PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that the application period for obtaining a wild turkey hunting permit will open on February 15 and close on March 15. One thousand permits will be issued, selected by a random drawing, for this year's wild turkey hunting season. The season will begin on April 27 and end on May 23.

Applications are available from all vendors who sell hunting licenses, from the DEM licensing office at 235 Promenade Street, Providence, and from DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife offices at the Stedman Government Center on Route 1 in Wakefield, and its Great Swamp Field office in West Kingston. Copies of the 2000 wild turkey hunting season brochure are also available from the vendors and DEM offices at the above locations. The brochure lists important regulations as well as useful information about hunting wild turkeys.

To participate in the random drawing for a wild turkey hunting permit, hunters must first obtain a year 2000 license to hunt, because the license number must be entered on the application form. Only one application can be submitted per hunter. Applications must be mailed to: Turkey Permit, RI DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife, Oliver Stedman Government Center, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879-2207.