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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: July 29, 2009
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

DEM TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED WATERFOWL SEASON, FALCONRY, PARK AND MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATIONS ON AUGUST 27

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold a public hearing on proposed regulations governing the upcoming migratory waterfowl hunting season and the practice of falconry, and park and management area regulations on Thursday, August 27. The hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the North Kingstown Community Center on Beach Street in North Kingstown, off Route 1A just south of Wickford. As in past years, the Division will also conduct a presentation on the breeding status of waterfowl in the United States and Canada.

The proposed waterfowl regulations establish hunting seasons, bag limits, and methods of take for the 2009-2010 waterfowl hunting season. Larry Mouradjian, DEM associate director for natural resources, notes that there are some changes in the federal waterfowl regulations with which the state must comply. Changes made in the proposed Rhode Island regulations are subject to federal approval.

Major changes from last season include a decrease in the number of days the Atlantic Brant season is open, from 60 days to 50 days, and a decrease in the daily bag limit from three birds to two birds. With the increase in this year's Canvasback breeding population estimates, the season has likewise been reopened to a 60 day season with a one bird daily bag limit.

Some other notable items include seasons that will remain unchanged from last season. Scaup season shall consist of a 40 day season with a one bird bag limit and a 20 day season with a two bird bag limit during January. Wood ducks will remain unchanged from last year's season and bag limits.

Mouradjian notes that there are no substantial changes to the upcoming falconry regulations.

With regard to the proposed park and management area regulations, there is a boat ramp change as well as changes to the target range regulations.

The proposed regulations are available on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Fish and Wildlife" under "Offices and Divisions." They are also available at DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife headquarters in the Oliver Stedman Government Center, 4808 Tower Hill Road in Wakefield, or by calling the Division at 789-3094 weekdays.

Comments will be accepted at DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife, at the above address, through Thursday, August 27th at 4 p.m. or via e-mail to catherine.sparks@dem.ri.gov by that date. They will also be accepted at the hearing.

Finally, for the second year, the public hearing will follow an informational event and social hosted by Ducks Unlimited at no cost to the public. Decoy carvers will be present and food and beverages will be served. This pre-hearing event will begin at 5:30 pm.

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rev. 8/25/09