Call (860) 928-6121 for additional information on Natchaug State Forest.

For more information on Connecticut's public-land hunting opportunities, contact the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, State Office Building, Hartford, CT 06115; call (203) 424-3011 or visit the Web site at www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatur/wildlife.

For information on Connecticut's state parks and state forests, a good many of which are open to hunting, call (860) 424-3200, or visit the Web site at www.dep.state.ct.us/stateparks.

RHODE ISLAND
Deer hunters in Rhode Island will have plenty of opportunities to fill their tags this month. The mainland either-sex shotgun season generally runs into early December, and the archery season usually runs until the end of January.

Hunters should keep in mind that last year all either-sex deer permits had to be purchased before the season, but antlerless permits could be purchased at any time. Also starting last year, shotguns could be used in all counties of the state, including Newport and Bristol, although local ordinances remain in effect.

New regulations were also put into effect concerning the use of crossbows by permanently handicapped hunters. These changes should remain in effect this year.

Hunting is not allowed in Rhode Island state parks. Compared with some other New England states, opportunities for public-land hunting are somewhat limited. However, Ocean State hunters will find 46,000 acres of wildlife management areas that offer the best public-land hunting in the state.

One example is the George Washington WMA in the towns of Burrillville and Glocester. Access to the area is north of Route 44 along a gravel road. This area contains 3,489 acres and is dominated by forest cover. About 2,500 acres consist of deciduous forest and about 400 acres are covered with evergreens. There are also some wetlands, two ponds and agricultural lands.

Another public hunting area is the Big River WMA in the towns of West Greenwich, Exeter, Coventry and east Greenwich.

It consists of more than 8,300 acres and is one of the largest public lands open to hunting in the state. It is composed primarily of forestland, but there are more than 1,200 acres of wetlands and agricultural areas. There are also some rivers and streams, including the Big River and Nooseneck, Congdon and Carr rivers.

Interstate 95 separates the WMA into north and south sections. In the south section, Nooseneck Hill Road (Route 3) and Division Street are major access points. Access to the northern section is possible along Harkney Hill Road.

At 13,817 acres and the largest WMA in the state, Arcadia WMA receives a lot of attention, but considering its size, there is plenty of room to go around. It is in the towns of West Greenwich, Exeter, Hopkinton and Richmond. The area is dominated by forest cover, including various hardwoods and white pine. Arcadia is also home to swamps, shrub wetlands, marshes, several ponds and rivers, including the Woods River and Flat River. Because of its size and diverse habitats, the area offers some of the best public-land deer hunting in Rhode Island.

State Route 165 divides the WMA into north and south sections. The principal access point on the north parcel is east of the bridge at Wood River along Midway Trail, where there is a parking area.

To reach the south portion, use Old Nooseneck Road, the K-G Ranch Road or Summit Road. Numerous gated trails and roads enter the area, but motorized access is prohibited.

For more information on deer hunting in Rhode Island, as well as maps on these and other WMAs in the state, contact the Rhode Island Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879; or call (401) 789-0281.