It looks as though my duty station wil be changing from Pensacola Fl to Newport RI sometime in the fall of 2007. As a native born child of the Rocky Mountain west, I'm curious as to what kind of hunting I can expect there.

I've hunted whitetails in several places, Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida etc... but never in a state as restricted in space as Rhode Island. I've done some research on the web and see they take some decent bucks, but I don't see much info on available public land. I don't know a single person in the state of RI and that complicates matters some.

Is there anybody here that can give me some info? I'm especially interested in people that actually live and hunt there. I'm a Colorado Native and would be more than happy to recipricate with helping someone with Mule Deer, Elk and Pronghorn.

Any takers?

Mac

While I don't hunt in Rhode Island I do hunt in New England. In general is not all that difficult to get permission to hunt on private land.

Many of us travel to hunt in New England. For instance it's only a few hours ride to Maine from RI where there is lots of land.

Look up the specific laws in RI on what guns and bows can be used where and when.

Sounds like your in the military. That should be an advantage in getting permission. Keep in mind that out West many hold their hand out for permission. It's not like that in New England where it's free to hunt if someone says it's ok.

I am familiar with hunting in nearby Connecticut which may be only a short drive from RI. CT allows deer hunting with long seasons and even rifles on private land on small parcels.

In Rhody there are a few choices, mostly WTD and small game from what friends have said (I don't hunt RI), but as was said, within a few hours' drive you have MA, NH, VT, CT and ME. Deer, bear, moose (draw only) are all chased here, and we have some good waterfowling and decent small game hunting (snowshoes, cottontails, squirrels, grouse, woodcock, etc.). Hit me on PM some time if you like and I can help get you started, maybe take you out if you're game (pun intended).

Oh, and if you enjoy salt water fishing, you're in for a nice surprise. Bluefish, stripers, bonito, false albacore, bluefin tuna, cod, haddock, mackerel, pollock, flounder, fluke...Tons of excellent saltwater fishing right in and around Newport and adjacent waters. Same goes for freshwater up north.

Cheers,

KG

What Kamo Gari said. I'd be happy to take you out for bear or deer in NH or some great sriper or small mouth fishing as well.

You mean its still legal to own a gun in RI!

I don't know if you have any interest in waterfowl hunting but there is fantastic duck/goose hunting along the RI coast. Also remeber that you can fit all of new england inside some western states so it's no big deal to drive up to Maine or Vermont. New York and Pennsylvania are also with in a few hours drive. I have hunted deer in RI but on private land. There are better places to hunt deer within a few hours drive.

MAC,

An early welcome to New England! We have mountains and snow in Vermont if you feel out of place. No, the rocks are not as tall as Colorado but they will do!

I can host you for whitetail and turkey, maybe even bear. Moose are on draw here.

Many thanks to all who have reponded. I'll send some PM's to some of you after the holidays. I'm mostly interested in a couple deer for the freezer, maybe some small game and I didn't even think about the waterfowl. I used to shoot lots of ducks, but since I'm in the Navy, over 17 years now, it's a little hard to drag all the decoys round. Duck hunting would be fun.

I'd like to get into a bear or two as well. I've taken a couple of them out west, and a fellow can never have too many bear skins. The wife tends to disagree, but what the heck.

Cheers and a Happy Holiday to you all. I'll be offline for at least a week.

Cheers

Mac