The only thing Maddie Proulx stalked while growing up in Warwick was bugs, creating insect “villages” in her yard and inviting friends and family to view the habitats. “My family wasn’t particularly outdoorsy,” she says. “I went fishing a handful of times, but never hunted as a kid.”
At age 26, however, Proulx is not only an avid member of Rhode Island’s close-knit hunting community, she also helps run the state Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) hunter education program — part of the surprisingly robust (and affordable) state resources available to both novice and experienced hunters and anglers in the Ocean State.
A petite young woman who stands not too much taller than her hunting rifle, Proulx cuts an unexpected figure as part of the face of shooting sports in Rhode Island. Suburban Warwick isn’t exactly the open range, nor did Pilgrim High School have a gun club or other hunting and fishing social organizations found at schools in more rural communities. Nonetheless, “I was fascinated by the idea of being self-sustaining and eager to learn more about that lifestyle,” Proulx recalls. “The concept of hunting intrigued me, and as a girl, it was something different. I realized that hunting was crucial for self-sustainability. Harvesting my own meat rather than buying it from the store was eye-opening.”
A high school friend who hunted introduced her to the state’s Hunter Safety course, which Proulx passed, and subsequently got her hunting license. For her senior project, she asked her DEM instructor to mentor her in cleaning and preparing a pheasant donated by Addieville East Farm, a hunting, fly fishing, and sporting clays center in Mapleville (learn more on page 29).
“I demonstrated that hunting isn’t just about the kill; it’s also about respecting the process,” she recalls. “The judges also enjoyed the meal.”
Like almost everything in Rhode Island, the local hunting population is tiny. In 2023, the state sold about 8,000 hunting licenses, or 0.7 for every 100 people — the second lowest rate in the US.
“The hunting community here is small,” says Proulx. “Everyone knows everyone because it’s Rhode Island.”
The number of people who fish in Rhode Island, by contrast, is huge, with more than 50,000 recreational fishing license holders. Between recreational and commercial, fishing contributes an estimated $419 million to the state economy each year.
Despite the disparity in participation, however, the state’s resources for hunting and fishing are vast — at least in proportion to Rhode Island’s small size. One of the richest fisheries on the east coast, Narragansett Bay alone covers 150 square miles, and the state’s water area is nearly half that of its land mass. Saltwater fishing predominates — this is, after all, the Ocean State — but the state also has about 100 lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams that are designated freshwater fishing areas, many of which are stocked with trout by DEM each spring.
As for hunting grounds, more than half of the state — 370,000 acres — is forested. DEM manages over 60,000 acres of public land, most of which is available to hunters and trappers, and some private property owners also permit hunting on their land.
Rhode Island allows hunting of a surprisingly diverse list of species, from the familiar (deer, turkey) to the unusual (pheasant, mourning doves) to the unexpected (coyotes, fox, rabbits, squirrel). Most hunting in the state takes place from camouflaged blinds or tree stands, although pheasant hunters typically pursue the birds using hunting dogs that flush them from their hiding spots. State law sets limits on how many animals can be taken, although hunters are usually satisfied if they come home with even one kill.
“Deer have gotten smarter over the years: they look up for people in the trees now,” says John Dexter, president of Narragansett Bow Hunters, an archery club based in Exeter. “It’s a real challenge.”
Fur trapping, practiced by the Native American inhabitants of Rhode Island for thousands of years, continues into the 21st century, notably beaver trapping. “When I was a kid, we had no beavers,” says Jim Trappero, hunter safety education coordinator for DEM’s Fish and Wildlife division. “Now, they’re everywhere. They’re rodents, so they’re prolific.” In fact, beavers have become so common in Rhode Island that the trapping limit for residents was recently raised from 20 to 40 per season.
Hunters may use bows (long, re-curve, compound, and crossbows) to bag game, as well as shotguns and muzzle-loading rifles. A state license is required whether you hunt with a bow or a gun. “Archery is a lot cheaper than guns, but it’s a lot harder to kill an animal with a bow and arrow,” says Dexter.
