An important part of our wildlife management plan allows for limited bow and shotgun hunting for deer by special permit in carefully selected parts of the Centennial Watershed State Forest. This does more than provide hundreds of hunters with food each year. It also helps thin a deer herd that exceeds the carry capacity of the land due to the disappearance of natural predators. Left unchecked, this herd threatens the health of our reservoirs’ forest buffers and the surrounding landscape through overbrowsing.
With the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection as one of our Watershed partners, we coordinate this and other aspects of our management plan with county- and state-wide efforts to assure healthy, long-term habitats for deer and other populations of wildlife.
Recreational and wildlife management activities in the Centennial Watershed State Forest are carefully coordinated to assure healthy, diverse populations of all species. Detailed maps for hunters are available through the links below.
As part of our deer management plan, the Conservation Land Committee will permit bow hunting for deer this year on approximately 7,867 acres of designated land in the Centennial Watershed State Forest. This includes the 3,474 acres of Deer Lottery Area 56 (CWSF) previously for shotgun only. Archery hunting will be closed on this area during the shotgun deer season and will reopen once that season is closed.
Our season framework follows state regulations, and takes place in the fall from mid-September until the end of December each year. Key dates include:
A limited number of access permits will be issued free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. To receive an access permit, you will need to:
As part of our deer management plan, the Conservation Land Committee will permit shotgun hunting for deer this year on approximately 3,474 acres of land in the Centennial Watershed State Forest.
Apply online for a Hunting License through Connecticut’s Online Sportsmen Licensing System (Reference deer lottery permit area 56).
Talk to our Watershed & Environmental Management Office, located at 714 Black Rock Road (Rt. 58), Easton, CT 06612-1146, at (203) 445-7339 or email watershed@aquarionwater.com.