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Rhode Island

Hunting

Hunting

Deer Hunting

Deer Hunting Seasons

Season

Dates

Archery (includes Crossbow)

September 9 - 10 (Youth only, Zone 1)

September 23 - 24 (Youth only, Zone 2)

September 15 - January 31, 2024

(Zone 1)

October 1 - January 31, 2024 (Zone 2)

Archery: Patience & Prudence Islands (Zone 3)

October 28 - 29 (Youth only)

November 1 - January 31, 2024

Archery: Block Island (Zone 4)

October 12, 13, 16-20, 23-27, 30, 31 (Check local ordinance)

Muzzleloader

October 28 - 29 (Youth only Zones 1, 2)

November 4 - 26 (Zones 1, 2)

December 26 - January 2, 2024 (Zones 1, 2 Private land only, antlerless deer only)

Shotgun

December 2 - 17 (Zone 1)

December 2 - 10 (Zone 2)

December 26 - January 2, 2024 (Zones 1, 2 - Private land only, antlerless deer only)

Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun (Zone 4)

November 1-3, 6-9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 27-30

December 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11-15, 18, 19, 21, 22

January 2-5, 8-12, 16-19, 22-26, 29-31, 2024

February 1, 2, 5-9, 12-16, 2024

Special Season for Disabled Hunters: Patience & Prudence Islands (Zone 3)

October 24 - 27

2023-24 Season Bag Limits

Statewide (all zones & methods combined)

2 Antlered Deer, (Zone 3: no more than 1 Antlered Deer)

Zone 1

3 Antlerless Deer*

Zone 2

2 Antlerless Deer*

Zone 3

2 Antlerless Deer*

Zone 4

Unlimited Antlerless Deer

RI Deer Management

Deer management zones (see map on State Lands Map) have been established for harvesting deer in accordance with specific management goals for RI. The need to reduce auto strikes and address nuisance deer complaints are important deer management issues in addition to DEM’s goal to preserve and maintain quality deer hunting for sportsmen.

Note: All deer wounded, but not recovered, must be reported to DEM within 24 hours.

Our goal is to:

  • Provide a deer management program that maintains a healthy deer population that is sustainable and ecologically appropriate.
  • Maintain quality deer hunting opportunities recognizing the strong tradition of hunting in Rhode Island and the important role hunting plays in wildlife conservation.

Deer Hunting Methods

Please note: Only one firearm or bow may be possessed in the field per individual hunter while hunting deer. Check local ordinances for further restrictions in specific towns.

Shotgun

  • No person shall hunt, pursue, shoot or attempt to shoot any deer with a shotgun capable of holding more than five shells, unless it is plugged with one-piece filler, which is incapable of removal without disassembling the gun.
  • Ammunition permitted for shotgun deer season is limited to a single lead or alloy projectile, including rifled slugs or sabot round. Buckshot is prohibited at all times.
  • Shotguns of 10, 12, 16, or 20-gauge are allowed.
  • Muzzleloaders will be permitted during the shotgun season provided hunters possess a current shotgun deer permit and comply with muzzleloader restrictions. Hunters taking a deer must tag the deer with the shotgun deer tag immediately after taking. All shotgun deer season fluorescent orange requirements will be enforced.

Muzzleloader

  • Firearms for muzzleloader deer season are limited to .45 caliber or larger using percussion caplock, flintlock, and in-line ignition systems using percussion caps, rifle, or shotshell primers. Only single barrel or double barrel firearms that must be loaded from the muzzle are permitted.
  • Ammunition for muzzleloader deer season is limited to a single projectile, including round ball, maxi ball type, or sabots. Powder is limited to manufacturers’ specifications. Telescopic sights are permitted. Possession of modern shotgun shells while hunting with a muzzleloader is prohibited.
  • A muzzleloader is considered unloaded when the percussion cap, primer or pan powder is removed.

