Great Swamp Shooting Range
Upcoming Range Closures:
The range will be closed to the public on Monday, August 25th, and Tuesday, August 26th, for scheduled berm maintenance. (with 9/8-9/9 as tentative rain dates). Thank you for your patience and understanding.
The range will close for the season on Friday, October 31st.
Welcome to the Great Swamp Shooting Range
Come visit and shoot at Rhode Island’s upgraded public shooting range offering a safe and environmentally-friendly experience. Not a permit holder yet? See below for how to get your permit.
GET YOUR FREE GREAT SWAMP RANGE PERMIT
The first step to enjoy shooting at the Great Swamp Range is to get your range permit. It is mandatory to obtain a range permit before using the Great Swamp Shooting Range. The application period is from February 1 through October 15 of the calendar year.
Permit applications are also available at the Great Swamp Office in West Kingston, at the Outdoor Education Office in Exeter, at the Great Swamp Range when operational, and by mail.
For New Range Users:
It is mandatory to obtain a range permit before using the Great Swamp Shooting Range. The application period is from February 1 through October 15 of the calendar year.
Instructions for New Range Users who are Adults:
Complete the application (above)
- Attach a copy of a government-issued picture ID (such as a state driver’s license)
- Attach a copy of your gun safety credentials such as:
- State-issued Hunter Safety Education Card
- State-issued Firearm Hunting License
- Rhode Island Pistol Carry Permit
- RI DEM Pistol/Revolver Certification Card (“Blue Card”)
- Police or Military ID (or DD-214)
- Equivalent certification as determined by the RI DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife.
- Mail to address indicated on the bottom of the form if using paper application.
Instructions for New Range Users who are Minors:
Parent or legal guardian must complete the application (above).
- Parent must attach their photo ID.
- No gun safety credential is required of a minor applicant, but they must be supervised by a permitted user over the age of 21 while using the range.
- Mail to the address indicated at the bottom of the form if using paper application.
- Once a minor reaches age 18, they must provide gun safety credentials and apply using the adult application.
For current full range regulations, see the RI Secretary of State website Title 250-60-00-12
Key Information
The range is open daily, including holidays. The 2025 season runs from April 4 through October 31. Shooting hours are from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekends.
Note: Hours of operation may vary due to staffing, training, and outreach activities, maintenance activities, and/or weather and environmental conditions.
The Great Swamp Range is located within the Great Swamp Management Area at 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston. Follow signs. (directions)
Discover the newly upgraded Great Swamp Shooting Range, Rhode Island’s premier public facility designed for safe, comfortable, and responsible shooting.
- Two covered shooting ranges:
- 50-yard range
- 100-yard range
- Baffles covered in mortar board to minimize ricochets and reduce noise.
- Allows centerfire rifle practice under the supervision of trained range officers.
- Redesigned benches
- Safety baffles and curtains between stations
- Solar-powered range office to reduce energy consumption
The range helps facilitate DEM’s Hunter Safety Education Program, focusing on:
- Safe storage, transport, handling, and shooting of firearms.
- Improving shooting accuracy for ethical and humane hunting.
- Sighting in firearms and adjusting scopes.
- Providing a structured environment for both adults and youth to practice safely.
Upcoming Hunter Education Courses & Events
Frequently Asked Questions
The Great Swamp Shooting Range is operated by the Division of Fish & Wildlife and offers public target shooting on a seasonal basis. A free permit is required prior to use and is available to both RI residents and out-of-state visitors. Non-permitted visitors are allowed, but they may not handle firearms.
The Great Swamp Shooting Range is located within the Great Swamp Management Area at: 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston, RI 02892. Continue past the office complex and follow the signs to the range. See this page for directions.
Firearms allowed at the range include handguns, shotguns, rimfire rifles, centerfire rifles, muzzleloader rifles, and air guns. The Division of Fish & Wildlife reserves the right to allow or disallow additional types of firearms as deemed appropriate.
Target range regulations can be found on the Secretary of State's website under section 12 of the Division of Fish & Wildlife's Regulations (250-RICR-60-00-12).
There is no direct phone line to the range. Contact the Range Supervisor at 401-575-6331 (M-F 8:30AM - 4:00PM) or Branton.Elleman.CTR@dem.ri.gov. The secondary contact is the Education Office at 401-539-0019. Please direct all mail to: RI Division of Fish & Wildlife - Education Office, 1-B Camp E-Hun-Tee Place, Exeter, RI 02822.
Applicants are encouraged to use the online application form on this page, but paper or PDF applications are also acceptable.
- Printed permit applications are available at the Great Swamp Office in West Kingston, at the Education Office in Exeter, at the Great Swamp Range when operational, and by mail request.
- Range permit applications are not processed on range property and should be mailed as directed.
For New Range Users:
It is mandatory to obtain a range permit before using the Great Swamp Shooting Range. The application period is from February 1 through October 15 of the calendar year.
Instructions for New Range Users who are Adults:
- Complete the application
- Attach a copy of a government-issued picture ID (such as a state driver’s license)
- Attach a copy of your gun safety certification such as:
- State-issued Hunter Safety Education Card
- State-issued Firearm Hunting License
- Rhode Island Pistol Carry Permit
- RI DEM Pistol/Revolver Certification Card (“Blue Card”)
- Police or Military ID (incl. DD-214)
- Equivalent certification as determined and approved by the RI DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife.
- Mail to address indicated on the form.
Instructions for New Range Users who are Minors:
- Parent or legal guardian must complete the application.
- Parent must attach their photo ID.
- No gun safety certification is required of a minor applicant, but they must be supervised by a permitted user over the age of 21 while using the range.
- Mail to the address indicated on the form.
- Once a minor reaches age 18, they must provide a gun safety certification of their own and apply using the adult application form.
Range permit holders are required to renew their permit and attend a range safety orientation every 5 years.
Instructions for Adults to renew their permit:
- Complete the application.
- Attach your expired permit, if available, and a copy of a government-issued photo ID (such as a state driver’s license)
- Mail to address indicated on the form. A copy of a gun safety certification is not required for renewals.
Instructions for Minors to renew their permit:
- Parent or guardian must complete the application, including a copy of a government-issued photo ID.
- Attach expired minor permit, if available.
- Mail to the address indicated on the form.
- Once a minor reaches age 18, they must provide gun safety certification of their own and apply using the adult application form.
Within approximately two business weeks, qualified applicants and renewal applicants will receive a letter indicating the dates and times of the Range Safety Orientations. Incomplete applications will be returned with a letter of explanation.
Both new users and renewals must attend a Range Safety Orientation in order to obtain your range permit. The Range Safety Orientations are held throughout the season at the Great Swamp Shooting Range and generally last less than one hour. No appointment is necessary. Adult applicants MUST bring a photo ID in order to participate in the Range Safety Orientation. Anyone age 18 and under must attend in the company of their parent or legal guardian.
Your permit application will remain active for the range season you applied in. If you fail to attend a range safety orientation in that time frame, you must reapply.
Adult (18+) Range Permits are issued for five years. Minor Range Permits are issued for five years unless the applicant will turn 18 within that time frame. The minor’s permit will always expire on their 18th birthday, at which time they must apply using the adult application.