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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 ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF CROSSBOW PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR DISABLED ARCHERY HUNTERS According to Michael Lapisky, Acting Chief of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the new state law will allow DEM to issue crossbow permits to licensed hunters with a permanent physical impairment that prevents them from using a conventional bow and arrow device. The permit will also allow disabled hunters to use adaptive aids on conventional bows. Adaptive aids include any mechanical device to help pull, hold, or release the string. To qualify for a permit, applicants must include copies of their hunter safety and bow hunter safety cards and a physician's statement confirming the applicant meets the disability requirements. All applications will be processed through DEM's Office of Boat Registration and Licensing. Once issued, the crossbow/adaptive aid permit card must be carried while hunting, along with any valid archery deer permit. Disabled hunters with a crossbow permit are not required to purchase special deer permits. Although expandable broadheads, as regulated, may be used, DEM recommends that hunters consult the owner's manual for their crossbow, as some designs do not recommend the use of expandable devices. A field point, as regulated, may also be carried only for discharge of the crossbow. Any deer taken with a crossbow must be checked, in accordance with state law. Check stations and vendors will record those deer taken by crossbow. Permit holders are also asked to return an evaluation card to record their activity. Permits may be renewed with a copy of the previously issued permit. Also new this year is the provision that all bow-hunters age 65 and older may use adaptive aids for archery deer hunting without having to apply for the permit. This does not permit the use of crossbows. Applications for the crossbow/adaptive aid permit may be obtained from DEM's Boat Registration and Licensing office at 235 Promenade Street, Providence 02908; DEM's Fish & Wildlife Office in Government Center at 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield 02979; and from the Fish & Wildlife Field Office at Box 218, West Kingston 02892. Applications are also available on DEM's website at www.dem.ri.gov by clicking on Programs, then Fish & Wildlife, then Wildlife Management & Hunter Ed, then Special Hunt Applications. Duck Stamps and Special Permits Available Hunters may now purchase deer and pheasant permits and Rhode Island duck stamps at DEM's Office of Boat Registration and Licensing at 235 Promenade Street in Providence, and at most sporting goods stores and departments throughout the state. Duck stamps may also be obtained at local city and town clerk offices. Hunters are reminded that they may send requests for permits for the Northwest Cooperative Area muzzle-loader and archery deer hunts by mailing a self-addressed, stamped envelope to DEM's Division of Fish & Wildlife Field Headquarters at Box 218, West Kingston, RI 02892. Applications for the Francis Carter Reserve archery deer hunt are also available by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the above address, and on DEM's website at www. state.ri.us/DEM by clicking on Programs, then Fish & Wildlife, then Wildlife Management & Hunter Ed, then Special Hunt Applications. Applications must be postmarked by October 30. Applications are available this year, for the first time, for an antlerless deer hunt on the Prudence Island Heritage property. This property will be open from December 1-15, by reservation only. A lottery will be conducted for this hunt. Rules and regulations will be similar to those on the remainder of the Island. Applications must be postmarked by October 20, and are available on DEM's website. Additional permits for Burlingame Park and waterfowl hunting in the South Shore Management Area, Great Swamp Impoundment, are also available by mail from the Fish & Wildlife Field Office, Box 218, West Kingston 02892. The Division of Fish and Wildlife is again asking archers to fill out their Bowhunter survey cards, which are available at Fish and Wildlife offices and on DEM's website. Hunting and waterfowl abstracts have been printed and distributed to license vendors. Hunters are urged to pick up a copy, as they contain valuable information on hunting season dates, rules and regulations. The full text of the 2004-05 Hunting Season Regulations is also available online on DEM's website at www.dem.ri.gov by clicking on Publications/Regulations, then Regulations, then Fish & Wildlife, then Hunting. For more information on hunting regulations or permits, call DEM's Fish and Wildlife Field Headquarters at 789-0281. -30- |
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