john i hunt ri and on state land . there rutting now, nows the time...you can plan on the rut... shotgun's in dec in rhody we see less deer plus theres more factors if its warm and good food you may not see much....on state land bows oct here, theres less bow guys plus there mostly treestand hunters so they dont really mess with the deer as bad as gun guys do...so the muzzleloader season's the best chance to get a deer...were the first ones to get to hunt with a gun and there rutting..my friends have missed 3 deer and we've kicked up another 3 or 4..i seen 2 dragged out last saterday a buck and a doe...opening day i heard a 12 shots....i walked past 5 guys on the way out....this week we seen no deer it don't take long before they'll only move at night or if there enough people to kick them up to each other.....we got the same weather as conn...by shotgun were hopeing for cold nasty weather so the deer have to move and find food it post rut or less doe's in heat...there shellshocked allready...on state land get in as soon as you can opening day the first week...peak of rut..those are your best bets...i shot my muzzleloader during shotgun, i hunt big river in rhode island its 15 mins from conn.....ed