Connecticut White Tail Deer Up-Date

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

   Attention Hunters: What to Do If You Harvest a Deer with a Neck Collar -- Over the past four winters, DEEP Wildlife Division researchers have captured and placed neck collars on over 150 white-tailed deer in northwestern Connecticut, specifically in the towns of Canaan, Cornwall, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon. Some of the collared deer have moved from the initial towns of capture into Colebrook, Goshen, and Norfolk.
   The marked deer may have a leather or nylon brown-colored collar; ear tags may or may not be present. Hunters should know that it is both completely legal and safe to harvest and consume these animals. The Wildlife Division asks that if hunters come across a collared deer during the upcoming hunting season, that they should hunt as they normally do – intentionally targeting collared deer or passing on them biases the mortality data. We also ask that if you do harvest a collared deer, please contact us using the phone number on the collar, or at 860-418-5921. We would like to collect the collar and jawbone from the animal if possible. We appreciate your assistance!