PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that the shotgun deer hunting season on Block Island will open on Thursday, December 2. The season will continue on the following dates: December 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 and 23; January 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 28 and 31; and February 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17 and 18. Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Either sex deer may be taken throughout the season.

Hunters must have a current Rhode Island hunting license and a current Block Island shotgun deer permit in order to participate in the Block Island shotgun deer season. In addition, hunters must carry, on their person, 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 shotgun deer hunting during the 1999-2000 hunting season.

During the shotgun season on Block Island, hunters must wear a minimum of 500 square inches of fluorescent orange material at all times.

All deer taken must be tagged immediately and checked within 24 hours, with a leg seal attached, 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 shotgun deer on Block Island. However, prior to the season, hunters may purchase two Block Island shotgun deer permits. After checking the first deer, hunters may then purchase additional Block Island shotgun deer permits. A hunter may not possess more than two Block Island archery or shotgun deer permits at one time.

Block Island shotgun 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 Street in Providence, or at any hunting license vendor throughout the state.

All deer tags look similar, except for the code number. To avoid invalidating the deer permit by tagging a deer with an incorrect tag, DEM suggests that hunters with multiple deer permits mark the back of their tags with the permit type, in waterproof ink.

Additional hunting information is available in the 1999-2000 RI Hunting and Trapping Abstract available from DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife at 789-0281, or from hunting license vendors.