Connecticut Pheasant Season 2026: Opener, Limits, License

Q: Does Connecticut stock pheasants?

Yes. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division releases pheasants. Release timing: Pheasant stocking activities begin each year just prior to the third Saturday in October, "Opening Day," and end in early December. During that time-frame, pheasants are generally stocked 2-3 days each week on each area.

Oct 17

Opening day

Saturday

Dec 31

Last day

Thursday, 2026

2 birds a day

Daily limit

Dates and limits

Connecticut pheasant season dates and bag limit

Connecticut's pheasant season opens Saturday, October 17, 2026, and closes December 31, 2026. The youth season comes first, Oct 10. The daily limit is 2 pheasants.

ConnecticutOct 17
Season, Oct 17 to Dec 31; Youth, Oct 10

General season Youth huntsConnecticut, Oct 17 to Dec 31

General season: Saturday, October 17, 2026 to December 31, 2026
Youth season: Oct 10
Daily limit: 2 birds a day
Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset; Saturday permit areas run 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM in three periods, Oct 17 to Nov 14

Junior Pheasant Hunter Training DayOct 10licensed junior hunters with a licensed adult; stocked junior day areas
PheasantOct 17 to Dec 31statewide; Sunday hunting on private land only

Daily bag limits are 2 birds per day and the season limit is 10 birds.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division regulations, read October 8, 2026.

Where to hunt

Public land and walk-in access in Connecticut

Permit-Required Hunting Areas and Cooperative Liberation Program
“There are still several private hunting clubs throughout the state who add to our state program by providing public access to private lands and by purchasing and stocking birds. These clubs participate in a statewide Cooperative Liberation Program.”
Open the atlas Program page

Wild and released birds

Connecticut pheasant stocking

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division releases pheasants. Release timing: Pheasant stocking activities begin each year just prior to the third Saturday in October, "Opening Day," and end in early December. During that time-frame, pheasants are generally stocked 2-3 days each week on each area.

Each year pheasants are purchased and distributed throughout the state on state-owned, state-managed, and Permit-Required Areas.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source

License

What it takes to hunt pheasants in Connecticut

Residents: Firearms Hunting license $19 (16 and 17 year olds $10; Junior Firearms Hunting, ages 12 to 15, $11) plus CT Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp $28 ($14 ages 12 to 17)
Nonresidents: Firearms Hunting $91, or 3-day Out-of-state Bird Hunting License $35, plus CT Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp $28
Stamp or permit: CT Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp $28 ($14 resident ages 12 to 17)

Every Connecticut license, resident and nonresident, with what each costs, is on the Connecticut hunting license page.

Connecticut pheasant questions

When does pheasant season open in Connecticut?

What is the pheasant limit in Connecticut?

What are pheasant shooting hours in Connecticut?

What license do I need to hunt pheasants in Connecticut?

Residents: Firearms Hunting license $19 (16 and 17 year olds $10; Junior Firearms Hunting, ages 12 to 15, $11) plus CT Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp $28 ($14 ages 12 to 17). Nonresidents: Firearms Hunting $91, or 3-day Out-of-state Bird Hunting License $35, plus CT Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp $28. Stamp or permit: CT Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp $28 ($14 resident ages 12 to 17). Prices are as the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division lists them.

Where can I hunt pheasants on public land in Connecticut?

Does Connecticut stock pheasants?

A rooster ring-necked pheasant with a red face, green head and white neck ring standing on disced soil and broken straw — A rooster feeding in a disced crop field beside LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota. Birds feed in the open early and late and sit in grass and cattails through the middle of the day. “Ring-necked pheasant at LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge (51154749494)”, Tom Koerner, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Connecticut read October 8, 2026 from Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division, every source linked above. An agency can move a date or close an area between the printed regulations and opening day, so its page is the one that governs. Every state is on the pheasant season calendar.