DEM: Hunter Orange Gear Won’t Look Like Deer

PROVIDENCE, RI — DEM reminds Rhode Islanders that wearing solid, fluorescent hunter orange is not just a good way to distinguish yourself from wildlife in state management areas and state parks during hunting season when shotgun deer season opens Dec. 2, it’s the law.

Throughout shotgun deer season, all users of these recreational areas, including hunters, must wear 500 square inches of solid, daylight fluorescent orange clothing, such as an orange vest and hat worn above the waist that’s 20 inches long by 25 inches wide and has 500 square inches of surface area. The law is important for avoiding hunting mishaps and $100 fines during deer season.

How much is 500 inches of blaze orange anyhow?

Depending on the size of your head, and according to hunter-ed.com, a hat only contains about 100–150 square inches of material, so a hat and vest will likely get you to the required amount of solid day-glow fluorescent orange in the coming weeks. Fluorescent hunter orange must be worn above the waist and be visible in all directions, the DEM announced.

Private Lands, Written Permission for Deer Hunting

Deer hunters must get written permission annually for all deer hunting on private lands. DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) has developed a courtesy card, available on the DEM website, for hunters and landowners to sign that gives the dates for permissions and contains A Hunter’s Pledge regarding principles of conduct. DEM encourages private landowners to allow hunters to hunt deer on their property, where feasible, during deer hunting seasons as this is a sound management technique that benefits deer habitats and regulates population growth.

Some hunters exempt from blaze orange law

During shotgun deer season, archers and waterfowl hunters are exempt from wearing orange in areas of the state that are limited to archery hunting only and waterfowl hunters hunting only from a boat or blind, over water or field, and when done in conjunction with decoys. For more details, please visit www.dem.ri.gov/orange.

First two days of deer shotgun season: Check your deer

DEM also is reminding Rhode Island deer hunters that all deer taken during the first two days of shotgun deer season – Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3 – must be physically checked at one of five state-run biological check stations. This includes deer taken with archery equipment. Exempt from this requirement are deer taken on Patience Island, Prudence Island, and Block Island; these must be reported using DEM’s online licensing system.

Operating Hours are 8 AM until 6 PM daily. The five check stations are located at:

·      Arcadia Management Area: Route 165, Ten Rod Road, at Wood River, Exeter. Phone: 401-539-7117

·      Carolina Management Area: Pine Hill Road, Richmond. Phone: 401-364-3483

·      Durfee Hill Management Area: Reynolds Road (Route 94), Glocester. Phone: 401-568-6753

·      Great Swamp Management Area: 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston, Phone: 401-789-1636

·      Tiverton Rod and Gun Club: 1529 Fish Road, Tiverton. Phone: 401-624-3959