Connecticut: What to Do If You Harvest a Deer with a Neck Collar

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

We have received a few questions about this subject in Connecticut

Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division researchers have captured and placed neck collars on over 150 white-tailed deer in northwestern throughout Connecticut. 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.