Apart from restrictions on camping without special permission, the use of motorized vehicles except on roads and trails maintained and intended for their use, target practicing and a few other things that should have no impact on deer hunters, the state's wildlife management areas carry few regulations and are wide open.

For maps and information on each area, size, topography, access and other particulars, contact the MassWildlife district offices in Pittsfield at (413) 447-9789, Belchertown at (413) 323-7632, West Boylston at (508-835-3607, Acton at (978) 263-4347, Boston at (617) 626-1590, Buzzards Bay at (508) 759-3406 or the field headquarters in Westboro at (508) 792-7270. Information and maps are also available online at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_toc.htm.

And if this isn't enough, hunters should keep their eyes and ears open for other hunting opportunities that may become available. For example, a special February deer hunt was held on Nantucket last February, and another opportunity could be in February 2006.

The season was held in response to a request from the town of Nantucket to help reduce deer numbers, estimated at between 40 and 60 animals per square mile, and to help in the threat from deer ticks, which are capable of transmitting a variety of diseases, some of which can cause serious health problems in humans.

Last year, the hunt was held from Feb. 7-12. Hunters needed a valid 2005 hunting or sporting license and were required to purchase a Nantucket Special Deer Permit and tags for $25. The permit includes five antlerless tags and one antlered tag, and did not include the general fall bag limit of two antlered deer. The permits could be purchased at any MassWildlife district office, as well as at the town clerk's office on Nantucket.

If the Nantucket hunt is held again, information on lodging and other services is available from the Nantucket Visitors Center Web site at www.nantucketma.gov or by calling (508) 228-0925.

For information on ferries to the island, visit the Nantucket Steamship Authority Web site at http://web1.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/.

There is also some deer hunting allowed at Camp Edwards, the Otis Air National Guard Base, the Cape Cod Air Station and others. Hunting has been allowed on the Camp Edwards section since about 1956 through a permit system and controlled hunt managed by MassWildlife, and about 100 deer are harvested each year. Last year, season dates for archery hunting were Nov. 14-17. The shotgun season was Nov. 28 through Dec. 3 and the muzzleloader season was held Dec. 12-14.

Camp Edwards is in the towns of Bourne and Sandwich on Cape Cod. It is an active military training area and access is strictly controlled, but about 14,000 acres of the reservation were open to hunting. The hunt area is dominated by pitch pine and scrub oak and is separated into sections by marked dirt roads. Hunters are issued a daily permit, an area map, regulations and a vehicle pass.

Access is generally through Connery Avenue to the hunting areas off Frank Perkins Road. Pre-registration is required, and forms must be mailed or delivered to MassWildllife's Southeast District office in Buzzards Bay. Registration forms are usually available on the MassWildlife Web site.

For more information on deer hunting in Massachusetts, contact MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westboro, MA 01581, or call (508) 792-7270.

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut hunters have plenty of opportunities left this fall, too. The state land archery hunts that ended Nov. 15 commence again Dec. 21 and run to Dec. 31.

The season on archery-only areas on state lands runs to Dec. 31 as well. Some of the shotgun lottery hunts on state land continues to Dec. 6, as does the No Lottery, State Land "B" Season. The state land muzzleloader hunt runs from Dec. 7-20.