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Two deer hunting seasons on Rota
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Posted on Aug 05 2020
People on Rota would soon be able to also hunt for deer from March to May, in addition to the season covering September to November, once the Department of Lands and Natural Resources finalizes its amendment to the new hunting season that is exclusive to the island.
In response to Sen. Teresita Santos’ (Ind-Rota) request to extend the deer season on Rota, DLNR is now drafting the amendment to the regulations concerning the hunting seasons, based on recommendations of the Office of the Attorney General.
The senator originally asked that the hunting season be stretched from August to December, to enable residents to provide food for their families in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the OAG recommended that, instead of having an open season, the hunting be expanded to twice a year.
Santos said in an interview that she is pleased with the decision. “We embrace and endorse having two seasons, so it [helps] our people.”
DLNR Secretary Anthony Benavente informed the senator that the department will be working with its counterpart on Rota to gather data on the deer population on the island, which would involve surveys with the residents, including farmers who are being impacted negatively by the deer population.
“Once these data and surveys are compiled and [shows] that the deer population has multiplied and impacted the agricultural crops, DLNR will begin working in amending the deer hunting season regulations to include an additional season for Rota, and providing the…public with a commenting period of 90 days whether to support or not support such amendment,” Santos explained.
This would not be the first time the hunting season would be amended should it push through. In 1987, the then Natural Resources director amended the original regulations set in 1983 (where hunting for antlered deer was set from September to December), also to create two hunting seasons.
The current dates of the hunting season, from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, was also made through an amendment adopted in 1990.
