For Release: July 21, 1998

Contact: Lori Suprock 222-1267 or 789-0281

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife is accepting requests by mail for applications for the 1998 Prudence/Patience Island deer lottery through August 15. The applications, which will be mailed beginning August 15, must be completed and returned by September 8. Hunters will receive their lottery dates by October 1.

A lottery reservation must be obtained in order to hunt deer on either island during the first three weekends of this special season, proposed to begin October 30. More restrictive harvest strategies will be in place this year, reflecting the islands' decreased herd size.

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. Applications will be mailed after the August 12 seasons and bag limits public hearing.

Applications may also be obtained between August 15 and September 8 in person from DEM's Office of Boat Registration and Licensing at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade St., Providence, at the Fish and Wildlife main office at the Stedman Government Center in Wakefield, or at its Great Swamp office in West Kingston.

Hunters must postmark and return completed applications along with a self-addressed, stamped business-sized envelope to the West Kingston address by September 8 to be eligible for the lottery. Two hunters may apply on one application; however, a hunter may not be on two separate applications. Duplicate, inaccurate, incomplete, or ineligible forms will be rejected.