Small Game Hunting
Small Game Hunting
Dates |
Daily |
|
Coyote – State Land |
September 15 - February 28, 2025 April 24 - May 18, 2025 |
unlimited |
Coyote – Private Land |
No closed season |
unlimited |
Youth Pheasant* |
October 12 - 13 |
2 |
Raccoon |
October 1 - February 28, 2025 |
unlimited |
Cottontail Rabbit |
October 1 - February 28, 2025 |
3 |
Gray and Red Squirrel |
September 14 - February 28, 2025 |
5, singly or in aggregate |
Pheasant |
October 19 - February 28, 2025 |
2 |
Bobwhite Quail |
3 |
|
Red, Gray Fox |
unlimited |
|
Ruffed Grouse |
CLOSED |
|
Method of take for small game hunting is limited to: rimfire rifle not larger than .22 caliber, 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 .22, 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 up to date stocking information see the department’s Pheasant page at dem.ri.gov/pheasant.
Block Island Pheasant Hunting
Pheasant hunting is open on Block Island, with written landowner permission, on November 20 and 27, December 4 and 18 and January 8, 2025. Only male pheasants (roosters) may be taken from Block Island with a daily bag limit of 2 per day.
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.
Reptiles & Amphibians
A current Rhode Island hunting, fishing, or trapping license is required to take green frogs, bullfrogs and snapping turtles. The possession, removal from the wild, or killing, for any purpose, of any other native reptile or amphibian (including their nests and eggs) is prohibited except by special permit (RIHR 9.15.B).
The snapping turtle season is closed May 15 - July 15. The season bag limit is six (6) turtles, and at any time shall be limited to turtles with a minimum carapace length of thirteen (13) inches. Take is allowed by turtle trap, hand, hand-held dip net, snagging, and bow and arrow. Traps must include a tag with name and address of trapper and be set in a manner that allows all turtles within access to the surface to breathe air (RIHR 9.15.C). Take for the purpose of sale or any other purpose other than personal consumption is prohibited. The green frog and bullfrog season is closed June 1 - July 31. The daily bag limit is 20 frogs (both species combined). Take is allowed by hand, hand-held dip net, spearing, hook and line, and bow and arrow.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 25 - May 19, 2025. The hunting season for coyotes on Prudence Island on state land during archery deer season with a valid archery permit, during the small game season on private land, November 1 - 30 and on North Prudence during the small game season, January 1 - 31, 2025. There is no closed season for coyote hunting on private lands. During the spring turkey season, coyote hunters must possess a valid turkey hunting permit while hunting on state 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. When coyote hunting during deer season, the hunter must be in possession of a valid deer permit.
The bag limit for coyote is unlimited and electronic calls may be used.
