Rhode Island Deer Forecast: Whitetails in the Nation's Smallest State

This whitetail hunting forecast for the state of Rhode Island is part of Game & Fish’s “Great States" project identifying the best deer-hunting states in the country. Read more: America's Top Whitetail States

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Long Season, Liberal Bag Limits

Rhode Island, the smallest state in the United States, offers a lot for deer hunters with a long season and liberal bag limits.

Last year’s overall deer harvest of 2,794 isn’t a lot compared to other states, but it’s on the rise (2,705 deer the previous season) and your chances to bag a buck look quite good.

According to Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management data, 51 percent were antlered—overall the take included 1,692 males (61 percent) and 1,092 females (39 percent).

DID YOU KNOW?

PRIVATE-LAND SUCCESS RATE

In 2023-24, 73 percent of harvested deer in Rhode Island came from private land, according to state data.

There are four legal ways to deer hunt in Rhode Island (archery, crossbow, muzzleloader and shotgun), with muzzleloader responsible for 40 percent of the overall harvest. A month-long muzzleloader season begins the first Saturday of November during the rut.

The season bag limit is two antlered deer in most cases. Check the regs.

IT’S A FACT

FIELD TO TABLE

According to the state, Rhode Island’s 2023-24 deer harvest produced an estimated 49 tons of venison, the equivalent of 195,000 meals.

Rhode Island’s long season includes 154 days for open hunting, one of the longest seasons in the nation, running until the end of January.

Get more info: Detailed information on hunting seasons and rules can be found here.

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• Coming October 24: The annual Regional Rut Update begins weekly expert reports on whitetail activity from the woods near year. Sign up for the newsletter.

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