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Town bowhunting lottery set for Thursday

A bird's eye view of the Enterprise Park at Calverton site. (Credit: Andrew Lepre, file)

Bowhunters, mark a bulls eye on your calendars for Thursday night, as Riverhead Town holds its annual lottery for hunting on town-owned land, mainly at Enterprise Park at Calverton.The annual lottery, open to any town resident who has a hunting license, starts at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall meeting room.

The town land will be open for hunting from Oct. 5 through Dec. 6.

According to Jerry Halpin, one of the members on the town’s wildlife management committee, about 75 slots were filled last fall by hunters. The way the lotto works, three hunters get to use each area for a full week, and after that can sign back up for another week of hunting.

In addition to land at EPCAL, town-owned parcels on Middle Road and Sound Avenue will also be open to hunting.

While hunting season begins on Oct. 1, Mr. Halpin said the committee wanted to make sure that those using the recreational trail at EPCAL had enough time to recognize that hunting season is in effect before sending hunters into the area.

This year, hunters in Suffolk County won’t be able use buck tags for the first two weeks of the season, per a new state regulation that is hoping hunters take aim at females instead — thereby helping to reduce the overall deer population.

Those interested in participating in the lottery must be present to participate.

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