Use of trawls in the Poquonock River.

Section 26-186. - Penalties.

Section 26-186a. - Effect of license suspension on other licenses, permits or registrations and on right to obtain them.