Section 26-27 - Licenses required for hunting, trapping and fishing. Exceptions(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), (c), (e), (f), (g), (h) or (i) of this section and other provisions of this chapter providing specific license exemption, no person shall take, hunt or trap, or shall attempt to take, hunt or trap, or assist in taking, hunting or trapping, any wild bird or mammal and no person sixteen years of age or older shall take, attempt to take, or assist in taking any fish or bait species in the inland waters or marine district by any method or land marine fish and bait species in the state, regardless of where such marine fish or bait species are taken, without first having obtained a license as provided in this chapter. No person under sixteen years of age shall hunt or trap, except as provided in section 26-38.(b) Any landowner who has a domiciliary residence in this state, such landowner's spouse or lineal descendants may hunt, trap or fish on land owned by such landowner or on land leased by such landowner and on which such landowner is actually domiciled, which land is not used for club, fishing or hunting purposes, without a license, subject to the provisions of this chapter.(c) No fishing license shall be required for any person who is rowing a boat or operating the motor of a boat from which other persons are taking or attempting to take fish.(d) The taking of fish and bait species as herein provided shall be regarded as sport fishing and the taking or landing of such species in the inland waters or marine district by commercial methods for commercial purposes shall be governed by other provisions of this chapter.(e) No fishing license shall be required for any resident of the state who is participating in a fishing derby authorized in writing by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection provided (1) no fees are charged for such derby, (2) such derby has a duration of one day or less, and (3) such derby is sponsored by a nonprofit civic service organization. Such organization shall be limited to one derby in any calendar year.(f) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall designate one day in each calendar year when no license shall be required for sport fishing.(g) No fishing license shall be required for any person who is fishing as a passenger on a party or charter fishing vessel registered under section 26-142a and operating solely in the marine district.(h) No fishing license shall be required for any person who participates in a fishing event conducted by an organization that receives a group fishing license, as provided in subsection (h) of section 26-30, provided any person who participates in such group fishing event shall be subject to all other provisions of the general statutes and the regulations of Connecticut state agencies that relate to fishing.(i) No fishing license shall be required for any student who attends a secondary school located in this state when such student is participating in a fishing event or field trip authorized, in writing, by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection provided (1) such fishing event or field trip is conducted by such secondary school, (2) the purpose of such fishing event or field trip is to provide instruction in fishing techniques, and (3) the fishing event or field trip is a component of a course of instruction conducted by such secondary school. Any secondary school that seeks to conduct such a fishing event or field trip shall apply for authorization on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall provide such information as required by the commissioner.(1949 Rev., S. 4868; 1957, P.A. 348, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 71, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 148; P.A. 76-131, S. 1, 2; P.A. 81-298, S. 1, 9; P.A. 82-366, S. 2; P.A. 83-191, S. 1, 9; P.A. 85-53, S. 3; P.A. 87-30, S. 1, 2; P.A. 05-288, S. 117; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 439; P.A. 10-106, S. 12; P.A. 11-74, S. 8; 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 14-201, S. 1; P.A. 15-52, S. 6.)
Amended by P.A. 15-0052, S. 6 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 1/1/2016.Amended by P.A. 14-0201, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2014 Regular Session, eff. 1/1/2015.Amended by P.A. 11-0074, S. 8 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2011.Amended by P.A. 10-0106, S. 12 of the February 2010 Regular Session, eff. 6/21/2010.Amended by P.A. 09-0003, S. 439 of the June 2009 Sp. Sess., eff. 10/1/2009. Cited. 124 C. 280. Cited. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 461.
See Sec. 26-99 re establishment of fish and game refuges.