While deer (and some deer-loving members of the public) would likely have a different take on the issue, by the standards of the state Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), last year’s bowhunting expansion to some of Bristol’s public land was a great success.

In January, immediately following the conclusion of the season, DEM wildlife biologist Dylan Ferreira presented data revealing that collisions between deer and vehicles declined as the harvesting of deer by hunters increased.

“Deer hunting is the most effective and economical option for managing deer populations, and is the primary management tool used by federal, state, and provincial wildlife agencies across North America,” said Ferreira, who explained in detail how other deer mitigation methods, such as translocation and fertility control, are cost prohibitive and have other limitations that makes them less successful.

Last season, 63 deer were harvested in Bristol, 37 of which were taken from the four town properties that were opened to hunting for the first time in 2023, including 13 from Hopeworth, 12 from 100 Acre Woods, 10 from Minturn, and 2 from Skaters Pond.

“Last time I was here, I mentioned if we had a harvest of 40, I'd be impressed….we basically tripled our harvest from last year and quadrupled our harvest from the 5-year average,” Ferreira said. He also noted that there were 41 vehicle collisions reported in Bristol in 2023, a 31% reduction from the year prior. “We've had no general public or hunter injuries, and that's mandated by law to report,” he added. “The hunting is working.”

“Last year’s deer hunting cooperative with Rhode Island’s Division of Fish and Wildlife was a success in managing  the local deer population for the health of the deer, other wildlife, pets and residents,” said Town Administrator Steven Contente.

Though none of the Town Councilors appeared to be hunting enthusiasts, they were united in accepting the advice of DEM and Ferreira that continuing the program is the best way to handle the deer overpopulation issue, and they voted unanimously to resume the program this fall.

Permits go on sale this week

Deer permits go on sale on Thursday, Aug. 1; they can be purchased at DEM's Rhode Island Outdoors (RIO) online system at www.RIO.ri.gov and at local sales agents. In addition, DEM’s annual Summer Deer Survey opens on the same day.

For the fifth year in a row, DEM is encouraging all members of the public to participate in a summer deer survey, which is a community science initiative designed to monitor deer during the summer months. All live deer sightings can be reported from Aug. 1-Sept. 30. This information is helpful in determining the number of fawns that survive after common causes of mortality such as predators, weather, and deer vehicle collisions are considered. This data will help biologists obtain fawn-to-doe ratios and an index of reproductive rates through time, informing sustainable management of the state's deer population.

To participate in this year's survey, the public can submit their reports via Survey123, an online survey platform that can be downloaded here.