Only handheld rod and reel fishing is permitted in the fresh waters of Rhode Island. Fly-fishing has become increasingly popular, says Kimberly Sullivan, DEM’s aquatic resource education coordinator and principal fisheries biologist. “We have a big community, and the Wood River is one of the best resources,” she says. “It used to be an elite sport, but now it’s more accessible, with cheaper gear.”
In addition to line fishing for 18 species of finfish, recreational saltwater fishing regulations allow Rhode Islanders to trap lobsters with up to five traps or dive to catch the tasty crustaceans. Up to 25 blue crabs a day and five horseshoe crabs a day can also be harvested, and shellfishers can take conch, quahogs, soft-shell clams, oysters, scallops, and surf clams.
Boats, docks, bridges, piers, and beaches are all options for saltwater fishing, and fish are generally abundant in Narragansett Bay. “The bay is cleaner than it was 50 years ago, and the ecosystem is improving,” says Sullivan.
Both private clubs and DEM offer a wide range of instruction to hunters and anglers, from the safety and proficiency courses needed to get a hunting license to basic instruction on hunting and fishing and specialized programs on topics like tying flies and dressing a deer. Most classes are free to state residents or offered for a nominal fee; the mandatory online hunter safety course costs about $25.
“A lot of these outdoor skills are no longer being passed from generation to generation,” notes Sullivan, who adds, “A saltwater license is $7 if you’re a state resident; a freshwater license is $18.50. That’s cheaper than a movie ticket.” Hunting licenses are $21 per year for adults, $14 for youths.
DEM’s free Come Clamming with Me class is popular with both residents and visitors interested in learning about the traditional art of quahogging. “You can use a rake or just dig them with your feet,” says Proulx, who runs the classes at local beaches four times a year. The agency also offers a class called Vamos a Pescar – Take Me Fishing to introduce fishing to urban residents, learn-to-fish sessions for kids and adults at the Carolina Trout Hatchery, and expert-led hunts for novice hunters.
The 40-plus DEM administered management areas are the state’s prime hunting areas, although hunting also is permitted at some state parks, Nature Conservancy properties, and National Wildlife Refuges. These range from well-known protected lands like Arcadia Management Area in Exeter and the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge in Charlestown to lesser known spots like Prudence Island and Patience Island in Narragansett Bay.
Rules vary from location to location regarding what can be hunted or caught, what weapons and traps can be used, and the time of year hunting can take place. For example, only coyote hunting is permitted on Patience Island, whereas bow hunters can go after deer and raccoons on Prudence Island.
Nicholas Farm Management Area in Coventry is particularly well known for hunting pheasant (DEM stocks birds here annually for hunting), while the South Shore Management Area in Charlestown has public pit blinds surrounding a goose landing field, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“The public lands can get crowded; you sometimes have to camp or hike to get to the best spots,” says Proulx. However, some private landowners welcome hunters onto their property, particularly if they’re having problems with an overabundance of deer. “Don’t be afraid to ask people if you can hunt on their private property,” she says.
Fishing areas are less restricted. Other than places closed to shellfishing or other fishing due to pollution, fish can be reeled in from almost any boat or beach in the state as long as you stay below the mean high-tide line. Common catches include striped bass, bluefish, tautog, and sea bass.
There are countless lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams on public land open to freshwater fishing. DEM stocks brown, brook, rainbow, and golden rainbow trout in 110 locations each spring; if you catch a golden rainbow trout, you can take a photo of this rare fish and receive a special pin from DEM. Native large-mouth bass lurk in locations like Breakheart Pond in Exeter and Worden Pond in South Kingstown. You also may hook carp, perch, pickerel, pike, bullheads, and catfish.
Not everyone who picks up a bow or a gun uses it to hunt: some Rhode Islanders limit their shooting to the range rather than aiming at live targets. Gun clubs across the state operate shooting ranges, and DEM has a public range in the Great Swamp Management Area that also includes a clay-shooting course.
