AAC DEER MANAGEMENT Sunday Hunting Proposals

PROPOSAL: SUNDAY HUNTING/FEE 

Section 26-73 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof: 

EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (b) OF THIS SECTION, Sunday shall be a closed season except for the purpose of trapping under the provisions of this chapter. The possession in the open air on Sunday of any implement for hunting shall be prima facie evidence of hunting in violation of the provisions of this section. No provision of this section shall be construed so as to affect any provision of section 26-31, 26-48, 26-52, or 27-35 or apply to the use of bow and arrow for purposes other than hunting. Artificially propagated birds designated by the commissioner may be shot on Sundays on licensed private shooting preserves subject to such regulations of the commissioner as may apply to such private shooting preserves, provided permission so to shoot has been obtained from the town or towns within which such licensed shooting preserves are located. 

(NEW) (b) HUNTING ON SUNDAY IS ALLOWED DURING THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER THROUGH JANUARY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY PROVIDED A WRITTEN PERMIT CONSENTING TO SUCH ACTIVITY SHALL BE REQUIRED FROM THE OWNER, LESSEE, OR AGENT OF SUCH LAND AND SUCH PERMIT SHALL BE CARRIED BY ANY PERSON ENGAGED IN SUCH HUNTING. NO PERSON SHALL HUNT ON SUNDAY WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING A SUNDAY HUNTING PERMIT. THE FEE FOR A SUNDAY HUNTING PERMIT SHALL BE FOURTEEN DOLLARS. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE HUNTING OF MIGRATORY WATERFOWL.

THIS ACT IS EFFECTIVE ON PASSAGE. 

• Applies to PRIVATE PROPERTY ONLY: Does not impact on other recreationalists using State Forests, Parks, etc.
• Requires a WRITTEN PERMIT ALLOWING THE ACTIVITY FROM THE OWNER, LESSEE, OR AGENT OF SUCH LAND. Promotes landowner rights and allows the owner discretion as to who is allowed on private land.
• Applies ONLY NOVEMBER THROUGH JANUARY when few non-hunters are in the woods and when game is most active (Deer Rut).
• Requires a SUNDAY HUNTING PERMIT AT A FEE OF FOURTEEN DOLLARS with expected new DEP revenue approximating $1-1½ million.
• DOES NOT APPLY TO THE HUNTING OF MIGRATORY WATERFOWL. Federally regulated, Sunday Waterfowl Hunting would decrease activity by shortening seasons.
• Allows STATEWIDE APPLICATION consistent with DEP management techniques (TAGS for Deer/Turkey by Zones and other game bag limits).
• Allows use of ALL LEGAL HUNTING IMPLEMENTS during appropriate seasons, providing maximum harvest consistent with DEP wildlife management objectives.

We suggest you peruse:

“Management Plan for the Control of White-tailed Deer at the Audubon Center in Greenwich, Connecticut” on the Coalition of CT Sportsmen’s website www.ctsportsmen.com under “Hot Issues” dtd 11/25/03 which provides a documented study/options of not only a local, but also a state problem.

“The Wilton Deer Committee Report” on the Coalition of CT Sportsmen’s website www.ctsportsmen.com under “Hot Issues” dtd 05/08/03, recommends “changes in the legislation that would allow hunting on Sunday on private lands.”

DEP Bluff Point and Mumford Cove Reports available from DEP.

“Environment Committee: Deer Management Information Hearing” on the Coalition of CT Sportsmen’s website www.ctsportsmen.com under “Hot Issues” dtd 2/02/01.

Deer Control: “UPDATE ON MOUNTING DEER CONCERNS, Compiled by the Darien Deer Management Committee” on the Coalition of CT Sportsmen’s website www.ctsportsmen.com under “News” dtd 05/19/02.

Nature Conservancy Devil's Den Nature Preserve on the Coalition of CT Sportsmen’s website www.ctsportsmen.com under “News” dtd 12/26/02

Sunday Hunting-OLR Report on the Coalition of CT Sportsmen’s website www.ctsportsmen.com under “News” dtd 11/06/03.

Although all these studies relate to Deer, a mounting problem concerning Wild Turkeys is also developing. Other huntable species would not be seriously affected and any potential can be controlled through DEP management regulations.