Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 100 - Parks and Recreation › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 1 - Park and Management Area Rules and Regulations › Section 250-RICR-100-00-1.23 - Hunting Regulations

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The possession
				  of a valid Rhode Island hunting, or combination hunting and fishing license,
				  shall serve as a permit to hunt Public Reservations, including Undeveloped
				  State Parks where hunting is allowed, and Tidal Lands pursuant to R.I. Gen.
				  Laws Titles 20 and 18, and R.I. Gen. Laws §§
										20-18-2 and
				  20-18-3.
B. A valid hunting license is required for
				  any State designated hunting season.
C. A permit to trap within a Public
				  Reservation may be obtained from the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
D. The carrying of firearms and archery
				  equipment on Public Reservations at any time is prohibited except as provided
				  for in §
										1.17 of this
				  Part.
E. Individual hunters, when
				  pursuing small game, must check in, and out of State Management Area Hunter
				  Check Stations each day they are open for upland season. Check station dates
				  will be listed in the current Hunting and Trapping Season Abstract.
F. Dog training and all hunting, except for
				  bow hunting for deer, and waterfowl hunting, as provided, is prohibited on
				  State Land during the five (5) day period prior to small game season, unless
				  otherwise provided (See Animals, Including Horses and Dogs, §
										1.8 of this Part).
G. No person shall engage in any activity
				  that interferes or interrupts lawful hunting on a Management Area or Public
				  Reservation.
H. Fluorescent Orange
				  Requirement:
Fluorescent orange safety clothing is required during the
					 hunting season statewide for all hunters. To meet this requirement, safety
					 clothing must be solid daylight fluorescent orange. Fluorescent camouflage does
					 not meet this requirement. The hunter orange must be worn above the waist and
					 be visible in all directions. Examples that meet the orange requirements are a
					 hat that covers two hundred (200) square inches or combination of hat and vest
					 covering five hundred (500) square inches. The following orange requirements
					 apply:
1. Two hundred (200) square
				  inches by small game hunters during the small game season.
2. Two hundred (200) square inches by fall
				  turkey hunters while traveling.
3.
				  Two hundred (200) square inches by muzzleloader deer hunters during
				  muzzleloading season.
4. Two
				  hundred (200) square inches by archers during muzzleloader deer season when
				  heading to/from an elevated stand.
5. Five hundred (500) square inches by all
				  hunters and other users (including archers) during shotgun deer
				  season.
6. Those hunters using
				  pop-up blinds during the firearms deer season must display two hundred (200)
				  square inches of fluorescent orange visible on the outside of the blind from
				  all directions. Hunters must also wear orange in accordance with the rules for
				  the specific season while in the blind.
7. Exempt from fluorescent orange
				  requirements are:
a. Waterfowl hunters hunting
				  from a boat or blind, over water or field, when done in conjunction with
				  decoys.
b. Archery deer hunters
				  (except during muzzleloader and shotgun deer season).
c. Hunters crow hunting over
				  decoys.
d. First segment dove
				  hunters.
e. Not required in areas
				  limited to archery only by Regulation.
8. All users of State Management Areas and
				  designated Undeveloped State Parks not exempt under §
											1.23(H)(7)
				  of this Part, including but not limited to: hikers, bikers and horseback
				  riders, are required to wear two hundred (200) square inches of solid daylight
				  fluorescent orange from the second Saturday in September to the last day of
				  February, and the third Saturday in April to the last day in May annually. Five
				  hundred (500) square inches required for all hunters (including archers) and
				  other users during shotgun deer season.