250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-60-00-9.12

Current through October 15, 2024

Section 250-RICR-60-00-9.12 - Small Game and Upland Game Birds

A. Legal shooting hours for game species in this Section will be sunrise until sunset, except for coyote and raccoon as otherwise provided for.

B. Patience Island is closed to small game hunting, except for coyote as provided in § 9.12(I), and raccoon as provided in § 9.12(O), of this Part.

C. Prudence Island: The Heritage property is closed during the open archery only deer season

D. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), seasons (all dates inclusive):

1. Third (3rd) Saturday in October through the last day of February.

2. The daily bag limit for fox is unlimited.

E. Gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), and red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) seasons (all dates inclusive):

1. Second (2nd) Saturday of September through the last day of February.

2. The daily bag limit for red and gray squirrel is five (5), singly or in aggregate.

F. Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus spp.)

1. The first (1st) of October through the last day of February.

2. The daily bag limit for cottontail rabbit is three (3).

G. Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) seasons (all dates inclusive):

1. Bobwhite quail: Third (3rd) Saturday in October through the last day in February.

2. The daily bag limit for bobwhite quail is three (3).

3. Ring-necked pheasant: Third (3rd) Saturday in October through the last day in February.

4. Youth Pheasant Weekend: The second (2nd) full weekend (Saturday & Sunday) in October.

5. The daily bag limit for ring-necked pheasant is two (2).

6. Ruffed grouse: The season is closed.

7. Game Bird Permit: Hunters are required to purchase a Game Bird Permit in order to hunt and take bobwhite quail and ring-necked pheasant. The Game Bird Permit is available through the online licensing and permitting system.

8. New Shoreham (Block Island):

a. 2024-2025 Open season for ring-necked pheasants: November 20 and 27, December 4 and 18 and January 8.

b. 2025-2026 Open season for ring-necked pheasants: November 19 and 26, December 3 and 17 and January 7.

c. The daily bag limit is two (2) male pheasants on New Shoreham.

d. 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 as described in § 9.11(L) of this Part.

H. Youth Pheasant Hunting Weekend:

1. Pheasant hunting is permitted during the special Youth Pheasant Hunting Weekend for those hunters twelve (12) to fifteen (15) years of age.

2. All hunters must possess a Game Bird Permit.

3. Junior hunters (ages twelve (12) to fourteen (14) as defined in § 9.6 of this Part, in possession of a valid Rhode Island Junior Hunting License must be accompanied by at least one (1) qualified adult, age twenty-one (21) years or older, who holds a valid Rhode Island hunting license.

4. An adult may accompany no more than two (2) junior hunters at one (1) time.

5. The accompanying adult is prohibited from carrying a firearm and hunting pheasant.

6. Youth hunters age fifteen (15) do not have to hunt in the immediate company of a licensed adult.

7. Hunting will only be permitted at: Great Swamp Management Area in West Kingston; Durfee Hill Management Area in Glocester; and Eight Rod Farm Management Area in Tiverton/Little Compton.

8. Bag limit is (2) two pheasants per day.

I. Hunting Clubs and Shooting Preserves:

1. Shooting preserves and all persons hunting on shooting preserves must meet all requirements set forth in R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 20-17-1 through 20-17-11 and 20-19-2.

2. All game birds, including chicks and eggs, imported into the State by any person, hunting club, or shooting preserve shall comply with applicable requirements set forth in Part 40-05-1 of this Title, the Rules and Regulations Governing the Importation of Domestic Animals.

3. No person, club, or shooting preserve shall possess, release, or hunt, artificially propagated game birds without having a valid game propagation permit in their possession.

a. Game propagation permits are available from the RI DEM Office of Boat Registration and Licensing, Room 360, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908.

b. A game propagation permit for hunting clubs shall be issued upon demonstration that the applicant has met each of the following:

(1) Payment of five dollars ($5.00) permit fee.

(2) Presentation of proof that the applicant is a bona fide hunting club owning a single body of land consisting of twenty-five (25) or more acres at the time of the application or application of renewal (Hereinafter referred to as the "site").

