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Rhode Island Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against RI Dept of Environmental Management (DEM) before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $27 · nonresident $160. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery - Zone 1: Deer Zone 1Sep 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027License + Deer Permit
Archery - Zone 2: Deer Zone 2Sep 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027License + Deer Permit
Archery - Zone 3 (Patience and Prudence Islands): Deer Zone 3 - Patience and Prudence IslandsOct 19, 2026Jan 31, 2027License + Deer Permit + proficiency test
Muzzleloader - Zones 1 and 2Nov 7, 2026Dec 4, 2026License + Muzzleloader Deer Permit
Shotgun - Zones 1 and 2Dec 5, 2026Dec 31, 2026License + Shotgun Deer Permit
Youth Archery Weekend - Zones 1 and 2Sep 12, 2026Sep 13, 2026Junior/Youth License + Deer Permit
Youth Muzzleloader Weekend - Zones 1 and 2Oct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026Junior/Youth License + Deer Permit
Zone 3 Paraplegic hunter season: Deer Zone 3 - Patience and Prudence IslandsOct 13, 2026Oct 16, 2026Special Permit (permanent disability license)
Block Island (Zone 4) archery-only block 1: Deer Zone 4 - Block Island (New Shoreham)Oct 15, 2026Oct 16, 2026Block Island Archery Deer Permit
Block Island (Zone 4) archery-only block 2: Deer Zone 4 - Block Island (New Shoreham)Oct 19, 2026Oct 23, 2026Block Island Archery Deer Permit
Block Island (Zone 4) archery-only block 3: Deer Zone 4 - Block Island (New Shoreham)Oct 26, 2026Oct 30, 2026Block Island Archery Deer Permit
Block Island (Zone 4) all methods - November: Deer Zone 4 - Block Island (New Shoreham)Nov 2, 2026Nov 30, 2026Block Island Archery/Muzzleloader/Shotgun Deer Permit
Block Island (Zone 4) all methods - December: Deer Zone 4 - Block Island (New Shoreham)Dec 1, 2026Dec 22, 2026Block Island Archery/Muzzleloader/Shotgun Deer Permit
Block Island (Zone 4) all methods - January: Deer Zone 4 - Block Island (New Shoreham)Jan 4, 2027Jan 29, 2027Block Island Archery/Muzzleloader/Shotgun Deer Permit
Block Island (Zone 4) all methods - February: Deer Zone 4 - Block Island (New Shoreham)Feb 1, 2027Feb 12, 2027Block Island Archery/Muzzleloader/Shotgun Deer Permit

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall ArcheryOct 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026License + Fall Either-Sex Archery Turkey Permit
Youth Turkey Season (spring)Apr 19, 2027Apr 25, 2027Junior/Youth License + Spring Turkey Permit
Paraplegic Spring Turkey SeasonApr 24, 2027Apr 25, 2027Spring Turkey Permit (permanent disability license)
Statewide Spring TurkeyApr 29, 2027May 23, 2027License + Spring Turkey Permit

Beaver Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Trapping - private landNov 1, 2026Mar 14, 2027Trapping License + Special Beaver Trapping Permit
Trapping - State Management Areas: State lands and Management AreasDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping License + Special Beaver Trapping Permit

Coyote Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Private land - no closed seasonJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027License
State lands: State lands and Management AreasSep 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027License
State lands trapping: State lands and Management AreasNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping License
Private land trapping - no closed seasonJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027Trapping License

Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Summer segment (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)Aug 14, 2026Oct 4, 2026License + HIP Permit
Fall segmentOct 17, 2026Dec 7, 2026License + HIP Permit
Winter segment (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)Dec 18, 2026Apr 3, 2027License + HIP Permit

Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared-Dove Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
First segmentSep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026License + HIP Permit
Second segmentOct 17, 2026Dec 15, 2026License + HIP Permit

Fisher Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingDec 1, 2026Dec 24, 2026Trapping License + Special Fisher Trapping Permit

Red and Gray Fox Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Dec 31, 2026License
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Mink Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Muskrat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Opossum Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 17, 2026Feb 28, 2027License + Game Bird Permit
Youth Pheasant SeasonOct 10, 2026Oct 12, 2026Junior/Youth License + Game Bird Permit
New Shoreham (Block Island) open days: New Shoreham (Block Island) pheasant areaNov 18, 2026Jan 6, 2027License + Game Bird Permit, non-toxic shot only

Bobwhite Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 17, 2026Feb 28, 2027License + Game Bird Permit

Cottontail Rabbit Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027License
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Raccoon Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingOct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027License
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Rails (King, Clapper, Sora and Virginia) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026License + HIP Permit

Striped Skunk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Wilson's Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026License + HIP Permit

Gray and Red Squirrel Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 12, 2026Feb 28, 2027License
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Waterfowl (Ducks, Coots, Mergansers, Geese and Brant) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Canada Goose - Special September SeasonSep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
Canada Goose - Regular Season (first segment)Nov 21, 2026Nov 29, 2026License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
Canada Goose - Regular Season (second segment)Dec 6, 2026Jan 24, 2027License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
Canada Goose - Late Season (restricted area): Canada goose late season area (north and west of the demarcation line)Jan 30, 2027Feb 13, 2027License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
Snow Goose (including Blue Goose)Oct 14, 2026Jan 24, 2027License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (first segment)Oct 9, 2026Oct 12, 2026License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (second segment)Nov 25, 2026Nov 29, 2026License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (third segment)Dec 6, 2026Jan 24, 2027License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
BrantDec 26, 2026Jan 24, 2027License + HIP + State and Federal Duck Stamps
Youth Waterfowl WeekendOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Junior/Youth License + HIP (accompanying adult may not hunt)

Weasel Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping License

Woodchuck Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Private land - no closed seasonJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027License
State lands: State lands and Management AreasOct 17, 2026Feb 28, 2027License

American Woodcock Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 17, 2026Nov 30, 2026License + HIP Permit
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with RI Dept of Environmental Management (DEM) before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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