Read from Department of Environmental Management on August 23, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Department of Environmental Management before you hunt.
Open the official Rhode Island regulationsHunting Rhode Island this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Rhode Island is part of the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through February 13, 2027, with 19 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Environmental Management within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for verifying current regulations with your state or provincial wildlife agency before every hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | Oct 9 – Oct 12 First Split | 6 Mallard: 4 (2 hens max); Black Duck: 2; Canvasback: 2; Pintail: 3; Redhead: 2; Wood Duck: 3; Scaup: 1 (part of 6-duck bag); Sea Ducks: 4 aggregate (max 3 Scoter, 3 Eider [1 hen], 3 Long-tailed Ducks), counted within 6-duck bag. | 18 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split | 6 Mallard: 4 (2 hens max); Black Duck: 2; Canvasback: 2; Pintail: 3; Redhead: 2; Wood Duck: 3; Scaup: 1 (part of 6-duck bag); Sea Ducks: 4 aggregate (max 3 Scoter, 3 Eider [1 hen], 3 Long-tailed Ducks), counted within 6-duck bag. | 18 | |
| Dec 5 – Jan 4 Third Split - First Portion (Scaup limit 1) | 6 Mallard: 4 (2 hens max); Black Duck: 2; Canvasback: 2; Pintail: 3; Redhead: 2; Wood Duck: 3; Scaup: 1 (part of 6-duck bag); Sea Ducks: 4 aggregate (max 3 Scoter, 3 Eider [1 hen], 3 Long-tailed Ducks), counted within 6-duck bag. | 18 | |
| Jan 5 – Jan 24 Third Split - Second Portion (Scaup limit 2) | 6 Mallard: 4 (2 hens max); Black Duck: 2; Canvasback: 2; Pintail: 3; Redhead: 2; Wood Duck: 3; Scaup: 2 (part of 6-duck bag); Sea Ducks: 4 aggregate (max 3 Scoter, 3 Eider [1 hen], 3 Long-tailed Ducks), counted within 6-duck bag. | 18 | |
| Jan 5 – Jan 24 Third Split - Second Scaup Period | 6 Mallard - 4 (2 hens max); Black Duck - 2; Canvasback - 2; Pintail - 3; Redhead - 2; Wood Duck - 3; Scaup - 2; Sea Ducks - 4 (not to exceed 3 Scoter, 3 Eider (1 hen), or 3 Long-tailed Ducks); Other Duck Species - 6. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Scaup limit increases to 2 starting Jan 5, 2027 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Scaup limit 1, counted within 6-duck daily bag; applies Oct 9–Jan 4, 2027 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Nov 25–Nov 29 · Scaup limit 1 through Jan 4, 2027 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Dec 5–Jan 4 · Scaup limit 1 through Jan 4, 2027 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Scaup limit increases to 2 from Jan 5; counted within 6-duck aggregate | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · Scaup limit increases to 2 starting Jan 5, 2027 | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · Scaup limit 1, counted within 6-duck daily bag; applies Oct 9–Jan 4, 2027 | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · Nov 25–Nov 29 · Scaup limit 1 through Jan 4, 2027 | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · Dec 5–Jan 4 · Scaup limit 1 through Jan 4, 2027 | 1 | 3 |
1Mallard: 4 (2 hens max); Black Duck: 2; Canvasback: 2; Pintail: 3; Redhead: 2; Wood Duck: 3; Scaup: 1 (part of 6-duck bag); Sea Ducks: 4 aggregate (max 3 Scoter, 3 Eider [1 hen], 3 Long-tailed Ducks), counted within 6-duck bag.
2Scaup limit is 1 during Oct 9–12 through Jan 4, 2027.
3Scaup limit is 1 during Nov 25–29 (through Jan 4, 2027).
4Scaup limit is 1 during Dec 5–Jan 4, 2027. Scaup increases to 2 starting Jan 5.
5Mallard: 4 (2 hens max); Black Duck: 2; Canvasback: 2; Pintail: 3; Redhead: 2; Wood Duck: 3; Scaup: 2 (part of 6-duck bag); Sea Ducks: 4 aggregate (max 3 Scoter, 3 Eider [1 hen], 3 Long-tailed Ducks), counted within 6-duck bag.
6Scaup limit increases to 2 starting January 5, 2027.
