DEM ANNOUNCES INTERIM PROCESS FOR DEER HUNTING PERMITS

Limited Number of Last Year's Permits to be Specially Stamped for Archery Seasons

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife announces an interim process for archery deer hunting permits due to a delay in printing new deer hunting permits.

To insure permit availability, a limited number of last year's deer permits will be specially stamped for the 2000 season and distributed to vendors for the Block Island and mainland archery seasons only.

Delivery of the new 2000 permits is expected during the first week in October, in plenty of time for the remainder of the various deer hunting seasons, none of which begins before October 30.

The mainland archery deer season begins on October 1 and Block Island archery hunting begins on October 16. Block Island hunters may purchase two initial permits.

Hunters are reminded that they must purchase their bonus antlerless permits prior to the season. These permits are valid only in the following municipalities: Little Compton, Tiverton, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Narragansett, Charlestown, Scituate, Coventry, Cranston, and east of Route 3 in Exeter.

Rhode Islanders should also be aware of the recent change to the hunting safety zone statute, which brings the archery deer hunting safety zone to 200 feet from an occupied dwelling, as compared to 500 feet for firearm deer hunting.