(3) Each permittee must keep an accurate record of all artificially propagated game birds held by it; how, when, and where acquired; how many released and when released; and how many taken on the site. Permittee must provide this information to the Department within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of a request for such records from a Department staff member.

(4) Presentation of proof that all game birds listed on the propagation permit application has passed health and disease certification must be available upon request from a Department staff member.

(AA) Source flock of game birds is enrolled in the National Poultry Improvement Plan and is designated pullorum-Typhoid clean, or the source flock has been examined and tested by a veterinarian and meets the requirements of Part 40-05-1 of this Title, Rules and Regulations Governing the Importation of Domestic Animals.

(BB) All game birds must be accompanied by proof of health and disease certification while being transported between source and permittee.

(5) Each permittee is authorized to release artificially propagated game birds, to include, partridge, pheasant, quail, and chukar, upon its site during the open pheasant hunting season for taking on the site by club members and their guests provided the following restrictions are observed. Game birds may only be taken by hunters with a valid Rhode Island hunting license. Hunters are not required to have a Game Bird Permit; however, hunters must have a written receipt or other documentation as prescribed by DEM that bears the name of the club, the name of the person taking, the date and time birds were taken, and the number of birds by species taken from the site. This receipt must remain with the birds or carcasses until prepared for taxidermy or consumption.

(6) Hunters may not exceed the respective established daily bag limits for pheasant and bobwhite quail provided herein: no more than two (2) pheasant or three (3) bobwhite quail may be harvested on the site during any day per hunter. There is no bag limit for chukar or other artificially propagated game birds for which there is no established season.

(7) If a permittee is found to have provided false information in conjunction with its application, fails to comply with any provision or if it or a member or guest violates any provision, the permit shall be revoked for the remainder of the season and the action of the permittee or its member shall be considered if and when the permittee applies for re-issuance of a permit. Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-17.7, a permittee who feels aggrieved by an enforcement action to revoke the subject's permit and who seeks an adjudicative hearing must seek such hearing by filing a written request with the Administrative Adjudication Division, One Capitol Hill, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02908 within twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of notice of revocation. A permittee who feels aggrieved by a permit denial and seeks an Adjudicative hearing must seek such hearing by filing a written request with the Administrative Adjudication Division, One Capitol Hill, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02908 within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the contested agency action.

c. A game propagation permit for shooting preserves shall be issued upon demonstration that the applicant has met each of the following:

(1) Payment of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) permit fee.

(2) Presentation of proof that the applicant is a bona fide shooting preserve owning a single body of land consisting of one hundred twenty (120) or more acres at the time of the application (Hereinafter referred to as the "site").

(3) Each permittee must keep an accurate record of all artificially propagated game birds held by it; how, when, and where acquired; how many released and when released; and how many taken on the site. Permittee must provide this information to the Department within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of a request for such records from a Department staff member.

(4) Presentation of proof that all game birds listed on the propagation permit application has passed health and disease certification must be available upon request from a Department staff member.

(AA) Source flock of game birds is enrolled in the National Poultry Improvement Plan and is designated pullorum-Typhoid clean, or the source flock has been examined and tested by a Veterinarian and meets the requirements of Part 40-05-1 of this Title, Rules and Regulations Governing the Importation of Domestic Animals.

(BB) All game birds must be accompanied by proof of health and disease certification while being transported between source and permittee.

(5) Each permittee is authorized to release artificially propagated game birds, to include pheasant, quail, and chukar, for taking on the site by hunters, members and guests with an unlimited bag limit provided the following restrictions are observed. Game birds may only be taken by hunters with a valid Rhode Island hunting license or shooting preserve license. Hunters are not required to have a Game Bird Permit; however, hunters must have a written receipt or other documentation as prescribed by DEM that bears the name of the shooting preserve or field trial permit, the name of the person taking, the date and time birds were taken, and the number of birds by species taken from the site. This receipt must remain with the birds or carcasses until prepared for taxidermy or consumption.

