ESPN Hunting

Season dates:

• Archery: Oct. 17-Nov. 26.
• Muzzleloader: Dec. 12-31.
• Youth: Nov. 12.
• Firearm: Shotgun: Nov. 28-Dec. 10 in deer management zones (DMZ) 1-11 and 14; Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 in DMZ 12 and 13.
• Special antlerless: N/A.

Resident license fees: Hunting license, $27.50; hunting license (age 65-69), $16.25; hunting (paraplegic), no charge; Alien hunting, $27.50; Minor hunting (ages 15-17), $11.50; Resident sporting (ages 65-69), $25; Resident sporting (age 70 and over), no charge; Resident sporting (fishing & hunting combined), $45; Archery stamp, $5.10; and Primitive firearms stamp, $5.10. Antlerless deer permits are $5 if applicant is selected (this would provide a tag for one (1) antlerless deer and increase the bag limit for the hunter).

Nonresident license fees: Non-resident hunting (big game), $99.50; Archery stamp, $5.10; Primitive firearms stamp, $5.10. Antlerless deer permits are $5 if applicant is selected (this would provide a tag for one (1) antlerless deer and increase the bag limit for the hunter).

Bag limit: Two (2) antlered deer and as many antlerless deer as a hunter has valid permits and tags for.

Hunter education/bowhunter education required? Hunter safety education is required. Bowhunter safety education is not required.

Population for 2005: 85,000 to 95,000 whitetails (2004 data).

Season forecast: While this particular 2005/2006 ESPNOutdoors.com Deer Forecast line item hasn't been updated for this year, Massachusetts deer hunters should be able to expect similar hunting conditions to those they found a year ago.

A glance back at last year's forecast found MassWildlife deer project leader Bill Woytek indicating that the Bay State's deer herd was in good health with a population of 85,000 to 95,000 whitetails.

Combine the state's good deer herd numbers with its solid annual deer harvest figures - a record 11,744 deer were taken by hunters in 2003 - and the picture remains clear for Massachusetts deer slayers.

Add in the state's improving deer herd quality and there should be little reason that the ingredients will not be in place for another successful deer hunting campaign during the fall of 2005.

Provided, of course, that the state's deer hunters don't turn their transistor radios up too loud while sitting in their treestands as they root on the Boston Red Sox for a second straight World Series championship title!

2004 harvest: 12,099 deer (this figure includes eight deer taken during the state's paraplegic deer hunt and 246 deer taken during the Nantucket deer hunt).

Bow harvest: 3,016 deer.

Muzzleloader harvest: 2,147 deer.

Firearm harvest: 6,682 deer.

Number of licensed deer hunters: 50,000 to 55,000 (2004 data).

Deer hunter success rates: 21 to 23 percent (2004 data).

Number of bowhunters: 22,000 to 23,000 (2004 data).

Bowhunter success rates: 13 to 14 percent (2004 data).

Number of muzzleloader hunters: 22,000 to 23,000 (2004 data).

Muzzleloader success rates: Eight percent (2004 data).

Number of firearm hunters: 45,000 to 50,000 (2004 data).

Firearm success rates: 14 to 15 percent (2004 data).

Top counties/regions: Deer management zones 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11. DMZs 13 and 14 have the highest deer densities (2004 data).

Top public-hunting spots: A quality deer can be found anywhere in the Commonwealth according to Woytek (2004 data).

Testing conducted for chronic wasting disease?: Yes.

Units/areas that tested positive for chronic wasting disease: None.

State record typical: 193 1/8 (Editor's note: This deer was reportedly taken by K. R. Souinski in December 2002 on the New Salem Section of the Quabbin Deer Hunt.)

State record non-typical: 203 4/8 (This buck, entered by Judd Boardman according to the Northeast Big Buck Club website, was recently entered into the records. It was reportedly killed by shotgun in 1940 in Hampden County).

State record archery typical: 173 2/8 inches.

State record archery non-typical: 169 7/8 inches.

More information: Log onto the MassWildlife's Web site or call the agency at (508) 792-7270. To report a poacher, call (800) 632-8075.

Did you know? MassWildlife manages nearly 100,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas in the Commonwealth … According to the MassWildlife Web site, a total of 44,850 Antlerless Deer Permit allocations are available in Massachusetts this year, down one percent from a year ago … The Web site also indicates that the deadline to apply for 2005 Antlerless Deer Permit allocations by Wildlife Management Zone (WMZ) was on July 16. This year's drawing took place on Aug. 3 … Extra Antlerless Deer Permit allocations will go on sale Oct. 11 … Antlered deer harvested in the Quabbin Hunt are considered a part of the statewide bag limit while antlerless deer harvested in the same hunt are not considered a part of the statewide bag limit according to the Web site … The MassWildlife Web site indicates that a hunter may take up to two (2) deer in a single day without having to check the first deer, provided they possess the necessary tags and/or permits. However, the site notes that all deer must be taken to a check station within 48 hours … According to the MassWildlife Web site, a deer is defined as antlerless if it has no antlers or has antlers that measure less than three inches in a straight line from the center of the anterior (front) base of the antler burr to the tip … The Web site indicates that it is lawful to use archery gear during the muzzleloader season, although a Primitive Firearms Stamp is required and muzzleloader regulations apply. It is also lawful to use archery gear or a muzzleloader during the shotgun season, provided a hunter follows all regulations applicable to the shotgun season, i.e. hunter orange.