During the various archery seasons, a total of four deer may be taken including two of either sex and two antlerless. During the shotgun seasons, one deer of either sex may be taken on state lands, not including during special lottery hunts, and during the muzzleloader season on state lands, the limit is one deer of either sex.

Overall, Connecticut's deer population is doing well, with deer numbers estimated at around 75,000 animals. Though there are good hunting opportunities statewide, the southwest corner of the state and many of the shoreline communities provide some of the best hunting, especially for archery hunters.

Many wildlife management areas, state forests and parks and flood control areas offer good opportunities as well, and Connecticut has plenty of them. Some carry special regulations, for example, Beaver Brook State Park, Bigelow Hollow State Park, Camp Columbia State Park, Bishops Swamp Wildlife Management Area, Newgate WMA and the Bloomfield Flood Control Area are all designated bowhunting-only areas.

Beaver Brook State Park is in the towns of Windham, Willimantic, Scotland and Spring Hill. It covers a total of 348 acres with 303 acres open to hunting. It consists primarily of small hardwoods. Access and parking is available on Back Road in North Windham about 100 yards south of the junction of Parish Hill Road.

Bigelow Hollow State Park covers 513 acres in Union and is another bowhunting-only area. Nipmuck State Forest borders both sides of the state park, and the two areas offer over 9,000 acres of public hunting space. Nipmuck State Forest may be hunted during the archery and muzzleloading season. Both areas are heavily wooded with hardwoods and softwoods.

Access is easy from Interstate Route 84. Take exit 73 or 74, and then follow Route 190 north to Route 171 east. Additional information on the state park may be obtained by calling (860) 684-3430.

Camp Columbia State Forest is in the town of Morris and offers a mixture of forests and fields. It covers 591 acres. Roadside parking is available along Munger Lane or Route 109.

Bishops Swamp WMA in Andover features 752 acres of mixed hardwoods and softwoods and wetlands. Access is off Jurovaty Road.

Newgate WMA is in East Granby and includes 429 acres of mixed hardwoods. Access is off Newgate Road.

The Bloomfield Flood Control Area is in Bloomfield and offers 894 acres of agricultural fields and red maple swamps. A parking lot and access trail are on Woodland Avenue.

Other areas offer archery as well as muzzleloading opportunities. Housatonic State Forest covers over 10,700 acres in several blocks in five different towns, primarily Sharon, Canaan and Cornwall.

This is the largest state park in western Connecticut and contains a mix of forest cover, rolling hills and meadows. Access is possible off Route 44, the Mountain Road and Wangum Road, Route 7, off Route 63 taking the Music Mountain Road south to Yelping Hill Road, or from Route 128 and Cream Hill Road. Camping is available at Housatonic Meadows State Park near Cornwall Bridge. Information may be obtained by calling (860) 927-3238.

Another good archery and muzzleloader hunting area is Natchaug State Forest in Eastford, Pomfret, Chaplin and Ashford. One of the largest state forests in Connecticut, Natchaug has 13,311 acres with varied terrain, including ridges, meadows, steep slopes and swamps covered or bordered by hardwood and softwood forests. Access is possible from the east using Route 6 west onto Route 198 in Chaplin. Go north on Route 198 to the forest entrance in Eastford.

Access is also possible from the Hartford area by taking I-84 east. Take Exit 69, and turn right onto Route 74 east to the end. Take a left onto Route 44 east to Route 198 and head south for approximately 2.5 miles. The forest entrance is on the left.