The state of Connecticut assents to the provisions of the Act of Congress titled “Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act”, approved September 2, 1937, and the provisions of the Act of Congress titled “Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act”, approved August 9, 1950. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection is authorized and directed to perform such acts as may be necessary to the establishment and operation of cooperative fish and wildlife restoration projects, as defined in said Acts of Congress, in compliance with said acts and with rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior thereunder, and no funds accruing to the state from license, permit, tag and stamp fees, other than the stamp fee paid pursuant to section 26-27b, paid by hunters, trappers and anglers, including, but not limited to, license fees paid by hunters pursuant to sections 26-28, 26-30, 26-31, 26-36, 26-48a, 26-86a and 26-86c, and real or personal property acquired with license, permit, tag and stamp fees, interest, dividends, or other income earned on license, permit, tag and stamp fees shall be diverted for any other purpose than to fund the programs and functions of the Bureau of Natural Resources within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in accordance with 50 CFR 80.4.
(1949 Rev., S. 4925; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 217; P.A. 09-173, S. 7; P.A. 10-3, S. 66; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: 1971 act replaced board of fisheries and game with commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 09-173 added provision re use of funds accruing to state from license fees paid by hunters, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 10-3 replaced reference to “An Act to Provide that the United States Shall Aid the States in Wildlife Restoration Projects, and for Other Purposes” with reference to “Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act”, added reference to provisions of Act of Congress titled “Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act”, added provisions re fish restoration projects and re permit, tag and certain stamp revenues, and replaced provision re protection, propagation, preservation and investigation of fish and game and administration of department functions relating thereto with provision re funding programs and functions of Bureau of Natural Resources within Department of Environmental Protection, effective April 14, 2010; P.A. 11-59 made technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” and “Department of Environmental Protection” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” and “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game
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 26-4. - 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 26-14. - Federal aid for fish restoration projects.
Section 26-15a. - Appropriations to Bureau of Natural Resources. Federal aid. Annual report.
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 26-27e. - 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 26-29c. - Free private land deer permit for certain farmers.
Section 26-30. - Applications. Issuance of licenses.
Section 26-31a. - Instruction in fishing techniques.
Section 26-31b. - Hunting and fishing guide services. Licenses. Fee.
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 26-36. - 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 26-40b. - Animals, the skin or body of which is not to be sold.
Section 26-40c. - Search and seizure.
Section 26-40e. - Killing, possession and sale of endangered and threatened species.
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 26-55a. - Possession of diploid grass carp.
Section 26-56. - Permits for importation of wild hares or rabbits.
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 26-65a. - 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 26-67a. - Confidentiality of reports.
Section 26-67b. - Commissioner to advise law enforcement authorities re fish and game laws.
Section 26-67d. - Falconry: Definitions.
Section 26-68. - Emergency declaration of closed seasons.
Section 26-69. - Wildlife management practices.
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 26-82a. - 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 26-86b. - Tags. Report of kill.
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 26-92. - Wild birds other than game birds protected, exception. Game birds defined.
Section 26-92a. - State purchase of game birds.
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 26-99. - 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 26-104. - 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 26-108. - Inland waters and marine district defined.
Section 26-110. - Demarcation lines.
Section 26-111. - Regulation of fishing.
Section 26-112. - Scope of regulations.
Section 26-114. - Prohibited acts.
Section 26-114a. - Purchase or sale of snakehead fish prohibited.
Section 26-115. - Fisheries management practices of commissioner.
Section 26-117. - 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 26-131. - 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 26-137. - 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 26-141c. - Violation of regulations.
Section 26-142. - Registration of nets. Permits to tend or operate.
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 26-149. - Commercial hatcheries. Fees.
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 26-157d. - Lobster restoration program. Regulations.
Section 26-157g. - Lobster v-notch restoration program.
Section 26-157h. - Lobster trap allocation buy-back program.
Section 26-158. - Sale of lobsters.
Section 26-159. - Sea sturgeon.
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 26-164. - Inspection of license.
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 26-174. - Pawcatuck River.
Section 26-175. - Long Beach and Penfield Reef.
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.