Substitute House Bill No. 7231, also known as Public Act No. 25-138, amends Connecticut's hunting laws to permit Sunday hunting on private lands starting October 1, 2025. The bill repeals and replaces Section 26-3, allowing the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to take fish and wildlife for scientific and educational purposes at any time, including Sundays, which was previously restricted. It modifies Section 26-73 to establish that Sunday is a closed season for hunting migratory birds, while allowing hunting on private property under specific conditions, such as obtaining written permission from the property owner. The bill also removes the previous prohibition on hunting deer with a bow and arrow on Sundays and introduces regulations to ensure hunting occurs safely, including a prohibition on hunting within forty yards of public trails.

Additionally, the bill introduces a fair random selection process for shotgun and muzzleloader permits for deer hunting on state lands and mandates that individuals must obtain a bow and arrow permit to hunt with a bow, specifying equipment requirements. It also repeals restrictions on municipalities and nonprofit organizations taking resident Canada geese on Sundays, allowing them to do so with an approved management plan. The bill emphasizes that any deer killed under these provisions remains the property of the landowner but cannot be sold or traded, and it grants the commissioner authority to revoke permits for violations, ensuring public safety is prioritized.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 26-3, 26-52, 26-73
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute: 26-3, 26-73
File No. 724: 26-3, 26-73
File No. 979: 26-3, 26-73
Public Act No. 25-138: 26-3, 26-73