Fish & Wildlife
Operational Updates
Great Swamp Management Area Notice: Rhode Island DEM is conducting fieldwork on Monday, October 5, and Thursday, October 8, to support design and planning for potential electrical improvements at the shooting range. Access to the management area will remain open. Work will take place between 7 AM and 5 PM along the proposed route from Great Neck Road south to the range and at locations around the range (see map). Please be aware of field crews, vehicles, and equipment, and use caution when traveling near work areas. For questions, please contact the RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife Outdoor Education Office at 401-539-0019.
Great Swamp Shooting Range Closures: To accommodate outdoor education programming, the range will be closed to the public on Wednesday, October 14, starting at 2:30 PM and Friday, October 16, for the full day. The range remains open on state-observed holidays, including for scheduled range orientations. Learn more about the range at dem.ri.gov/great-swamp-range
Big River Management Area: DEM will continue brush clearing this October to reduce wildfire risk. Find more project details at dem.ri.gov/forest-health-cuts
New boat ramps are coming to Keech Pond in Glocester and Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville! Expected to be completed in early spring 2027, the new ramps will improve accessibility and provide safer, more convenient access for boaters and paddlers. Starting this October, the parking area and ramps will be closed while crews construct new ramps and install new seasonal floating docks. We appreciate your patience during construction. More project details.
Quonochontaug (Quonnie) Breachway: The western side of the breachway is closed to vehicle traffic due to significant erosion impacting the area. Pedestrian and boat access are still allowed at the site. This closure does not include the eastern side of the Quonnie Breachway, and the public can still access the boat ramp. More project details.
About Fish & Wildlife
Our mission is to ensure that the Freshwater and Wildlife Resources of the State of Rhode Island will be conserved and managed for equitable and sustainable use.
As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in Rhode Island, hunting and fishing play an important role in connecting people with nature, supporting quality of life and family traditions, and attracting tourism. Fishers and hunters purchase around 70,000 licenses, permits, stamps, and tags each year and contribute more than $235 million to Rhode Island's economy. Revenue generated from license and permit sales support Rhode Island fish and wildlife conservation programs. A critical source of funding, these monies are leveraged to match federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program dollars that support outdoor recreational opportunities for fishing, hunting, and boating in Rhode Island.
Quick Links
- Purchase Fishing and/or Hunting License/Permits
- Freshwater Fisheries / Trout Fishing
- Bowdish Boat Ramp Parking Permits (Seasonal)
- Salvage Permit for Vehicle-Killed Wildlife
- Wildlife & You
- Printed Publications
- Preserving RI's Fish & Wildlife Resources
- Wildlife Management & Hunter Education
- Aquatic Resource Education Program
- Hunter Education Program
- Wildlife Outreach Program
- Volunteer With Us!
- RI Freshwater Fishing Regulation Guide
- RI Hunting & Trapping Regulation Guide
- DFW Agricultural Lease Opportunities
- Handgun Safety Certification (Blue Card)
- Great Swamp Shooting Range
