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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM RELEASES PRELIMINARY DEER SEASON TALLY SHOWING INCREASE IN DEER TAKEN BY HUNTERS Weather played a role in depressing harvests during traditional firearms seasons, according to Lori Gibson, principal wildlife biologist. "The unusual extremes of weather, from the warm spell in November to the frigid stormy weather in December, made for an unpredictable harvest," she said. "However, even under these less desirable conditions, a total of 942 deer were taken during the muzzle-loader season, 25 more than last year, and 413 deer were taken during the shotgun season, only 52 less than last year." Mainland archery hunters took 385 deer, 70 more than last season. Prudence and Patience Island archery hunters, benefiting from an increased quota, took 304 deer. "While the harvest exceeded the quota of 275, the season was permitted to continue," Gibson said, "as the initial weights of the animals were very low. The additional harvest should help to alleviate the overpopulation problem on the Island." An additional 18 deer were taken on Prudence Island during the special hunt by paraplegics and double amputees. Block Island hunters took 50 deer during the archery portion, 32 more than last year and 150 during the shotgun portion, an increase of 25 from the previous year, for a total of 180. The largest deer taken via muzzle-loader was taken in North Kingstown and weighed 180 pounds, dressed, with an eight-point rack. The largest deer taken by shotgun was taken in Scituate and weighed 204 pounds, also an eight pointer. The largest deer taken by archery was in Coventry and weighed 215 pounds, again with eight points. Most of the data from the various hunting seasons was collected at the state's four biological check stations and 13 vendor-operated check stations, where hunters were required to check their deer within 24 hours of taking. Data on health, weight, age, sex, and antler beam are analyzed after the season, providing a major source of information to guide the Division's deer management program. 'The Division continues to focus on managing the antlerless population on private land to keep the deer herd in balance with habitat and the concerns of the residents," Gibson said. 'Deer have high reproductive capabilities and can double in population within five years if not controlled. This is especially apparent on islands where a rapid increase in the number of deer can cause severe habitat damage, as well as increasing the risk of Lyme disease." Individual population models have been developed for Prudence and Block Islands, Gibson noted. Future modeling efforts, she said, will address the growing herd on Jamestown, which is now experiencing similar problems to those on Prudence and Block Islands. Deer/Auto Collisions Increase Also noteworthy this year was a large increase in the number of auto/deer collisions. A record 970 deer were reported stuck, well over the 643 reported last year. A portion of the increase can be attributed to a slight change in DEM's method of recording such accidents - the department now includes telephoned reports that appear valid but cannot be confirmed upon site inspection - but the increase is nevertheless significant. The highest number of deer were struck by vehicles in North Kingstown (92), South Kingstown (88) and Warwick (61). Statewide, more deer were struck by vehicles in November - 180 - than in any other month. "Efforts to reduce auto/deer collisions are a challenge," Gibson said, "because many occur in urban and suburban areas with limited deer management options." The deer population in those settings, she said, could well be increasing because such neighborhoods act as refuges for deer. A final report on the 2003-2004 deer harvest data and deer/vehicle collisions will be available on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, in the spring. -30- |
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