Archery

  • Archers may use a long bow, re-curve bow, compound bow or crossbow for hunting deer.
  • Long bow, re-curve bow and compound bow must be set at not less than forty (40) pounds for archers using fixed blade broadheads, and a minimum of fifty (50) pounds for archers using mechanical broadheads.
  • Only broadhead tipped arrows with at least two (2) metal cutting edges are allowed. All broadheads must be seven eighths (7/8) of an inch or greater at the widest point including mechanical broadheads measured in the “open” position.
  • Crossbows must be set at not less than one hundred twenty five (125) pounds minimum draw weight. Expandable broadheads are permitted.
  • All archery deer hunters must have taken and successfully completed bow hunter education classes or hold a prior year archery deer permit in order to obtain a current year archery deer permit.

Dogs

Upon shooting a deer, a hunter with a current valid hunting license and deer permit may use one (1) dog or engage a second party to use one (1) dog to recover a wounded and lost or un-recovered deer within seventy-two (72) hours of shooting the deer provided that they comply with the following restrictions.

  1. There shall be no firearms or archery devices carried by the hunter, dog handler, or any individual present at the time of tracking.
  2. The dog shall be maintained under physical control of the dog handler at all times by the means of a lead no longer than fifty (50) feet that shall be attached to the collar or harness of the dog.
  3. The hunter shall be present at all times.
  4. All parties involved in recovering a deer with a dog shall wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange.
  5. If it is determined that the deer is still alive all parties will back away immediately and the dog will be taken out of the area.
  6. Written permission required for deer hunting shall be possessed while tracking with a dog on private land.

Adaptive Aids

Special archery adaptive aids for use with vertical held bows may be used by all hunters without a special permit.

Decoys

Deer decoys may be used on private lands and state-owned Wildlife Management Areas (excludes State Parks, Public Reservations, Cooperative properties and Federal properties) during the archery only deer seasons while archery hunting only. This excludes youth muzzleloader and shotguns seasons. However, deer decoys may be used throughout the extent of the open archery season on private lands in towns where hunting with a firearm is prohibited but use of archery equipment is permitted. When transporting deer decoys for the purpose of hunting, persons must wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange visible from all sides.

Prohibited Deer Hunting Activities

  • The use or possession of deer scents/lures that contain natural cervid (including deer, moose, elk) urine, gland oil, feces, tissue, blood or any other bodily fluids.
  • The use of electronic calls.
  • The placement or installation of tree stands on state land and co-op properties prior to August 15th.
  • Failure to remove tree stands on state land and on co-op properties by February 15th.
  • The construction and use of permanent tree stands, or the use of nails, spikes, bolts, or climbing devices, which may damage trees on state or co-op properties
  • Hunting deer on private property without the permission of the landowner.
  • Hunting, pursuing, or molesting deer in tidal waters or while deer are swimming in any waters of the state.
  • Feeding or baiting: the act of using, placing, giving, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering any material, or any act to maintain the availability of such material that attracts deer to feed on such material.
  • Driving deer by parties of over five (5) people.

Written Permission

Annual written landowner permission is required for deer hunting on private land (RIGL 20-15-1) during the deer season. It is not required that deer permits (tags) be signed by the landowner, provided the hunter has other written permission in possession. Deer permits (tags) must be carried while hunting. Annual written permission must be shown to any authorized person upon demand, and must be presented when checking a deer. A valid hunting license constitutes written permission on state owned/managed land and applicable hunting cooperative properties for which a permit is not required.

Landowner Rights & Liability

Written landowner permission is required to hunt deer on private property. Hunters are urged to gain a landowner’s permission prior to hunting for all other hunting activities as well. To maintain good landowner - hunter relations, always treat the landowner’s private property with respect, and know and respect the property boundaries. It is also unlawful to shoot upon the land of another without their permission. Hunting on private land is a privilege not to be taken lightly.

To encourage landowners to make their lands available for recreational purposes, RI General Law (32-6-3) limits the liability of persons making private land available for recreational activities, including hunting and fishing. Liability of Landowner: an owner of land who either directly or indirectly invites or permits without charge any person to use that property for recreational purposes does not thereby:
  • extend any assurance that the premises are safe for any purpose;
  • confer upon that person the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed; nor
  • assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to any person or property caused by an act of omission of that person.

