DEM ANNOUNCES ISLAND ARCHERY DEER SEASONS

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced the 2007-2008 archery deer-hunting seasons on Prudence and Patience Islands, Block Island, and Conanicut/Aquidneck Islands.

Prudence and Patience Islands will be open on October 19 through January 6. The junior archery weekend runs on October 13-14. A harvest quota of 75 deer may be taken on state land to include 25 from the south end; no quota has been established on private land. Hunting on state management areas from opening day, October 19 through November 1, and on the Heritage Property from December 1 to December 15, is permitted by reservation only. Interest in these reservation-only hunts has exceeded available slots, and all reservations are currently booked. Hunting on state lands from November 2 to January 6 is permitted without reservations. On Prudence and Patience Islands hunters may purchase one either-sex permit for state or private lands, and one antlerless permit for private land only. All hunters must carry on their person a current archery proficiency card. Those hunting on private land must carry written landowner permission to hunt on private land, countersigned by the chief of police or his island representative. All deer must be tagged immediately and taken to the island check station, where leg seals will be attached. A new check station has been established at the home of Kevin Mahoney, located at 0105 John Oldham Road on Prudence Island. Hunters should call Kevin at 1-508-308-6587 to make arrangements for checking deer.

Block Island archery will be open on October 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31 and November 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, and 21 on private land only. All state-owned land on Block Island is closed to hunting. Written landowner permission, counter-signed by the chief of police, is required for all hunting on the island. A Block Island archery deer permit is required to hunt on Block Island. A hunter may purchase five permits and after checking deer the hunter may purchase additional archery permits to take additional deer. Hunters may not possess more than five permits at one time. All deer must be tagged immediately and taken to the island check station, where leg seals will be attached. A check station has not yet been formally established on Block Island. DEM will provide notice and post signs on the island regarding the check station prior to the season opening.

Conanicut/Aquidneck Island archery deer season is open from October 1 to January 31. The bag limit is one either-sex and two antlerless deer. All hunters on private land in Portsmouth must carry written landowner permission countersigned by the chief of police. The Beavertail Cooperative Archery Deer Hunting Area in Beavertail State Park is open to archery hunting from November 13 to January 31; no weekend hunting is permitted prior to December 31. Permits and reservations are required and are available at the Jamestown Police Department. Archers must also carry on their person a valid archery proficiency card. Conanicut/Aquidneck Island deer may be checked at any vendor or state check station.

A list of vendor deer check stations and additional hunting information can be found in the 2007-2008 hunting and trapping abstract. The Fin and Feather store has closed; the next closest station is Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle. The abstract is available online on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Regulations". Copies may also be obtained from DEM's licensing office at 235 Promenade Street in Providence, the Fish and Wildlife office at the Stedman Government Center in Wakefield, Fish and Wildlife headquarters on Great Neck Road in West Kingston, and from hunting license vendors.

All hunters must possess a valid Rhode Island hunting license and valid deer permits. Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Archers are not required to wear fluorescent orange. On Conanicut/Aquidneck Islands, archers must wear orange while walking to and from their tree stand during an established muzzleloader season and at all times during the shotgun season.

DEM is again asking hunters to donate deer heads this year to meet the USDA grant quota needed to declare the state Chronic Wasting Disease-free. Hunters who wish to assist in this effort may donate the head when checking in a deer.