Managing Urban Deer in Connecticut

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Examples of Local Deer Reduction Efforts by Municipalities

Darien

In 1997, Darien’s First Selectman formed a Deer Management Committee. In March 2005, the committee presented a deer management plan to the Board of Selectmen to allow hunting on Sellecks Woods (28 acres), owned by the town, and on Dunlap Woods (22 acres), owned by the Darien Land Trust. Liability issues surrounding the hunt prevented hunting at Dunlap Woods and delayed hunting at Sellecks Woods until mid-December. To address local liability issues, the town acquired additional insurance at minimal cost and required hunters to sign an indemnity agreement (Appendix 1). A late start, unfavorable weather conditions, and unauthorized human disturbance resulted in a decision to end that year’s hunt early. Over a period of several years, several hundred pounds of venison were processed and donated to food shelters throughout the area. The program was originally run by a town committee for a number of years, but now deer management in the town is led by an independent effort partnering hunters with homeowners.

Greenwich

In 2004-2005, the Town of Greenwich developed and implemented a deer herd reduction and monitoring program approved by the DEEP on select town-owned land. The herd reduction consisted of a 4-night sharpshooting program on 3 town-owned properties, which resulted in the removal of 80 deer. From this removal, 2,400 pounds of venison were donated to local food pantries. Town cost was estimated at $646 per deer removed (total cost = $51,680). In addition, the Conservation Commission identified large landowners and encouraged them to allow hunting and continued to promote hunting as the main tool for reducing and maintaining the deer population.

New Canaan

The town-appointed a deer committee in 1998. The committee collected information on deer and deer management, evaluated all possible deer management options, and recommended to town residents that bowhunting be used as a means to reduce the deer herd. The town allocated funds to conduct surveys of the deer population and residents’ opinions about deer. The town also hired a deer manager to contact all homeowners who owned at least 6 acres to encourage them to allow bowhunting. A sportsmen’s group assisted the community by making hunters available to landowners interested in reducing the deer population in their area.

During the first 2 years of the program, the number of deer removed by hunting tripled.(30) Archery harvest increased from 19 deer in 1997 to a 20-year average harvest of 74 deer/year while deer vehicle accidents decreased from 62 deer in 1997 to a 20-year average of 12 deer-vehicle accidents/year from before to after promoting hunting in the town.

Redding

Bowhunting on private property has been the primary means of reducing deer numbers, while owners of larger properties have been specifically encouraged to allow hunting on their land. However, in 2005, a subcommittee of the Redding Conservation Commission prepared a report that examined the effects of deer on forest ecology as a result. In October 2005, the Conservation Commission voted unanimously to allow controlled hunting on town-owned land (about 1,000 acres) to protect and preserve the land from the effects of deer overabundance. It was noted that 40 deer-vehicle accidents were recorded in 2005 in Redding. Due to late approval, limited bowhunting was allowed on some town-owned properties, resulting in the removal of 32 deer. In 2005, Redding appointed a deer warden and assistant deer warden to further deer management efforts by overseeing deer reduction efforts. The number of town properties hunted per year has averaged around 9. Controlled hunts continue throughout the town today, with much reduced harvest numbers averaging about 17 deer per year with much fewer deer-vehicle accidents (12 deer-vehicle accidents) occurring per year.

Ridgefield

In 2004, the Board of Selectmen established the Ridgefield Deer Committee to determine the extent of deer overpopulation in Ridgefield and assess how the town should address the problem. In June 2005, the committee voted 17 to 1 to approve a report containing many recommendations, including controlled hunting on town-owned property. In July 2005, the report was presented to the Board of Selectmen. In November 2005, the Board appointed a 5-member deer management committee to implement the recommendations. In May 2006, the residents of Ridgefield voted in support (73%) of modifying the local ordinance to allow hunting on town-owned land, and, during that year, 73 deer-vehicle accidents were recorded. The number of town properties hunted per year has ranged between 10 to 15 and the number of deer taken has ranged between 92 in 1998 to 336 in 2009. Controlled hunts still continue throughout the town today, with much reduced harvest numbers (35 deer) and deer-vehicle accidents (2 deer-vehicle accidents), an indication that population control efforts have been working. More information is in the Ridgefield Controlled Hunt Fact Sheets .

Wilton

In 2001, a deer committee was assembled to research perceived problems associated with deer. The committee sponsored public meetings, conducted a town-wide survey of residents, and created a newsletter dedicated to deer issues. In 2002, the first controlled deer hunt administered by Wilton was conducted on water company lands within the town and the committee sent a letter to large landowners encouraging them to allow hunting. In 2003, the deer committee produced a final report and began implementing recommendations from the report. In 2004, a second controlled hunt was held. In 2005, the town changed an ordinance that previously prohibited hunting on town-owned properties to allow hunting for the purpose of reducing nuisance wildlife that threatens public health and safety or threatens the town’s natural resources. During that year, 47 deer-vehicle accidents were recorded. The town initiated its first hunt on town-owned open space in 2005 and added a second town-owned property in 2006.

The Wilton Land Conservation Trust also authorized hunting on one of its parcels. The number of properties hunted per year has increased to 16 in total. Controlled hunts still continue throughout the town today, with 72 deer harvested in 2022. A total of 15 deer-vehicle accidents were reported in 2022, an indication that population control efforts have been working.

Chapter 8: Facts About White-tailed Deer and Deer Management

Content last updated in August 2026.

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