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The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the 2008-2009 archery deer hunting season on Prudence and Patience Islands opened October 24 and runs through January 4. The harvest quota on state land has been reduced from 75 deer to 50 deer, to reflect the decrease in the number of deer in the management areas.
New this year, a lottery is no longer required for archery deer hunting on Prudence and Patience Islands. Hunters may purchase one either-sex permit for state or private lands, and one antlerless permit for private lands only. These may be purchased at any time and used in any order.
To hunt on the islands, archers must have in their possession a current Rhode Island hunting license and a current Prudence/Patience archery deer permit. Permits can be requested by mail by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to DEM's Fish & Wildlife Great Swamp field office at 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston, RI 02892. Archers must also carry on their person a valid archery proficiency card and written permission to hunt on private land, countersigned by the chief of police or his island representative.
A special antlerless deer hunt on the Heritage Property — a private cooperative on Prudence Island — will be held from December 1 to December 15. Reservations are required to hunt the Heritage Property and will be assigned by lottery. Interested hunters may download an application from DEM's website at www.dem.ri.gov by clicking on "Topics" from the home page, then "Wildlife", then "No Prudence/Patience Lottery" under Special Hunting Applications on the right side of the page. Applications are also available at the Division of Fish & Wildlife headquarters on Great Neck Road in West Kingston. Applications must be postmarked by October 17 and mailed to Heritage Lottery, c/o DEM Fish & Wildlife Great Swamp field office, 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston, RI 02892 and include a legal size stamped, self-addressed envelope.
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