(6) If a permittee is found to have provided false information in conjunction with its application, fails to comply with any provision or if it or a member or guest violates any provision, the permit shall be revoked, and no new permits will be issued for the remainder of the calendar year. Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-17.7, a permittee who feels aggrieved by an enforcement action to revoke the subject's permit and who seeks an adjudicative hearing must seek such hearing by filing a written request with the Administrative Adjudication Division, One Capitol Hill, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02908 within twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of notice of revocation. A permittee who feels aggrieved by a permit denial and seeks an Adjudicative hearing must seek such hearing by filing a written request with the Administrative Adjudication Division, One Capitol Hill, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02908 within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the contested agency action.

J. There is no closed season for woodchuck (Marmota monax) on private lands. The season for woodchuck on State lands shall be from the third (3rd) Saturday in October to the last day in February, inclusive. The bag limit on woodchuck is unlimited.

K. 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:

1. Hunters may use shotgun with shot not larger than No. 2.

2. A muzzleloader, not to exceed .40 caliber, may be used to hunt small mammals during the established season for these species.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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).

6. Hunters using archery equipment including crossbow to take small game must have taken and successfully completed a bow hunter education course.

L. Methods of Take for upland game bird hunting include shotgun and bow and arrow.

1. Hunters may use shotgun with bird shot (not larger than No. 2).

2. Hunters may use archery equipment meeting the minimum draw weight required for deer hunting with arrows tipped with small game blunts or judo points, but specifically not use broadhead or field point arrows.

3. No birds may be taken with a crossbow. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-14-7(d).

4. Hunters using archery equipment for upland game birds must have successfully completed a bow hunter education course.

M. There is no closed season for coyote on private lands. The hunting season for coyote on State lands shall be from September 15 to the last day in February inclusive and during the open spring turkey hunting season. The hunting season for coyote on Prudence and Patience Islands shall be on State land during Zone 3 archery deer season with a valid archery deer permit, with archery equipment.

N. The legal shooting hours for coyote is one half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one half (1/2) hour after sunset. The use of electronic calls or decoys for hunting coyote is permitted. The bag limit on coyote is unlimited. Refer to R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-13-13 for firearms restrictions.

O. During the spring turkey season, coyote hunters must possess a valid turkey permit while hunting on State lands.

P. Coyote hunters on State lands must wear a minimum of two hundred (200) square inches of fluorescent orange from the third (3rd) Saturday in October to the last day of February. During the shotgun deer season, five hundred (500) square inches is required.

Q. The placement or use of carcasses or meat parts thereof is allowed on private property for the purpose of hunting coyote. The placement or use of carcasses, meat, or other parts thereof is prohibited for the purpose of hunting coyote on State lands.

R. Legal methods of take for coyote hunting include shotgun (no shot larger than No. 2) and rimfire rifle not larger than .22 caliber at any time, 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 (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-13-13), and any means allowed during any concurrent hunting season.

S. The open season for raccoon (Procyon lotor) hunting is from 6:00 P.M. October 1 through the last day in February, inclusive.

1. The daily bag limit on raccoon is unlimited. Bow hunters with a valid deer archery hunting permit may take raccoon during legal deer shooting hours beginning on the first (1st) day of October and ending on the last day of January, inclusive.

a. On Prudence and Patience Islands, the hunting season is limited to the first (1st) day of January through the last day of February, inclusive, with written permission of the landowner. Bow hunters with a valid deer archery permit may take a raccoon on Prudence and Patience Island during the Zone 3 archery deer season legal deer shooting hours.

2. Raccoons may be taken and possessed with the use of a gun, when the taker is accompanied by a dog. No person shall hunt raccoons at night by the use of a rifle larger than a .22 caliber rim fire long rifle or by the use of shotgun shells carrying shot larger than no. 4 shot or by the use of a light other than a kerosene lantern exclusive of the pressure type or a flashlight with more than six (6) cells. No person shall take or attempt to take raccoons by use of a light from a motor vehicle.

250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-60-00-9.12

Amended effective 7/31/2019
Amended effective 8/2/2020
Amended effective 7/31/2021
Amended Effective 11/17/2021
Amended effective 7/31/2022
Amended effective 6/28/2023
Amended effective 8/2/2023
Amended effective 8/8/2024