For Release: July 23, 1997

Contact: Michael L. Lapisky 277-3075 or 789-3094

Stephanie Powell 277-2771 ext. 4418

PROVIDENCE - The RI Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife announces that lottery applications for archery deer hunting on Patience and Prudence Islands are now available. The Division will accept applications postmarked by August 15. A lottery reservation must be obtained in order to hunt deer on either island during the first three weekends of this special season, which runs from November 1, 1997 through January 15, 1998.

"Prudence Island has one of the highest density land masses of deer per acre in the Northeast," said Michael Lapisky, Deputy Chief of Wildlife Resources at DEM. "The archery season there has the highest success rate in the United States." A lottery system is used to limit the number of hunters to one per 15 acres; however, lottery applications have never exceeded the number of slots available, Lapisky said.

Applications may be obtained by sending a legal size (9 1/2" by 4") self-addressed, stamped envelope to DEER LOTTERY, DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 218, West Kingston, RI 02892.