For Release: September 14, 1998

Contact: Lori Suprock 222-1267 or 789-1636

Bob Ballou 222-4700 ext. 4420

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the season for archery deer hunting throughout the Rhode Island mainland will open October 1^st and continue through January 31^st, 1999.

Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. All deer must be ear-tagged immediately and checked within 24 hours. Checking may be done by bringing the deer to one of the ten vendor-operated or four state-operated check stations (see list that follows), or by having the deer examined by an authorized DEM representative. To avoid having a deer permit invalidated by tagging a deer with an incorrect tag, hunters should mark the back of their tags with the permit type, using waterproof ink. After checking their first deer, which may be either male or female, hunters may purchase a second permit to take an additional deer, which also may be of either sex.

Anyone hunting on private land must obtain written permission from the landowner and carry this authorization with them at all times.

Throughout the state, archers must wear a minimum of 200 square inches of florescent orange when travelling to and from a stand during the muzzle loader deer season and at least 500 square inches at all times during the shotgun season.

For Block Island and Prudence/Patience Islands, there are separate state regulations governing deer hunting; for more information on these areas, refer to the 1998-99 RI Hunting and Trapping Abstract and watch for more upcoming news release from DEM. In addition, there are additional hunting restrictions imposed by some cities and towns. Hunters are therefore urged to check with local authorities prior to hunting.

According to Michael Lapisky, Deputy Chief of Wildlife Resources with DEM, the prospects for the upcoming deer season are excellent. "Although preliminary reports suggest that this year's hard mast crop, such as acorns, is variable and soft mast crop, such as fruits and berries, is sparse, we are anticipating very good hunting due to the effects of last year's mild winter," he said.

Last season, a total of 182 deer were taken by bow on the mainland-105 males and 77 females. (An additional 89 were taken by bow on Prudence and Patience Islands; plus there were 26 taken by bow on Block Island.). The largest deer taken by bow was in Scituate, dressing out at 215 pounds with 13 points. In addition, the number of deer struck by automobiles last year was quite high, exceeding 500 animals.

Archery deer permits are available at DEM's Office of Boat Registration and Licensing, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, or at selected hunting license vendors throughout the state.

Hunters may check their archery deer at the following stations:

(Weekends of Oct 17/18, 24/25, Oct 30/Nov 1, Nov 7/8)

(Half-hour before sunrise to sunset)