Goose Hunting
South Shore Management Area (SSMA) Goose Hunting Cooperative
Permits
- Required for all goose hunters during the regular Canada goose season (November 23 - December 1, and December 7, 2024 - January 26, 2025).
- Must be obtained from the online licensing system at rio.ri.gov or from the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Great Swamp Field Headquarters, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston.
- License document with SSMA permit certification must be carried while goose hunting at the SSMA and must be shown to any DEM Environmental Police Officer or Division of Fish and Wildlife employee upon request.
Field Reservations
- Required for Canada goose hunting during the regular goose season (November 23 - December 1, and December 7, 2024 - January 26, 2025). See SSMA packet for more information.
Harvest Reporting
- Goose and other waterfowl harvest reporting is no longer required for South Shore Management Area.
Additional SSMA Goose Hunting Regulations
- See information packet provided with the goose hunting permit or online (http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/waterfowlab-ssma.pdf) for additional rules and regulations for goose hunting in the SSMA.
- SSMA is CLOSED during the late goose season: February 1 - 15, 2025.
Additional Hunting Restrictions at SSMA
Dove hunting is allowed in Areas 1, 3, 5 and 6 except during the regular goose season. Doves may be taken by permitted goose hunters while goose hunting when the field reservation system is in place during the open dove season. Possession of lead shot for taking doves while goose hunting is prohibited.
Upland game hunting is allowed only in Areas 5 and 6 during the upland game season except during the regular Canada goose seasons. All upland game hunting is prohibited during regular goose season, including Youth Waterfowl Weekend.
Deer and Turkey hunting is allowed as follows, but discharge of firearms and archery equipment are only allowed within in the wooded section of the Areas; however, deer and turkey may be in the field when harvested.
- Deer hunting during the archery season is allowed only in Areas 3, 5, and 6 including during the regular Canada goose season when the field reservation system is occurring.
- Deer hunting during the muzzleloader season is allowed in Areas 5 and 6, except during the regular Canada Goose season when the blind reservation system is occurring.
- Turkey hunting is allowed in Areas 3, 5, and 6 during the spring and fall turkey season.
Waterfowl hunting is allowed outside of the regular Canada goose season but within legal waterfowl seasons and without special hunting permits, reservation, or decoy restrictions, once crops are harvested. The taking of ducks during legal duck seasons is permitted while goose hunting.
Non-toxic shot is required per Federal regulation for all dove, duck (including coot and merganser), and goose hunting in Area 1 at South Shore Management Area.
Violations of any SSMA regulations, state management area regulations, and/or any state or federal hunting laws will result in loss of hunting privileges on the SSMA for a period of one year, beginning from the date of the violation.
For additional information, see the RI Hunting Regulations or call the Division of Fish and Wildlife at (401) 789-0281.
