PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today deer hunting season at Black Rock/Rodman Hollow on Block Island is now open; the season runs through February 12.
"We are proud to join the Town of New Shoreham to sponsor this annual hunt," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "It is both a tremendous hunting experience and a vital part of controlling Block Island's abundant deer population. Hunting - whether for food, sport, or leisure - has a long tradition in Rhode Island, and this hunt, in particular, continues to be a popular draw. We are fortunate to have many outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities in the Ocean State that are powerful drivers of tourism and core to our quality of life as Rhode Islanders."
Over the past three years, 41 deer have been harvested from the Black Rock property through the state land deer hunting program. Outdoor recreation such as hunting is a significant economic driver for Rhode Island. According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, more than $18 million is contributed to the local economy each year as a result of hunting-related activities.
Hunting on the Black Rock property is allowed on weekdays (Tuesday through Friday), beginning one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. Hunters taking part in this year's Black Rock hunt were selected by lottery. The public is urged to use caution while walking the trails on the property during the hunting season and must comply with the fluorescent orange safety requirement. For more information on hunting season requirements, visit www.dem.ri.gov.
DEM will establish a deer checking station at the Block Island Police Department on Thursday, January 21, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to inspect the health of deer harvested on Black Rock property or private lands. Wildlife biologists will measure weight, age and sex of the deer - as well as take samples for Chronic Wasting Disease. For more information on the deer checking station, contact the DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife at 401-789-0281.
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