Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States, covering only about 1,214 square miles. However, this compact state has diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife, making it a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
The cool, fresh air and beautiful landscape of Rhode Island will provide you with an unforgettable hunting experience. The diversity of wildlife offers a fantastic chance for hunters of every skill level. Soon it will be time to prepare for the upcoming 2024 - 2025 Rhode Island hunting season.
In this article, we will guide you through the opening seasons for various game species, the hunting licenses, and the hunting rules that are necessary for advance planning.
When Does Hunting Season Start In Rhode Island?
The hunting seasons in Rhode Island are different yearly based on different wildlife species.
The peak hunting period in Rhode Island is from September to December. Throughout this period, you have the opportunity to harvest different types of animals, such as White-tailed deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Quail, Coyote, Fox, Rabbit, Squirrel, Raccoon, Ducks, and more.
For some particular games like Turkey, the hunting season begins in April during the Spring and continues to open in September during the Fall. Furthermore, certain hunting seasons in Rhode Island will extend to February of next year.
Now let's check out the breakdown of each hunting season as follows.
Rhode Island Deer Hunting Season
Deer Archery Season
Zone 1: September 15 to January 31, 2025
Zone 2: October 1 to January 31, 2025
Zone 3: November 1 - January 31, 2025
Zone 4: October 17, 18, 21 - 25, 28 - 31
Deer Muzzleloader Season
Zones 1 and 2: November 2 - December 2, 2024.
Zones 1 and 2: December 26 to January 2, 2025
Deer Shotgun Season
Zone 1: December 7 - 23, 2024
Zone 2: December 7 - 16, 2024
Zones 1 and 2: December 26 - January 2, 2025
Deer Open Season 2024-2025
Zone 3
- Archery: November 1 - January 31, 2025
- Paraplegic hunter season: October 22 - 25, 2024
Zone 4
Archery: October 17, 18, 21 - 25, 28 - 31
Archery, Muzzleloader and Shotgun:
- November 1, 4-8, 12 - 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26
- December 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 - 13, 16, 17, 19, 20
- January 2, 3, 6 - 10, 13 - 17, 21 - 24, 27 - 31
- February 3 - 7, 10 - 14
Deer Open Season 2025-2026
Archery: October 16, 17, 20 - 24, 27 - 31
Archery, Muzzleloader and Shotgun:
- November 3 - 7, 10, 12 - 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25
- December 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 - 12, 15, 16, 18, 19
- January 2, 5 - 9, 12 - 16, 20 - 23, 26 - 30
- February 2 - 6, 9 - 13
Deer Youth Hunting Season
Youth Archery Hunting Weekends
- Zone 1: September 14-15, 2024
- Zone 2: September 28-29, 2024
- Zone 3: October 22-25, 2024
Youth Muzzleloader Hunting Weekends
- Zones 1 & 2: October 22-25, 2024
The hours for hunting deer legally are from half an hour before sunrise to thirty minutes after sunset.
A hunter can only harvest a maximum of two (2) antlered deer in total across all deer seasons. Nevertheless, only one (1) antlered deer is allowed to be harvested in Zone 3. For Antlerless deer, it has a different bag limit rule. Here are the specifics:
- Zone 1: Three Antlerless deer
- Zone 2 and Zone 3: Two Antlerless deer
- Zone 4: Unlimited
Hunting Zone Scopes:
Zone 1 includes the following towns:
Barrington; Bristol; Central Falls; Charlestown; Cranston; Cumberland; East Greenwich; East Providence; Jamestown; Johnston; Lincoln; Middletown; Narragansett; Newport; North Kingstown; North Providence; North Smithfield; Pawtucket; Providence; Smithfield; South Kingstown; Warren; Warwick; West Warwick; Westerly; and Woonsocket.
Zone 2 includes the following towns:
Burrillville; Coventry; Exeter; Foster; Glocester; Hopkinton; Little Compton; Portsmouth (excluding Prudence and Patience Islands); Richmond; Scituate; Tiverton; and West Greenwich.
Zone 3 includes Patience and Prudence Islands.
Zone 4 includes New Shoreham (Block Island).
Rhode Island Turkey Season
Paraplegic Spring Turkey Season
- April 19 - April 20, 2025
Youth Turkey Season
- April 21 - April 27, 2025
Statewide Spring Turkey Season
- April 24 - May 16, 2025
Fall Archery Turkey Season
- October 1 to October 31, 2024
For the Youth and Spring turkey seasons, the bag limit is two (2) bearded turkeys. However, in the Fall turkey season, you can only hunt one turkey of either sex.
