Spring Turkey Season Opens April 27
PROVIDENCE -The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced it is hosting a free informational seminar on wild turkey hunting this month. The program is designed to educate hunters of all ages and experience on safe, successful hunting practices. The turkey hunting season opens April 27.
WHEN: Saturday, April 15| 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife Education Center, 1-B Camp E-Hun-Tee Place, Exeter
The workshop is open to the public and will include an overview of the history, biology and behavior of wild turkeys. Participants will learn about turkey hunting safety, scouting and preparation, clothing and equipment, calls and calling, hunting techniques, and effective use of decoys. Joe Judd of Quaker Boy Hunting will be the featured speaker, along with Joshua Beuth and Scott Travers of DEM's Division of Fish & Wildlife. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, send your name, phone number and email address to Jessica Pena in the DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife at jessica.pena@dem.ri.gov.
As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in Rhode Island, hunting plays an important role in connecting people with nature, supporting quality of life and family traditions, and attracting tourism. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, hunting contributes more than $18 million annually to Rhode Island's economy. There are approximately 17,000 licensed hunters in Rhode Island.
Hunter education is offered as part of DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife's Hunter Education Program. Safety training is required by law in Rhode Island for beginning hunters. To date, more than 40,000 people have completed a hunter safety course in Rhode Island, helping to dramatically reduce related accidents in the state and elsewhere. A complete schedule of hunter educational offerings is available at www.dem.ri.gov.
Spring turkey hunting season will be open Thursday, April 27 – Sunday, May 21, 2017. For more information about hunting or other DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM for timely updates.