Other Hunting Topics
|
|
News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
|
For Release: |
September 12, 2002 |
|
Contact: |
Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418 |
DEM ANNOUNCES OCTOBER 1 OPENING OF MAINLAND ARCHERY DEER SEASON
Archers Again Asked to Report Wildlife Observed
PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the archery deer-hunting season on the Rhode Island mainland will be open from October 1through January 31.
Permits will be available for purchase by September 19th at selected hunting license vendors throughout the state, and, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, at DEM's Office of Boat Registration and Licensing at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade Street in Providence. Cost of each permit is $7.50 for residents and $25.50 for nonresidents.
In total, archery deer hunters may purchase permits to take three deer. The first mainland permit allows for one deer of either sex to be taken on both state and private land. A bonus permit, which must be purchased prior to the season, allows for the taking of one antlerless deer from private land in the towns of Little Compton, Tiverton, Scituate, Cranston, Coventry, Richmond, Charlestown, and Exeter east of Route 3. A second mainland permit, which can be purchased after checking a deer taken via one of the other two permits, allows for one antlerless deer to be taken from private land.
DEM, for the second year, is asking archery deer hunters to participate in a sighting log survey of furbearers and other wildlife species observed while hunting from their stand. The log will be used to collect sighting rate information that can be used to monitor distribution and long term population trends for a variety of wildlife species.
Participants will be provided with a reporting card due to be returned by February 15th, and asked to record their hunting hours and number of sightings for fisher, coyote, wild turkey and other wildlife species throughout the season.
The sighting log is based on similar surveys that have proven successful and popular in other states including New York and Virginia. Bowhunter sighting logs will be available at sporting goods stores where archery deer permits are sold and at Division of Fish and Wildlife offices. For more information contact DEM's Great Swamp Field Headquarters at 789-0281.
DEM has some reminders for archery deer hunters:
- Anyone hunting on private land must obtain written permission from the landowner and carry this authorization with them at all times. Some municipalities impose additional hunting restrictions; therefore, hunters should check with local authorities prior to hunting.
- For safety precautions, archers must wear a minimum of 200 square inches of fluorescent orange when travelling to and from a stand during the muzzleloader deer season, November 2 - November 29. During the shotgun deer season, December 7 to December 22, they must wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange at all times. The archery deer safety zone is 200 feet from an occupied dwelling.
- Hunting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise, and end one-half hour after sunset. All deer harvested must be tagged immediately and checked within 24 hours at one of the ten vendor-operated check stations listed in the 2002-2003 Rhode Island Hunting and Trapping Abstract available at hunting license vendors and at DEM wildlife and licensing offices. Hunters may also check their archery deer at state-operated check stations at the Durfee Hill, Arcadia, Carolina, and Great Swamp Management Areas, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, on weekends between October 19th and November 10th.
- All hunters are required to complete a bowhunter education course. Information on courses can be obtained by calling DEM's Hunter Safety Office at 789-3094.
- As the deer tags for each season type appear very similar, hunters should mark their tags to distinguish each one. Writing across the back of the tag with waterproof ink or marker will suffice. If the wrong tag is affixed - even by accident - the permit is invalid.
Last season, 297 deer - 160 males and 119 females - were taken by bow on the mainland. The largest buck was a 225-pound, dressed weight, 8 pointer, from Hopkinton. The largest doe was taken in Coventry and weighed 141 pounds, dressed. The outlook for the upcoming season remains very good according to DEM.
-30-
|
