The commissioner may engage in wildlife management practices, including, but not limited to: (1) Managing the wildlife resources of the state to provide sustainable, healthy populations of diverse wildlife species, including endangered and threatened species, consistent with professional wildlife management principles; (2) conducting research to better understand processes and relationships affecting wildlife and habitats; (3) conducting public awareness and technical assistance programs to enhance privately-owned habitat and promote an appreciation for and understanding of the value and use of wildlife; (4) performing any work for the establishment, restoration, improvement, control and protection of wildlife habitats; (5) performing any work to create and maintain facilities for ingress and egress for public use of any area under said commissioner's control; (6) regulating hunting seasons and bag limits for all harvestable wildlife species within Connecticut; (7) managing public hunting and wildlife recreational opportunities on state-owned, state-leased, permit-required areas and cooperative wildlife management areas; and (8) conducting, with volunteer assistance, conservation education and safety programs to promote safe and ethical hunting practices. Said commissioner may expend from federal aid funds necessary moneys for supplies, materials, equipment, temporary personal services and contractual services to carry out the provisions of this section. Any utilization of such powers by the commissioner shall be documented and subject to disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Such documentation shall include, but not be limited to: An explanation of the need for such use, the duration of such use, a description of the power used, the location where such power was used, the names of the persons or entities that may take animals pursuant to the plan, any conditions of the plan, the methods used under the plan and any species taken under the plan.

(1955, S. 2480d; 1959, P.A. 398, S. 11; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 264; P.A. 03-192, S. 10.)

History: 1959 act deleted references to expenditures from game fund; 1971 act substituted references to environmental protection commissioner for references to board of fisheries and game; P.A. 03-192 replaced former provisions re installations, facilities and structures with Subdivs. (1) to (8) re wildlife management practices that commissioner may engage in and provided that utilization of such powers shall be documented and subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

See Sec. 26-99 re establishment of fish and game refuges.