Press Releases
04/27/2026
Hunters and Different Out of doors Customers Inspired to Recreate Responsibly
Correction: This model corrects the harvest restrict to 5 bearded birds consistent with season.
(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Division of Power and Environmental Coverage (DEEP) reminds hunters and different outside customers that the 2026 Connecticut spring wild turkey looking season will likely be April 29 via Might 30, each dates inclusive. All outside fans are inspired to concentrate on others and recreate responsibly at a time of 12 months when expanding numbers of persons are playing the outside, together with spaces the place looking could also be going on.
“In addition to longer and warmer days, spring marks the start of turkey hunting season, a favorite pastime for many Connecticut hunters,” stated DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Wild turkeys are a conservation success story, with populations rebounding over the past few decades. Our mixed hardwood forests and adjacent agricultural lands offer ideal habitat and plentiful forage.”
Criminal spring turkey looking hours are from one-half hour prior to first light till sundown. Hunters would possibly harvest a complete of 5 bearded birds, without reference to belongings kind (state-owned or non-public land). Because of a legislation handed in 2025, looking is now allowed on Sundays on non-public lands best, equipped no looking happens inside of 40 yards of any blazed path open to the general public.
“Spring turkey hunting requires preparation, patience, and persistence to help maintain a safe hunting experience and the opportunity to harvest a turkey,” stated DEEP Natural world Department Biologist Will Cassidy. “Scouting, calling, and hunting techniques for turkeys can be learned by attending seminars, reading articles, watching videos, and talking with experienced turkey hunters.”
Advisable Protection Precautions All through Spring Turkey Looking Season
Put on Fluorescent Orange. Turkey hunters don’t seem to be required to put on fluorescent orange however are strongly advisable to put on fluorescent orange when strolling out and in of the woods, to hold harvested birds in a fluorescent orange provider, and to protected a fluorescent orange band round a tree roughly six toes above their looking spot to alert different hunters to their location. DEEP additionally extremely recommends that everybody visiting state lands put on an editorial of fluorescent orange clothes (e.g., vest or hat) right through the looking season to care for a secure outside surroundings for everybody.
Should you come across a hunter within the woods, stay nonetheless and discuss in a noisy transparent voice to announce your presence.
Hunters are strongly advisable to do away with the colours pink, white, blue, and black from their looking outfit as those colours are related to wild turkeys.
Hunters must all the time bear in mind that folks could also be outside in spaces the place they’re looking and must all the time suppose that any noise or motion may well be someone else.
DEEP encourages all hunters to seek safely and responsibly to verify outside alternatives stay to be had for all. Further protection pointers and suggestions for turkey hunters can also be discovered right here at the DEEP webpage.
Further Data
Looking licenses and Resident Recreation Chook Conservation Stamps, which might be required for turkey looking, can also be bought by the use of the Connecticut On-line Sportsmen Licensing Machine. In addition they can also be bought at some the city halls and outside retail companies and choose DEEP places of work. Extra main points can also be discovered within the 2026 Connecticut Looking and Trapping Information.
Turkey hunters who hunt on non-public land are reminded that written landowner permission, on a kind equipped by means of DEEP, is needed. Bureaucracy are to be had right here at the CT DEEP website online and within the 2026 Connecticut Looking and Trapping Information. All harvested turkeys should be tagged in an instant and reported to DEEP on-line or by means of telephone (1-877-337-4868) inside of 24 hours. Hunters should tag their turkeys with a 2026 Harvest Tag. Copies of the 2026 Harvest Tags and directions are on web page 42 of the 2026 Connecticut Looking and Trapping Information and in addition are to be had at the DEEP Reporting Deer and Turkey Harvest webpage. After reporting their harvest by the use of the Web or by means of phone, hunters will likely be given a affirmation quantity to jot down on their Harvest Tag. This affirmation quantity serves as evidence that the harvest was once legally reported.
Junior Hunter Coaching Days
Every 12 months, Connecticut designates particular days when skilled grownup hunters are inspired to take a adolescence looking, serving to them be informed secure and efficient looking practices, increase observational abilities, and achieve self assurance and a convenience stage had to additional their looking abilities. The 2026 Spring Turkey Junior Hunter Coaching Days came about Saturday, April 18, via Saturday, April 25, 2026 (apart from Sunday on state land). Extra main points can also be discovered at the DEEP Junior Hunter Coaching Days webpage.
Additional information at the spring turkey season, looking laws, junior hunter coaching days, and tagging and reporting necessities is contained within the 2026 Connecticut Looking and Trapping Information.
The 2026 Connecticut spring wild turkey looking season opens on April 29 and runs via Might 30. This 12 months marks the forty sixth consecutive 12 months that sportsmen and ladies have hunted turkeys right through the spring season in Connecticut.
Photograph credit score: Paul J. Fusco
Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
Fb: DEEP on Fb
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