A good place to start looking in Rhode Island is Little Compton and Sakonnet Point, which are at the south end of Route 77. This arm juts into the ocean and has several small islands off its end. There is a state boat launch on Sakonnet Point Road on Route 77.

To access this area, see maps 72 and 73 in DeLorme's Connecticut/ Rhode Island Atlas and Gazetteer.

In upper Narragansett Bay, hunters will find sheltered waters and a mix of sea ducks and bay divers. Patience and Prudence islands WMAs and nearby Hope Island are significant waterfowl holding spots. For access, there are town-owned launches on State Street in Bristol Harbor and at the end of Church Street off Route 114. On the west side of Narragansett Bay, Wickford Harbor in North Kingston offers protected ramps for gunners wishing to access the bay. One ramp is on the east end of Intrepid Drive off Route 1. The other is along Pleasant Street. You can put your rig out between Jamestown and North Kingston.

For additional hunting information, maps, regulations or a copy of The Atlas of Rhode Island Wildlife Management Areas, contact the Rhode Island Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Wakefield, RI 02879; call (401) 789-0281 or (401) 222-1267.

For lodging and travel arrangements, contact the Rhode Island Tourism Division, 1 West Exchange Street, Providence, RI 02903; or call (800) 556-2484. The Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife's Web site is www.state.ri.us/dem/.

Connecticut's waterfowl biologist, Min Huang, said that his state doesn't winter as many sea ducks as other states do, and hunters don't take advantage of the birds that are here, which makes hunting pressure very light. This is an excellent opportunity to get away from the marsh crowds and have the entire ocean to yourself!

One big benefit of hunting in Connecticut is the relative safety and calmness of Long Island Sound compared to the open Atlantic. Any experienced sea duck hunter knows that old-squaws shun rocks, but hunting directly from a boat in the sound is a great way to coax them into your rig to fill a bag limit.

For your best chance at 'squaws, be sure you're set to shoot before sunrise. Old-squaws fly out to mid sound during the afternoon, where they rest and drift through the night, and then at first light they commute back to shallower bay waters to feed all morning. That's when you'll have the best action.

One good area for small pockets of commuting old-squaws is anywhere from Branford to New Haven Harbor. To access Branford Harbor from the west, take Interstate Route 95 to exit 53 and turn right off the ramp onto Route 1 in Branford. From the east, take Exit 54 and head south to Route 1 west. Just beyond the train bridge, turn left onto Route 142 (Short Beach Road), and then turn left on Stannard Avenue, which becomes Goodsell Point Road. Turn left into the parking lot opposite the marina.

There is plenty of parking here during the winter. Be cautious of poor ramp conditions at low tide.

After launching, head downriver and out into the harbor. Continue past the Mermaid Rocks and set your old-squaw rig anywhere between the Mermaids and Taunton Rock, or you can venture a bit farther southwest and set up between Taunton Rock and Cow and Calf Rocks. You can also head west and rig off Short Beach. But as with anywhere else in southern New England, hunters should be cautious of submerged rocks and be sure to motor using a strong spotlight with one finger on a local chart. You can find the Branford area on Map 25 in DeLorme's Connecticut/Rhode Island Atlas and Gazetteer.

If you want to try your luck at the few eiders off Connecticut, your best chance is in the far eastern end of Long Island Sound. Both the Stonington area around Sandy Point and Stonington Harbor breakwater are good choices. You'll also find good numbers of old-squaws in these parts. Access is from a launch at the state-owned Barn Island WMA. To find it, take Route 1 to Palmer Neck Road south to its end at the head of Wequetequock Cove. See this area in Map 30 of the Gazetteer.

For a crack at late-season scoters and old-squaws, try the entrance to the Connecticut River where it meets the sound. The Old Saybrook area offers some fair hunting from the jetties. Excellent access is available at the Baldwin Bridge launch. To find it, take I-95 to Exit 69 at Route 9. Take either Exit 1 or 2, turn right and follow Ferry Road to the new, large boat ramp under the bridge. Head south for about a mile downriver. Stay in the channel to avoid hitting rocks near mid-river. The area is shown in maps 27 and 28 in the Gazetteer.

Guilford Harbor has also always held some numbers of scoters and old-squaws. The channel out of the East River is rock studded on both sides, so be sure to take a strong flashlight and stay within the channel markers.

Once you have cleared the farthest channel marker, head east toward Madison about halfway to Tunxis Island before setting your rig for a shot at scoters, or stay in the harbor area for old-squaws. The East River separates Guilford and Madison.

To find the ramp, which is on the Madison side of the river in a good duck marsh, take Exit 59 (Goose Lane) off I-95 and head south to the light. Turn east (left) onto Route 1 and follow it to Neck Road on the right. Continue on Neck Road out to Grass Island, where it becomes a dirt road, and the launch is on the right. See Map 26 in the Gazetteer for details.

To the western end of Long Island Sound are the Norwalk islands, which are known for their wintering old-squaw population. Access the area from a launch in Veteran's Park. Take Exit 16 off I-95, turn left off the exit ramp, travel to the end of the street and then turn right. You will find the park entrance just before the drawbridge. For more information, see Map 19 in the Gazetteer.

Additional information on Connecticut hunting, including a waterfowling guide, is available from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, State Office Building, Hartford, CT 06115; call (203) 424-3011, or visit their Web site at www. dep.state.ct.us/index.htm.

For visitor information, call the Connecticut Office of Tourism at (800) CT-BOUND or visit the agency's Internet Web site at www.state.ct.us/tourism.