Small Game Hunting
Small Game Hunting
Method of take for small game hunting is limited to: rimfire rifle not larger than .22 caliber (except coyote, see in coyote hunting section below), shotgun, bow and arrow, muzzleloader, crossbow, and air rifle as specified below:
- Hunters may use shotgun with shot not larger than No. 2.
- A muzzleloader, not to exceed .40 caliber, may be used to hunt small mammals during the established season for these species.
- Air rifles are permitted to hunt the following small mammals: gray squirrel, red squirrel, woodchuck, and cottontail rabbit provided that the air rifles are a minimum of .177 caliber and not larger than .30, and produce a minimum of seven hundred fifty (750) FPS velocity with pellets seven and one half (7.5) grain or larger.
- Hunters may use archery equipment meeting the minimum draw weight required for deer hunting with arrows tipped with field points, small game blunts, or judo points. Hunters using broadhead arrows during the archery deer season must possess a valid archery deer tag.
- Hunters may use crossbow to take small game mammals; however, no birds may be taken with a crossbow. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-14-7(d).
- Hunters using archery equipment including crossbow to take small game must have taken and successfully completed a bow hunter education course.
Pheasant and Quail Hunting
A Game Bird Permit is required to hunt ring-neck pheasant and bobwhite quail. The daily limit for pheasant is two (2) either sex birds and the daily bag limit for quail is three (3). No physical tag required. Pheasants are stocked prior to opening day, then twice weekly, at most locations, until December. Birds are stocked once per week in December based on weather and available stock. Pheasant stocking does not occur in January and February. Stocked management areas are: Arcadia, Black Hut, Big River, Buck Hill, Carolina, Durfee Hill, Eight Rod Farm, Great Swamp, Nicholas Farm, Sapowet Marsh, and Simmons Mill Pond.
For the latest pheasant stocking updates and locations, visit the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Pheasant page.
Block Island Pheasant Hunting
Pheasant hunting is open on Block Island, with written landowner permission, on November 19 and 26, December 3 and 17 and January 7, 2026. Only male pheasants (roosters) may be taken from Block Island with a daily bag limit of 2 per day.
No person shall take pheasant on Block Island while possessing shells loaded with any shot other than steel shot, or other legally approved non-toxic shot.
Additional Regulations
The small game hunting season remains OPEN during the December shotgun deer season. This allows small game hunting on state management areas during the shotgun deer season.
Coyote Hunting
Coyotes season on state lands is from September 15 until the last day in February, and during the open spring turkey hunting season, April 30–May 24, 2026. There is no closed season for coyote hunting on private lands.
Coyote hunters on state lands must wear a minimum of 200 square inches of fluorescent orange during the small game hunting season. During the shotgun deer season, 500 square inches is required. The placement or use of carcasses or meat parts is allowed on private property for the purposes of hunting coyotes but is prohibited on state lands.
Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. Legal methods of take for coyote hunting include shotgun (no lead shot larger than No. 2), bow and arrow and crossbow; however, on private lands from April 1 to September 30 (both dates inclusive), centerfire rifles not larger than .229 caliber may be used (RIGL 20-13-13) and by any means allowed during any concurrent hunting season.
The bag limit for coyote is unlimited and electronic calls may be used.
