Rhode Island Hunting Laws
Rhode Island is a no-rifle deer state — modern centerfire rifles and handguns are not legal for deer hunting anywhere in the state. Only shotgun (10/12/16/20 gauge, slugs only, no buckshot), muzzleloader (.45 caliber or larger), and archery are permitted. Suppressors are also completely banned for civilian possession, not just hunting.
Rules checked against Rhode Island DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations, August 30, 2026.
At a Glance
Check a Cartridge in Rhode Island
Sourced Rules
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.
Rifle
1 ruleModern centerfire rifles are not legal for deer hunting anywhere in Rhode Island — only shotgun, muzzleloader, and archery/crossbow are authorized.
"Only a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, or long bow (straight limb, reflex, recurve, and compound bow) or crossbow and arrow shall be utilized in deer hunting"
R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-15-1(5) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Modern centerfire rifles are not legal for deer hunting anywhere in Rhode Island — only shotgun, muzzleloader, and archery/crossbow are authorized.
"Only a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, or long bow (straight limb, reflex, recurve, and compound bow) or crossbow and arrow shall be utilized in deer hunting" |
R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-15-1(5) | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
5 rulesDeer shotguns must be 10, 12, 16, or 20 gauge.
"Shotguns of ten (10), twelve (12), sixteen (16), or twenty (20) gauge are allowed."
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 · verified Aug 2026
Deer shotgun ammunition must be a single slug or sabot projectile; buckshot is prohibited at all times.
"a single lead or alloy projectile, including rifled slugs or sabot round. Buckshot is prohibited"
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 · verified Aug 2026
Shotguns holding more than 5 shells must be plugged to a 5-shell capacity for deer hunting.
"capable of holding more than five (5) shells... must be plugged with one (1) piece filler"
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 · verified Aug 2026
Turkey shotguns may be no larger than 10 gauge, with shot no larger than No. 4.
"Shotguns, no larger than ten (10) gauges with shot sizes no larger than four (4)"
250-RICR-60-00-9.13(H) · verified Aug 2026
Nontoxic shot is required statewide for waterfowl, rails, and snipe.
"No person shall hunt, pursue, shoot or attempt to take waterfowl, rails, or snipe within the State of Rhode Island...while possessing shells loaded with any shot other than non-toxic shot"
250-RICR-60-00-9 — waterfowl provisions · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Deer shotguns must be 10, 12, 16, or 20 gauge.
"Shotguns of ten (10), twelve (12), sixteen (16), or twenty (20) gauge are allowed." |
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Deer shotgun ammunition must be a single slug or sabot projectile; buckshot is prohibited at all times.
"a single lead or alloy projectile, including rifled slugs or sabot round. Buckshot is prohibited" |
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Shotguns holding more than 5 shells must be plugged to a 5-shell capacity for deer hunting.
"capable of holding more than five (5) shells... must be plugged with one (1) piece filler" |
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 | Aug 2026 |
|
Wild Turkey
|
Turkey shotguns may be no larger than 10 gauge, with shot no larger than No. 4.
"Shotguns, no larger than ten (10) gauges with shot sizes no larger than four (4)" |
250-RICR-60-00-9.13(H) | Aug 2026 |
|
Waterfowl
|
Nontoxic shot is required statewide for waterfowl, rails, and snipe.
"No person shall hunt, pursue, shoot or attempt to take waterfowl, rails, or snipe within the State of Rhode Island...while possessing shells loaded with any shot other than non-toxic shot" |
250-RICR-60-00-9 — waterfowl provisions | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Archery, and Crossbow
1 ruleShotgun, muzzleloader, and archery (long bow or crossbow) are the only legal deer-hunting weapon types in Rhode Island.
"Only a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, or long bow (straight limb, reflex, recurve, and compound bow) or crossbow and arrow shall be utilized in deer hunting"
R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-15-1(5) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Shotgun, muzzleloader, and archery (long bow or crossbow) are the only legal deer-hunting weapon types in Rhode Island.
"Only a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, or long bow (straight limb, reflex, recurve, and compound bow) or crossbow and arrow shall be utilized in deer hunting" |
R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-15-1(5) | Aug 2026 |
Handgun
1 ruleHandguns are not on Rhode Island's authorized weapons list for deer and are not legal for deer hunting.
"Only a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, or long bow... or crossbow and arrow shall be utilized in deer hunting — handguns are absent from this exclusive authorized-weapons list"
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Handguns are not on Rhode Island's authorized weapons list for deer and are not legal for deer hunting.
"Only a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, or long bow... or crossbow and arrow shall be utilized in deer hunting — handguns are absent from this exclusive authorized-weapons list" |
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rulesDeer muzzleloaders must be at least .45 caliber, single or double barrel only.
".45 caliber or larger using percussion caplock, flintlock, and in-line ignition systems"
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 · verified Aug 2026
Percussion caplock, flintlock, and in-line ignition systems are all legal for deer muzzleloaders.
"percussion caplock, flintlock, and in-line ignition systems using percussion caps, rifle, or shotshell primers"
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 · verified Aug 2026
Muzzleloader deer ammunition is limited to a single projectile (round ball, maxi-ball, or sabot).
"limited to a single projectile, including round ball, maxi ball type, or sabots"
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Deer muzzleloaders must be at least .45 caliber, single or double barrel only.
".45 caliber or larger using percussion caplock, flintlock, and in-line ignition systems" |
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Percussion caplock, flintlock, and in-line ignition systems are all legal for deer muzzleloaders.
"percussion caplock, flintlock, and in-line ignition systems using percussion caps, rifle, or shotshell primers" |
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Muzzleloader deer ammunition is limited to a single projectile (round ball, maxi-ball, or sabot).
"limited to a single projectile, including round ball, maxi ball type, or sabots" |
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 | Aug 2026 |
All Weapons
2 rulesOwning a suppressor in Rhode Island carries at least a year and a day in prison, with the only exception being supervised police tactical teams, so there is no lawful way to hunt with one. The ban is not keyed to federal registration, so ATF's 2026 non-enforcement changes nothing here.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"It shall be unlawful within this state to manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess any muffler, silencer, or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm when discharged; provided, however, that law enforcem..."
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20 · verified Oct 2026
During shotgun and other firearm deer seasons, 500 sq in of fluorescent orange visible from all sides is required; archery-only hunters are exempt except on Block Island during firearm portions of the season.
"five hundred (500) square inches of daylight fluorescent orange visible from all sides"
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
All species
|
Owning a suppressor in Rhode Island carries at least a year and a day in prison, with the only exception being supervised police tactical teams, so there is no lawful way to hunt with one. The ban is not keyed to federal registration, so ATF's 2026 non-enforcement changes nothing here.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"It shall be unlawful within this state to manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess any muffler, silencer, or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm when discharged; provided, however, that law enforcem..." |
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20 | Oct 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
During shotgun and other firearm deer seasons, 500 sq in of fluorescent orange visible from all sides is required; archery-only hunters are exempt except on Block Island during firearm portions of the season.
"five hundred (500) square inches of daylight fluorescent orange visible from all sides" |
250-RICR-60-00-9.7 | Aug 2026 |
Federal Rules That Apply in Every State
These federal requirements apply in Rhode Island on top of state law.
Sources
How to Use This Page
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Rhode Island DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations are the final word.