While live hunts are prohibited on Narragansett Bowhunters’ 47-acre property, the club offers a monthly 3D target hunt where about 30 lifelike animals (including deer, elk, rabbits, alligators, and buffalo) are targeted; members of the public are welcome, and the cost is just $15.
For many Rhode Island anglers and hunters, however, enjoyment of the sport is not just for thrills, but to put food on the table. “I primarily trap for meat: it’s healthier and I get to go out and participate in the food chain,” says Trappero.
“It’s crucial to me that I utilize every part of the animal I harvest,” adds Proulx, who hunts deer and game birds like wild turkeys and Canada geese. “I take the life of an animal very seriously, and have profound respect for the creatures I hunt. Even if I don’t bring something home, the experience of waking up with the birds and witnessing a beautiful sunrise makes those 3am alarm clock mornings worthwhile.”
Take note of fall programs from DEM
By Emily Lynch,
DEM chief program development,
digital content strategy
CAMP: Fun and affordable, campsites can be found tucked into the woods or just a stone’s throw from the shore. Burlingame State Campground in Charlestown is open through October 14. Fishermen Memorial Campground in Narragansett, George Washington Memorial Campground in Chepachet, and Charlestown Breachway are open through October 31.
FISH: DEM staff will restart trout stocking this October when water temperatures are lower, usually around the holiday weekend. DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife operates several fish hatcheries. The Lafayette Trout Hatchery in North Kingstown is regularly open to the public.
LEARN: The public is invited to connect with the outdoors and learn some new skills at fishing days, hunter education classes, guided walks, and more. Most are set to occur in Exeter, North Kingstown, and the East Bay.
SHOP: DEM has a new RI Grown marketing program to promote locally grown commodities and connect people with the people who grow them via interactive tools at DEM.RI.gov/rigrown.
STANDOUT: Remember, orange is the new plaid when getting outdoors this season. Orange safety clothing must be worn by everyone in state management areas and undeveloped state parks, including hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, to stay
visible to hunters.
Learn more at DEM.RI.gov and RIParks.RI.gov
Autumn is in all its glory in the northern part of the state. Winding roads pass forests, farms, and brooks, and deep in the woods, you’ll find Robin Hollow Outfitters. Under the radar for most, this destination is a boutique sporting goods shop specializing in antique and vintage equipment and goods for collectors and hobbyists.
“What we really sell is a lifestyle,” says owner Bill Hadfield. “Bird dogs, fly fishing, target shooting, the whole package. People want to return to ‘a day gone by,’ a phrase we use a lot.” The shop is situated on Addieville East Farm, a 1,000-acre preserve in Mapleville that offers fishing, bird hunting, and clay target shooting. The farm hosts corporate retreats, private functions, and fundraising events including the (former New England Patriot) Matt Light Celebrity Shoot-Out every September.
“What draws people in is the romance of the shotguns we sell, primarily vintage guns, from the turn of the century up to modern. We don’t sell the guns you see on the news; we cater to collectors, investors, the vintage gun crowd, with guns that are 50 to 150 years old,” says Hadfield. “Our business is a blend between American Pickers and a museum. We’re very much a boutique; we cater to those pursuing an investment grade shotgun or something historic. They’re old, they’re smoky, they tell a story, and they have a history.”
The business is customer-driven, prioritizing one-on-one relationships. “When people walk through the door this fall and winter, we’ll have a fireplace roaring and classical music playing,” says Hadfield. “We go back to a day gone by when the vast majority of people in the US either hunted or knew someone that did. We cater to that old-school mentality.”
For the less experienced, Robin Hollow offers individualized training on the specific model purchased. “We give them a one-on-one lesson,” adds Hadfield. “In 20 minutes, we show them everything from safety to handling to cleaning the gun correctly.” Learn more at RobinHollow.com; Addieville.com
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