(a) The commissioner may, when he finds that extraordinary precautions are necessary to prevent fires in any woodland of the state, declare a closed season, during which sport fishing in inland waters or hunting on any land or waters of the state shall be suspended and the provisions relating to closed seasons shall be in force; but the provisions of this section shall not apply to the hunting of sea coots (scoters), old squaw and eider ducks from boats or rock formations in open coastal waters seaward of the first upstream bridge; to licensed shooting preserves, or to authorized field trials sanctioned by the American Kennel Club or American Field; or to sport fishing from boats, docks, wharves, floats or bridges in lakes and ponds, the Connecticut River, the Thames River and the Housatonic River downstream of Derby Dam when such lakes, ponds and rivers can be reached over open roads and access to such lakes, ponds and rivers by sport fishermen is by this means, to shad fishing at the state-controlled area of the Enfield Dam in Suffield, or to fishing in licensed commercial hatcheries. Upon the termination of the necessity for any such closed season, the commissioner may reopen the season. Whenever the commissioner, under the provisions of this subsection, declares a closed season for any period, he may extend the open season for an equal period.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 26-25

  • Closed season: means that period of time during which hunting, trapping or fishing is prohibited for any species of wildlife. See Connecticut General Statutes 26-1
  • Hunting: means pursuing, shooting, killing and capturing any bird, quadruped or reptile and attempting to pursue, shoot, kill and capture any bird, quadruped or reptile, whether such act results in taking or not, including any act of assistance to any other person in taking or attempting to take any such animal. See Connecticut General Statutes 26-1
  • Sport fishing: means taking or attempting to take any regulated species whether from salt, brackish or fresh water by any method other than by commercial methods specified by law and regulations of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for commercial purposes. See Connecticut General Statutes 26-1
  • Trapping: means pursuing, killing and capturing by use of any trap, snare, net or other device any bird or wild or domestic quadruped, excluding rats, mice, moles and reptiles, whether such act results in taking or not, including any act of assistance to any other person in taking or attempting to take any such animal by any such method. See Connecticut General Statutes 26-1

(b) The commissioner may, when he finds that the harvest level for a species exceeds or fails to meet the harvest level for efficient management of such species, declare a closed season or extend the open season for the sport fishing, hunting or trapping of such species. Any closed season or extended open season may be limited to a specific area.

(c) Whenever the commissioner declares a closed season, the reopening of a closed season or the extension of an open season under the provisions of this section, he shall cause notice thereof to be published in the Connecticut Law Journal.