Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game
Section 26-44. - Licensing of ferrets.

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.