Limitations

(a) Nothing in the law limits in any way any liability which, but for this chapter, otherwise exists:

(1) For the willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity after discovering the user’s peril; or

(2) For any injury suffered in any case where the owner of land charges the person or persons who enter or go on the land for the recreational use thereof, except that in the case of land leased to the state or a subdivision thereof, any consideration received by the owner for that lease shall not be deemed a “charge” within the meaning of this section.

(b) When the Coastal Resources Management Council designates a right-of-way as part of its designation process as specified in § 46-23-6(5), or when the Coastal Resource Management Council stipulates public access as a condition of granting a permit, the landowner automatically will have “limited liability” as defined in this chapter, except as specifically recognized by or provided in this section.

Local Ordinances

Some towns restrict hunting or the discharge of firearms and, therefore, it is important to check town ordinances before hunting. Local municipalities may not prevent hunting on State-owned land. Towns closed to Sunday hunting on private lands include Portsmouth, Little Compton, Middletown, and Barrington. Some towns require written permission of the landowner, and/or local police department. For local and Sunday hunting regulations, check with the town police department or town clerk.

Patience and Prudence Islands

The only legal method of deer hunting on Prudence and Patience Islands is by archery, including crossbows, except for during the special hunting season (see Youth & Disabled Hunting Opportunities). Proficiency testing is required for all archery deer hunters on Prudence and Patience Islands. Archery deer hunting is permitted at the Heritage Property from December 1 - 15 only. Proficiency cards must be carried while hunting. All deer taken must be reported to DEM within 24 hours using the harvest reporting website rio.ri.gov or be reported to an Environmental Police Officer as prescribed. The antlered deer (buck) bag limit is one (1).

Block Island (New Shoreham)

Written permission from a landowner must be obtained before hunting on private land and presented to and countersigned by the Block Island Chief of Police. All deer taken must be reported to DEM within 24 hours using the harvest reporting website rio.ri.gov or be reported to an Environmental Police Officer.

Cooperative and Special Hunting Areas

See State Lands Map and Public Lands and Hunting Areas.

Block Island State Land (Black Rock / Rodman Hollow)

Deer hunting is allowed by special permit only, selected by lottery. Applications are found on rio.ri.gov to hunt Black Rock/Rodman Hollow, and must be submitted by September 15th, 2023.

Block Island, John H. Chafee, Ninigret, and Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuges

Four National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) in the state are open for hunting on designated units with season and weapon restrictions. Hunters must possess and carry a signed refuge hunting brochure valid for the current season while hunting at Block Island, Ninigret, and John H. Chafee NWRs. Trustom Pond NWR is by lottery permit only. Archery proficiency certification is required to hunt at Block Island, John H. Chafee, and Trustom Pond NWRs. All State DEM, federal, and refuge regulations apply. For detailed information, regulations, locations and dates please visit, www.fws.gov/refuge/ninigret [fws.gov] or contact the USFWS at 401-364-9124.

To enter the Trustom Pond NWR lottery please visit https://rhodeislandpermits.recaccess.com/ by September 15.

The Nature Conservancy Deer Hunting Co-Op

  • Deer hunting only, the hunting and/or take of other species of wildlife is prohibited
  • No Special Permits Required, a valid hunting license constitutes as written permission.
  • No vehicles of any kind are allowed on the property, except in designated parking areas.
  • The construction or use of permanent treestands is prohibited. The use of nails, spikes, bolts, or devices that may damage trees is prohibited. Climbing tree stands are permitted.
  • Treestands may not be installed on TNC property prior to August 15th and must be removed by February 15th annually.

Beavertail (Jamestown)

No hunting prior to 11/1/2023. Archery hunting only (11/1/23-1/31/24) no hunting on weekends prior to 12/31/2023. Proficiency certification is required and cards must be carried while hunting. Permits must be returned by February 15 regardless of activity or success, to be eligible for next year’s hunt. Permits are available at the Jamestown Police Department. Ten (10) hunters are allowed per day on a first-come first-served basis. Limit of 5 slots per week reserved no more than twenty (20) days in advance.