Litchfield City Council Sets New Hunting Registration Rules, Allows Two Stands Per Hunter

Litchfield City Council Meeting | February 5, 2026

Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council on Thursday passed an ordinance establishing a mandatory registration system for hunters on city property. Following input from a previous meeting with hunters, the council amended the rules to allow two deer stands to remain in place throughout the season and created a guest registration process.

Hunting Ordinance Key Points:

• Mandatory Registration: All hunters on city property must complete a free registration form and display a windshield card while parked.

• Stand Policy Amended: Hunters may now leave two deer stands or blinds on city property for the entire season (August 1 to February 1), rather than removing them daily.

• Guest Policy: A new guest registration form allows a registered hunter to bring a guest, who must list the registered hunter as their sponsor.

• Grace Period: Officials indicated they would use an educational approach initially, issuing warnings rather than immediate fines as hunters adjust to the new system.

The Litchfield City Council on Thursday, February 5, 2026, approved a new ordinance requiring hunters using city-owned land to register with the Lake Department, aimed at improving safety and accountability.

The ordinance, which passed following a significant amendment regarding deer stands, establishes a system where the city can track who is utilizing the property.

Lake Superintendent Heather Bell addressed the council, explaining that the proposal had been adjusted following a meeting with local hunters. The original proposal required hunters to remove stands daily, a requirement that drew concern regarding accessibility for elderly hunters and unnecessary disturbance of the grounds.

“We decided to change that to every hunter would be allowed to put two stands out… and allow the hunter to leave those two stands out all year,” Bell said. “That would just help with any of our elderly hunters that would like to still hunt and not be able to carry your stand in and out.”

Under the approved amendment, hunters will receive tags for two stands. These stands can be placed starting August 1 and must be removed by February 1. Any additional stands beyond the initial two must be set up and removed daily.

The council also formalized a “guest registration” process. This allows a registered hunter to bring a guest who may not have had time to register at the marina office during business hours. Guests can fill out a form at a drop box, listing a registered hunter’s number as their sponsor.

“If we have somebody that’s comes five, six, seven times and they’re putting that same sponsor’s number down, I can reach out to that guest and say, ‘Hey, you’ve been here four or five times now. You just go ahead and fill out your own registration,'” Bell explained.

Mayor Jacob Fleming and Alderperson Robbin Huffman emphasized that enforcement would initially focus on education.

“We’re going to have a long leash as this starts,” Mayor Fleming said. “It’s not going to go out there, ‘You’re fined $750 for not doing the registration.'”

The registration is free of charge. The ordinance includes requirements that stands be labeled with the owner’s name and phone number.