For Release: October 7, 1998

Contact: Lori Suprock 222-1267 or 789-1636

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the season for archery deer hunting on Block Island opens on Tuesday, October 13. It continues on the following dates: October 14-16, 19-23, 26-30, November 2-3, 5-6, 9-10, 12-13, 16-17, 19-20, 23-25, 30, and December 1, 3-4, and 7-11. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Either sex deer may be taken throughout the season.

To hunt on Block Island archers must have a current Rhode Island hunting license and a current Block Island archery deer permit. In addition, archers must carry on their person a current proficiency card valid two years from date of issuance, as well as written permission to hunt on private land, countersigned by the chief of police or his island representative. All state land on Block Island will be closed for archery deer hunting during the 1998-1999 hunting season.

The Division would like to remind sportsmen of the regulations concerning fluorescent orange. Archers must wear a minimum of 200 square inches while travelling to and from a stand, and may remove their orange while in the stand. However, during the shotgun season on Block Island - which occurs on numerous dates in December, January, and February - archers must wear a minimum of 500 square inches at all times.

All deer taken must be tagged immediately and checked within 24 hours and attached with a leg seal before leaving the island. Block Island deer may be checked at the residence of Arthur Rose, Westside Road, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., or at the residence of Kurt Littlefield, 487 Old Town Road, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

There is no bag limit for archery deer on Block Island; however, prior to the season, archers may purchase two Block Island archery deer permits. After checking the first deer, archers may then purchase additional Block Island archery deer permits. A hunter may not possess more than two Block Island archery or shotgun deer permits at one time.

Block Island archery deer permits may be purchased at the New Shoreham Town Clerk's Office on the island, at DEM's Office of Boat Registration and Licensing at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade St., Providence, or at any hunting license vendor throughout the state.

To avoid invalidating the deer permit by tagging a deer with an incorrect tag, the Division suggests that hunters with multiple deer permits mark the back of their tag, in waterproof ink, with the permit type.

Additional hunting information is available in the 1998-1999 RI Hunting and Trapping Abstract available from the Division at 222-3075, or from hunting license vendors.