WHEREAS, Archery hunting has been an integral part of Rhode Island's tradition since pre-colonial times. It is a difficult and demanding sport, requiring a high level of dedication from its participants; and

WHEREAS, Archery hunting is an important conservation tool in Rhode Island, supported by many dedicated sportsmen and women of the state. Regulated hunting helps to sustain healthy ecosystems by maintaining healthy population; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Fish and Wildlife Hunter Education Program and the United Bowhunters of Rhode wish to carry this important tradition far into the future; and

WHEREAS, It is important to pass on a rich and ethical hunting tradition to young men and women of the state, specifically Rhode Island's Junior Hunters, who will carry a tradition of conservation into the future; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims September 28 and 29, 2002 as "Junior Archery Deer Hunting Weekend"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Fish and Wildlife, the United Bowhunters of Rhode Island, the Cumberland Beagle Club and the Federated Rhode Island Sportsman Club.