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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: March 18, 2005
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY DEER SEASON TALLY
Figures Show 20 Percent Increase in Deer Taken by Hunters as Well as Increase in Deer/Auto Collisions

PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has released preliminary deer hunting figures for the 2004-05 deer hunting seasons. According to data collected from the Division's vendor and biological check stations, 2,684 deer have been reported, an increase of 20 percent from last season. The Division attributes the increase to liberal hunting seasons, especially on Prudence Island, and the lack of acorns, which kept deer on the move.

A total of 1,173 deer were taken during the muzzle-loader season, 229 more than last year, and 580 deer were taken during the shotgun season, an increase of 167 from last year. Mainland archery hunters took 408 deer, 23 more than last season. Prudence and Patience Island archery hunters took 348 deer, benefiting from the increased quota set to help alleviate the problems caused by overpopulation of deer on the islands. An additional 12 deer were taken on Prudence Island during the special deer hunt by paraplegics and double amputees. Block Island hunters took 30 deer during the archery portion of the season, 19 less than last year and 136 during the shotgun portion of the season, an increase of 5 from last year, for a total of 166.

According to Lori Gibson, DEM principal wildlife biologist, many impressive deer were taken this season, despite the lack of acorns. The largest deer taken via muzzle-loader was taken in Glocester and weighed 238 pounds, dressed, with a 10-point rack. The largest female deer taken via muzzle-loader was taken in Jamestown, and weighed 160 pounds, dressed. The largest deer taken by shotgun was taken in Charlestown and weighed 201 pounds, also an eight pointer. The largest deer taken by archery was in Exeter and weighed 243 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 and help formulate recommendations for next year's hunting seasons.

Deer/Auto Collisions Increase

Also noteworthy this year was the increase in the number of auto/deer collisions. A record 1,032 deer were reported stuck, well over the previous record of 970 reported last year. The highest number of deer were struck by vehicles in North Kingstown (104) and South Kingstown (82). Statewide, more deer were struck by vehicles in November ¾ 179 ¾ than in any other month.

Gibson noted that efforts to reduce auto/deer collisions are a challenge 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 of the 2004-2005 Deer Harvest Data will be available for distribution in the spring.

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