The legal hunting time is also different for different turkey seasons. Spring season shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to 1:00 P.M. While Fall season shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Rhode Island Dove Season
- September 1 – 30, 2024
- October 19 - December 18, 2024
Shooting hours are half hour before sunrise until sunset.
The daily bag limit is fifteen (15) in total, including the mourning doves and Eurasian collared-doves.
Rail Season
- September 1 to November 9, 2024
The daily bag limits are one King rail (Rallus elegans)&clapper rail and three Sora&Virginia rails.
Shooting hours are one half (1/2) hour before sunrise until sunset.
Snipe Season
- September 1 to November 9, 2024
The daily bag limit is five (5).
Woodcock Season
- October 19, 2024, to December 3, 2024
The daily bag limit is three (3).
Crow Season
- August 9, 2024, to October 20, 2024
- October 19, 2024, through to December 9, 2024.
- December 20, 2024, extending until April 13, 2025
No daily bag limit.
For the above Migration Birds, the possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.
Rhode Island Waterfowl Season
Canada Goose
Early Season:
- September 1 – 30, 2024
Daily bag limit: 15
Regular Season:
- November 23 - December 1, 2024
- December 6 - January 26, 2025
Daily bag limit:2
Late Season:
- February 1 - February 15, 2025
Daily bag limit: 5
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers:
- October 11 - October 14, 2024
- November 27 - December 1, 2024
Ducks – The daily bag limit is six (6)
Coots – The daily bag limit is fifteen (15)
Mergansers– The daily bag limit is five (5)
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days
- October 26 - 27, 2024
Raccoon Season
- October 1, 2024 - February 28, 2025
No bag limit. You can hunt as many as you can and fully enjoy the activities.
Rhode Island Hunting License
There are different types of hunting licenses for residents and non-residents. Licenses can be bought on the Official Website or any DEM office.
Please check the cost details of each license.
For Residents:
| Resident Hunting License (must be 15 years old)1 | $21.00 |
| Resident Combination License (Hunting & Fishing) | $38.00 |
| Resident Junior Hunting License (12-14 years old)1 | $14.00 |
| Permanent Resident Combination License (over 65 or disabled) | No fee2 |
| Resident Trapping License | $15.00 |
| Active Military Personnel Hunting License | $21.00 |
| Resident All Outdoors Deer Package Permit3 | $78.00 |
| Resident Deer Permit4 | $13.00 |
| Resident Turkey Permit | $8.00 |
| RI Game Bird Permit | $17.00 |
| State Waterfowl Stamp | $8.00 |
| Migratory Bird (H.I.P) Permit | No fee |
For Non-Residents:
| Non-Resident Hunting License (must be 15 years old)1 | $55.00 |
| Non-Resident Tourist Hunting License (3-day) | $20.00 |
| Non-Resident Junior Hunting License (12 -14 years old)1 | $40.00 |
| Non-Resident Trapping License (if reciprocal privileges allowed) | $50.00 |
| Non-Resident Deer Permit4 | $26.50 |
| Non-Resident Turkey Permit | $21.50 |
Rhode Island Hunting Laws
- Upon completion of the hunt, the hunter must notch the tag to the deer. Write the month, day, and hour of the deer kill on the tag and then securely fasten the tag onto the deer.
- Reporting is required for deer hunting. The Department of Environmental Management must be notified of all deer harvested in twenty-four (24) consecutive hours
- Hunters can use a single dog to track down an injured deer that is lost or not retrieved.
- Hunter Orange is required for all hunters with at least 200 - 500 square inches of bright orange clothing.
- The use of electronic calls for hunting deer is prohibited at all times.
- Small game hunting is restricted to using a rimfire rifle no bigger than .22 caliber, shotgun, bow and arrow, muzzleloader, crossbow, and air rifle.
- The legal methods to hunt upland game birds include using a shotgun and a bow and arrow. Using crossbows for hunting turkeys is not allowed.
- No baiting, cooperative drive(s), or electric calling devices for taking turkey. Non-electric turkey calls can be used.
- Prohibited: luring, working together to attract turkey using electronic calls.
- Every hunter must have a valid Rhode Island hunting license and a valid turkey hunting permit. You must buy a different turkey permit for every hunting season.
Conclusion
Above is the detailed summary of the Rhode Island hunting season for 2024 - 2025. If you enjoy hunting deer, waterfowl, or wild turkeys, Rhode Island's various terrains and plentiful wildlife make it a perfect place for all hunting lovers.
When going on a hunting trip, always follow the rules, show respect for the environment, and focus on safety so you can fully enjoy the excitement of the hunt.