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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 SETS JUNE 17 PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED HUNTING AND FRESHWATER FISHING REGULATIONS A public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held on Thursday, June 17 at 7 p.m. in the Warwick Police Department's Community Room on Route 1 in Apponaug. In an effort to conserve decreasing river herring stocks, but still allow anglers to harvest a limited amount for bait, the daily limit is proposed to be standardized at 12 fish per day on all herring runs. The proposed limit would apply to the four days of the week ¾Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ¾ that harvest is allowed, and it would include the Prince Pond herring run in Barrington, which was closed last year. There are several proposed changes to the hunting regulations, primarily regarding the pheasant program and deer hunting. According to Michael L. Lapisky, DEM's Acting Chief of Fish and Wildlife, hunters would again be required to purchase a pheasant permit, which would allow for the tagging of six birds. Two permits may be purchased, allowing for a total of 12 pheasants during the season, which is proposed to begin on October 16. The Division plans to stock pheasant within 11 management areas through January 17. Management areas will remain open for small game hunting during pheasant stocking days. Several deer hunting changes are proposed. There would be no early antlerless portion of the muzzleloader season as occurred last year. Instead, muzzleloader deer hunters would be allowed to purchase one permit to take a deer of either sex, and one permit to take an antlerless deer. Both permits would be valid during the October 30 - November 14 portion of the muzzleloader season. However, the antlerless deer would also be valid December 11 - December 24, but is restricted to private land only. Those who take an antlerless deer on their permit to take a deer of either sex would also have the opportunity to purchase a bonus permit to take another antlerless deer, on private land only. Shotgun deer hunting on both private and state management areas is proposed to begin on November 27. It would extend until December 5 on state management lands and continue until December 12 on private lands. For the first time, shotgun hunting would be permitted in Newport and Bristol counties where allowable by local ordinance, to address an overabundance of deer in those areas. The Division is also proposing a new regulation to prohibit buckshot during the upcoming shotgun season as an increased safety measure because of the high numbers of hunters afield during that season. On Prudence Island, archery hunters would be allowed to harvest one either-sex deer and one antlerless deer during the proposed season, October 22 through January 9. Hunters taking antlerless deer on their either sex permit would be allowed to purchase a bonus antlerless deer permit. The quota for the Island will be increased from 275 to 375 deer to address the deer overabundance problem on the Island. All deer permits, except bonus tags, must be purchased prior to the opening day of each deer hunting season. The Division will again be offering a youth archery hunt, proposed for September 25 and September 26, and a youth turkey hunt on April 23 and April 24, 2005. Copies of the proposals are available DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Fish and Wildlife" under "Programs ". They are also available on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife at the Stedman Government Center, at 4808 Tower Hill Road in Wakefield. -30- |
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rev. 7/27/04