Bill > SB00054

This bill proposes to amend Connecticut's general statutes to allow black bear hunting in Litchfield County for the first time. Specifically, the legislation would permit hunting black bears at a rate not exceeding 5% of the state's total black bear population as of the bill's effective date. The bill also mandates that the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) submit a comprehensive report to the legislative committee responsible for environmental matters one year after hunting begins. This report must detail the number of black bears harvested, the number of hunting licenses issued, and include any recommendations from the DEEP Commissioner regarding potential modifications to black bear hunting practices statewide. The bill aims to provide a controlled and monitored approach to introducing black bear hunting in Litchfield County, with a focus on maintaining the sustainability of the bear population while gathering important data about the hunting program's initial implementation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB00054&which_year=2025