Sec. 26-73. Hunting on Sunday. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 26-73. Hunting on Sunday. Sunday shall be a closed season except for the purpose of trapping under the provisions of this chapter. The possession in the open air on Sunday of any implement for hunting shall be prima facie evidence of hunting in violation of the provisions of this section. No provision of this section shall be construed so as to affect any provision of section 26-31, 26-48, 26-52 or 27-35 or apply to the use of bow and arrow for purposes other than hunting. Artificially propagated birds designated by the commissioner may be shot on Sundays on licensed private shooting preserves subject to such regulations of the commissioner as may apply to such private shooting preserves, provided permission so to shoot has been obtained from the town or towns within which such licensed private shooting preserves are located.

      (1949 Rev., S. 4887; 1949, S. 2486d; 1957, P.A. 22, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 268.)

      History: 1971 act substituted references to environmental protection commissioner for references to board of fisheries and game.

      See Sec. 26-31 re instruction in handling and use of hunting weapons on Sunday.

      Applies to any game, whether protected or not, if not destroying crops; applies to private game keeper carrying gun to guard game preserve where intent to shoot other animals exists. 98 C. 712.

      Conclusion that defendant "was guilty of having in his possession in the open air on Sunday implements for hunting" did not, in view of the judgment finding the defendant guilty of violating this section, show that the defendant was found guilty of the nonexistent crime of possession rather than the actual crime of hunting. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 463, 464.