Archers took 3,385 deer, setting a new record. And muzzleloaders, who had previously established new records in 2004 (with 2,147 deer taken) and 2005 (2,325 deer) were down significantly -- to 1,482 in 2006.

Shotgunners took 5,603 deer, down from 6,449 in 2005 and 6,682 in 2004. Additionally, during the Quabbin controlled hunt in 2006, 117 deer were taken by firearms, the same number as 2005.

The best odds for success are in the central and eastern portions of the state, even though there are smaller tracts of woods and human populations are much higher.

For the last several years, Deer Management Zone (DMZ) 11 has led the state, followed by DMZs 10, 9 and 8.

In the western part of the state, DMZ 3 is typically your best bet, offering higher deer densities and a higher success rate than the rest of the western zones.

In 2004, the Vermont General Assembly delegated to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board full authority to manage deer.

"Deer hunters should remember that an antlerless deer permit is required to take antlerless deer in any deer season." Woytek said.

For more information, contact MassWildlife, Field Headquarters, Westboro, MA 01581. Call (508) 792-7220, or visit the agency's Web site at www.mass.gov/massoutdoors.

CONNECTICUT
During the 2006's hunting seasons, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported that hunters harvested 11,591 deer. That total was about 9 percent below the overall harvest in 2005 (12,664) and well below 2004, when a total of a 13,535 deer were harvested.

"The decrease in the harvest can likely be attributed to poor weather conditions during the shorter firearms and muzzleloader hunting seasons, which reduced deer movement and hunter participation," said Howard Kilpatrick, a biologist for the DEP's Wildlife Division's Deer/Turkey Program. Most of the decline was attributed to poor weather on Thanksgiving Day, typically one of the top harvest days of the firearm season.

In 2007, hunters should consider deer management zones 11 (southwestern region) and 12 (shoreline towns) where deer populations are high.

Although statewide harvest rates have fluctuated between 11,000 and 13,500 over the past five years, the harvest rates in DMZs 11 and 12 continue to increase.

In these zones, hunters may obtain unlimited number of deer permits, utilize harvest incentive programs and hunt over bait on private land.

The DEP can provide hunters with access information to well-marked and lightly hunted public lands.

Pay particular attention to the small parcels of state land along the Rhode Island border.

For more information, consult the 2006 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide, available at town clerks' and DEP offices, or on the DEP's 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
Rhode Island's deer hunters had banner years in 2004 and 2005, but the harvest tailed off in 2006.

The state Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife reported preliminary numbers of 2,315 deer taken in 2006, down 357 from 2005's total harvest.

Results of the mainland hunts showed mixed results. A total of 1,211 deer were taken during the muzzleloader season, compared to 1,204 in 2005.

Some 585 deer were taken during the shotgun season, a decrease of 100 deer from the total in 2005.

Mainland archery hunters took 352 deer in 2006, well below the total of 437 deer taken the previous season.

The DEM's final report containing 2006-07 deer harvest data and deer-vehicle collision statistics is available on its Web site, www.state.ri.us/dem.

For more information, contact Lori Gibson at (401) 789-0281.