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News Release

RI Department of Environmental Management

235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908

(401) 277-2771 TDD/(401)-222-4462

For Release: November 21, 1997

Contact: Michael Lapisky 277-3075

Stephanie Powell 277-2771 ext. 4418

SHOTGUN HUNTING SEASON FOR DEER OPENS DECEMBER 6

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the statewide 1997 shotgun season for white-tailed deer in Providence, Kent and Washington counties will be Saturday, December 6 through Sunday December 14. The season will be extended for private land in those counties through Friday, December 19 except in the Northwest Cooperative deer hunting area, which will close on the 6th. Shooting hours will be one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset.

"The deer herd in Rhode Island remains healthy and continues to grow," Michael Lapisky, DEM's Deputy Chief for Wildlife said. "While this offers hunters good prospects, it also continues to create problems for property owners and motorists." He urged motorists to drive with extra caution, especially during the early morning and early evening commuter hours.

By mid-November, the number of deer killed by autos had reached 559 according to statistics kept by DEM's Office of Enforcement.

In an effort to curb the expanding deer herd's growth, hunters will again be offered the option of purchasing a second shotgun deer permit; however, that second tag must be purchased before the start of the shotgun hunting season.

Hunters are reminded of the following rules:

    • All deer hunters must wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest, and back.
    • Shotgun season ammunition is limited to rifled slugs or sabot rounds and buckshot size 00 or larger. Shotgun gauges 10, 12, 16, and 20 are allowed. Buckshot is prohibited in 20 gauge shotguns. 
    • All deer must be ear-tagged immediately after taking, and checked at a state-operated check station within 24 hours during the statewide shotgun deer season.

State check station locations are at the Great Swamp Wildlife Management Area, Liberty Lane, West Kingston; Carolina Wildlife Management Area, Pine Hill Road, Richmond; Arcadia Wildlife Management Area, Route 165, Exeter; and Durfee Hill Wildlife Management Area, Route 94, Glocester. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except at Durfee Hill, which will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
    • During the five-day extension for hunting on private land, after tagging, deer must be checked within 24 hours at a vendor check station - and no later than 6 p.m. on the last day of the season. Call DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife for a list of vendor check stations.
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