Hunting - Lyme Land Conservation Trust

Hunting Program

The Land Trust has partnered with the Town of Lyme to cooperatively administer a hunting program for white-tailed deer and turkey on some of our preserves as part of our stewardship management plan.

This hunting program is informed by the CT DEEP’s Deer Management Program whose goals are: 1) to maintain the population at levels compatible with available habitat and land uses, and 2) to allow for a sustained yield of deer for use by Connecticut hunters. For more information: The 2024 Connecticut Archery Deer Program Summary.

Each year, CT DEEP adjusts the number of deer and turkey that hunters are allowed to harvest based on the past year’s statistics – hunter reports of the number of deer and turkey harvested, the observations of hunters, and aerial surveys.

Lyme Preserves Regulated Hunting Program

Provides access for a traditional use of open space in Lyme.
A limited number of permits are granted to licensed hunters, who must pass a conservation education/hunting safety course. All State laws and safety regulations are followed. Hunters care about the environment. Many of the hunters in the program provide additional volunteer stewardship services to help maintain the preserves.
Helps protect vibrant habitats: An overpopulation of white-tailed deer decreases biodiversity in the understory vegetation. Deer prefer to browse on the seedlings and saplings of keystone tree species such as white oak and sugar maple. They also browse valuable native understory shrubs such as dogwood, viburnum, elderberry, hawthorn, winterberry, sassafras, and raspberry and blackberry briars. The U.S. Forest Service found that when deer exceed 20 per square mile, cerulean warblers, pewees, indigo buntings, least flycatchers, and yellow-billed cuckoos can no longer survive. Also, deer mortality due to starvation increases.
Helps maintains a healthy sustainable population of deer, which is a a valuable native species in our ecosystem
Decreases the number of wildlife related car accidents
Helps decrease the spread of tick-related diseases
Hunters are asked to seek alternatives to lead ammo. Lead is toxic to humans and lethal for many scavengers such as bald eagles. It also can contaminate the soil and seep into the ground water.
Hunters pay a special tax on hunting equipment which funds federal wildlife projects like turkey restoration.

Preserves Where Hunting Occurs

Click to enlarge map.

Beebe Preserve
Chestnut Hill Preserve
Hand-Smith (Bow only)
Hilles Preserve, East and West
Jewett Preserve
Johnston Preserve
Mount Archer Woods, Eno, and Pickwick’s Preserve
Plimpton Preserve
Slawson Preserve

Regulations and Permits

HUNTING POLICIES For hunting regulations, requirements and for permit application instructions: Hunting Policies with Season Chart and Map 2025

CONSENT FORMS For partly filled out consent forms (there are several pages): Pre-filled Hunting Consent Forms Spring 2025

Use alternatives to lead ammo when available. Information on No lead hunting.
No lead hunting information from New York State DEC

TO APPLY Consent to hunt may be granted to licensed hunters by request by mail or drop off at the Town Hall to the Open Space Coordinator of the Town of Lyme. Include a stamped self-addressed envelope with your application. (Email requests are not accepted.)

Contact: openspace@townlyme.org.

Open Space Coordinator,
Lyme Town Hall,
480 Hamburg Rd,
Lyme CT 06371

Hunting Seasons

Spring Turkey Hunting Season: April 30 to May 31, 2025: Monday through Friday, 1/2 hour before sunrise to noon; the preserves where hunting occurs are open to non-hunting users during that time. Please note that no hunting is allowed in these preserves on Saturdays or Sundays during this season.
Fall Deer and Turkey Bow Hunting Season: September 15 to November 18, 2025 (and December 24, 2024 to January 31, 2026) Monday through Friday, 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; the preserves where hunting occurs are open to non-hunting users during that time. Please note that no hunting is allowed in these preserves on Saturdays or Sundays during this season.
Turkey Fall Shotgun Season: October 4 through October 31, 2025: Monday through Friday, 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; the preserves where hunting occurs are open to non-hunting users during that time. Please note that no hunting is allowed in these preserves on Saturdays or Sundays during this season.
Deer firearm Season: November 19 through December 23, 2025; Monday through Friday, 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; Preserves where deer firearm hunting occurs are closed to all other users, except for Saturday and Sunday when no hunting is allowed.
Late Fall Deer and Turkey Bow Hunting Season: December 24, 2025 to January 31, 2026: Monday through Friday, 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; the preserves where hunting occurs are open to non-hunting users during that time. Please note that no hunting is allowed in these preserves on Saturdays or Sundays during this season.

The Nature Conservancy coordinates a deer hunt at Selden Creek Preserve; however, the preserve will not be closed because the hunting area is safely separated from the part of the preserve with public trails.

Hunting on State property is allowed with a State permit. On State property, hunting is allowed every day, during hunting seasons, except Sunday. The preserves remain open to all users. Be aware and always wear bright colors.

If you encounter poachers or suspicious persons

Do not confront. Call CT DEEP Dispatch 860-424-3333. Notify the Open Space Coordinator openspace@townlyme.org after you have filed a report with CT DEEP Dispatch.

Practice caution and wear bright colors in the woods during hunting seasons.

Information about hunting seasons, public hunting areas, laws, and regulations is in the Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide, which is available at all town halls, license agents, and also here.