Overall kill numbers can be deceiving, because they do not reflect the deer killed per square mile. Some of the smaller DMZs may actually provide better hunting opportunities, particularly those in the eastern part of the state.

Be sure to read the 2005 regulations abstracts for special licensing and permission requirements.

For more information, contact the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, Westboro, MA 01581; call (508) 792-7220, or visit the agency's Web site at www.sport.state.ma.us. Hunters may buy licenses or apply for antlerless licenses online at this site.

CONNECTICUT
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported that hunters harvested 13,436 deer during the 2004 deer hunting seasons, the second-highest harvest ever in Connecticut, about 304 deer short of the record harvest (recorded in 1995 at 13,740).

The muzzleloader season harvest total was 1,249, a 14 percent increase over 2003. Archery hunters took 3,365 deer, a modest 3 percent increase over the previous year. Firearms hunters realized a 5 percent increase at 7,551 deer. The special landowner season produced 1,271 deer, a 10 percent increase over 2003.

2004 NEW ENGLAND DEER HARVEST TOTALS COMPARED WITH 2003
Maine
Season	2003	2004
Archery	2,464	2,084
Muzzleloader	1,359	1,239
Firearms	34,533	27,004
Youth	827	599
Total	30,313	30,926
New Hampshire
Season	2003	2004
Archery	1,841	2,158
Muzzleloader	2,330	2,194
Firearms	4,987	5,469
Youth	334	312
Total	9,492	10,133
Vermont
Season	2003	2004
Archery	3,911	3,576
Muzzleloader	2,114	1,407
Firearms	6,928	5,589
Youth	1,545	1,353
Total	14,529	11,925
Massachusetts
Season	2003	2004
Archery	3,045	3,016
Muzzleloader	1,844	2,147
Firearms	6,823	6,682
Youth	313	413
Total	12,025	12,266
Connecticut
Season	2003	2004
Archery	3,258	3,365
Muzzleloader	1,089	1,249
Firearms	6,823	7.551
Youth	1,159	1,271
Total	12,670	13,436
Rhode Island
Season	2003	2004
Archery	737	756
Muzzleloader	944	1,173
Firearms	430	590
Youth	0	175
Total	2,111	2,684

"The largest increase in permit issuance and harvest occurred during the muzzleloader season," said Howard Kilpatrick, leader of the DEP Wildlife Division's Deer Project. "This increase was attributed to good snow conditions and the use of bait, as well as replacement tags in 2004 for muzzleloader hunters."

Hunters should consider deer management zones 11 in southwestern Connecticut and 12 (shoreline towns) where deer populations are high.

In December 2002, the archery season was officially extended in zones 11 and 12 to include the month of January (2003). Many hunters were not aware of the change that year, but the extension of the archery season was better publicized last year, resulting in more deer being harvested (up 133 percent) in January 2004 compared to January 2003.

As of October 2003, hunters were allowed to use bait for hunting deer in deer management zones 11 and 12. In December 2003, the replacement antlerless tag program was extended to include the muzzleloader deer-hunting season in zones 11 and 12. This program has been effective at focusing hunter effort on removing female deer in areas of the state where deer populations are high.

Because of relatively low deer numbers in deer management zone 4A (northern Tolland County), restrictions were set in place five years ago to limit the harvest of antlerless deer. This restriction is starting to show a rebound effect on deer population growth in this area. Most other areas of the state offer deer populations that are relatively stable.

For more information, consult the 2004 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide, available at town clerks' and DEP offices, or on the DEP Web site at www.dep.state.ct.us. Or contact the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, State Office Building, Hartford, CT 06115; or call (203) 424-3011.

RHODE ISLAND
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife reported that 2,684 deer were taken in 2004, an increase of 20 percent over 2003 (2,245 deer). A total of 1,173 deer were taken during the muzzleloader season, 229 more than 2003. Shotgun season produced 580 deer, an increase of 167 over the 2003 season. Mainland archery hunters took 408 deer, 23 more than last season. Prudence and Patience islands archery hunters took 348 deer.

The state's chronic wasting disease team collected 156 samples for testing -- all were negative. Also noteworthy this year was a record of 1,032 deer reported struck by vehicles, exceeding the previous record of 970 deer set in 2003.

A final report on the 2004-05 deer harvest data and deer-vehicle collisions will be available on the DEM's Web site at www.state.ri.us/dem. For more information, contact Lori Gibson at 789-0281.

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