Caution, December 2, 2023 Is Opening Day Of Shotgun Deer Season

Be Safe! Be sure to wear at least 500 square inches of florescent orange  when hiking on state, federal, or other public and private open space.

Saturday December 2, is opening day of shotgun deer season.

Five hundred (500) square inches of solid Blaze Orange is required during shotgun deer season (December 2-January 2nd) by ALL users of State Management areas and designated undeveloped State Parks.

On private land, shotgun deer hunting may also be allowed, so it is safest to keep wearing 500 square inches of blaze orange in case you stray onto private land.

After the shotgun deer season, 200 sq. inches (usually a hat and/or a vest) of Blaze Orange is required until the last day of February and the third Saturday in April to the last day in May, annually.

The Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife Outdoor Education has created this easy to understand chart, below, so that you know when to wear blaze orange when visiting State Management Areas and undeveloped State Parks and other large open space properties where hunting might be happening.

All users of State Management Areas and undeveloped State Parks are required to wear at least 200 square inches of solid fluorescent orange during the hunting season. During shotgun season 500 square inches are required.

For more detailed information visit https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2023-08/huntabs.pdf