7Mallard - 4 (2 hens max); Black Duck - 2; Canvasback - 2; Pintail - 3; Redhead - 2; Wood Duck - 3; Scaup - 2; Sea Ducks - 4 (not to exceed 3 Scoter, 3 Eider (1 hen), or 3 Long-tailed Ducks); Other Duck Species - 6.
8Third split Jan 5–24 with scaup limit 2.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 Early Season | 15 Daily bag limit includes white-fronted geese. Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset for September season only. | 45 |
| Nov 21 – Nov 29 Regular Season - First Split | 2 Daily bag limit includes white-fronted geese. Special permits required for South Shore Management Area. Field reservations required at SSMA. | 6 | |
| Dec 5 – Jan 24 Regular Season - Second Split | 2 Daily bag limit includes white-fronted geese. Special permits required for South Shore Management Area. | 6 | |
| Canada Goose Late Season Area7,8 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 Late Season | 5 Limited to Providence, Bristol and Kent counties and portions of Washington County as described in RIHR §9.11(B)(3)(d). Map on pages 16–17. | 15 |
1Daily bag limit includes white-fronted geese. Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset for September season only.
2Canada goose early season; shooting hours extend to 1/2 hour after sunset unlike other waterfowl.
3Daily bag limit includes white-fronted geese. Special permits required for South Shore Management Area. Field reservations required at SSMA.
4Canada goose regular season first split; SSMA requires special permit and field reservation.
5Daily bag limit includes white-fronted geese. Special permits required for South Shore Management Area.
6Canada Goose Regular Season second split. Footnote **: daily bag limit includes white-fronted geese.
7Limited to Providence, Bristol and Kent counties and portions of Washington County as described in RIHR §9.11(B)(3)(d). Map on pages 16–17.
8Canada goose late season; geographically restricted to specific counties; SSMA is closed during late season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Dec 26 – Jan 24 Brant | 1 | 3 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 14 – Jan 24 | 25 No possession limit. | – |
1No possession limit.
2Snow Goose (including Blue Goose) season; no possession limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Oct 9 – Oct 12 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec 5 – Jan 24 Third Split | 15 | 45 |
1Coots concurrent with duck season; daily bag limit 15.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 9 – Oct 12 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split | 5 | 15 | |
| Dec 5 – Jan 24 Third Split | 5 | 15 |
1Mergansers concurrent with duck season; daily bag limit 5 as stated separately in the table.
2Mergansers concurrent with duck season; daily bag limit 5.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 Youth Days | 6 Open to youth hunters age 12–17 accompanied by a licensed adult 21 years of age or older; may take ducks, sea ducks, geese, and brant. Same bag limits as regular season. | 18 |
1Open to youth hunters age 12–17 accompanied by a licensed adult 21 years of age or older; may take ducks, sea ducks, geese, and brant. Same bag limits as regular season.
2Youth waterfowl days; bag limits same as regular season (ducks: 6, geese: 2, etc.)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 10 – Nov 11 | 6 Proof of eligibility required and must be carried on person while hunting. Must have HIP permit, RI State Waterfowl Stamp, and Federal Duck Stamp plus current RI hunting license. May take ducks, mergansers, coots, Canada geese, light geese, and brant. Scaup bag limit: 2. | 18 |
1Proof of eligibility required and must be carried on person while hunting. Must have HIP permit, RI State Waterfowl Stamp, and Federal Duck Stamp plus current RI hunting license. May take ducks, mergansers, coots, Canada geese, light geese, and brant. Scaup bag limit: 2.
2New for 2026-2027. Same bag limits as regular season; scaup sub-limit 2.
Spring 2027 turkey season
Checked October 16, 2026.
Official regulations
Rhode Island DEM Division of Fish and WildlifeZones, tags, bag limits and public-land rules.
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See the turkey hunting appOfficial regulations
Rhode Island DEM Division of Fish and WildlifeThe state sets the deer seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
Log your deer hunts free in BlindBook.
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See the deer hunting appOfficial regulations
Rhode Island DEM Division of Fish & WildlifeThe state sets the upland bird seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
Log your upland bird hunts free in BlindBook.
Pin spots on the map, log every hunt and see your season add up.
See the upland bird hunting appSeason dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on August 23, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.