National Wildlife Refuge · Rhode Island · FWS Region 5

Block Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Block Island National Wildlife Refuge lies in Rhode Island, with about 109 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules and 3 open with special regulations, covering about 129 huntable acres.

2 open units3 with special regsPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
129huntable acres
109FWS-owned acres
2game categories

Block Island NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Block Island NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game and waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Approximately 12 miles offshore on picturesque Block Island, this small refuge provides important habitat for wildlife and supports an abundant white-tailed deer population.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Rhode Island regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Open: 64 (50%)Special regulations: 65 (50%)129huntable acres
  • Open64 ac 50%
  • Special regulations65 ac 50%
Units by size (acres)
Sandy Point
42 ac
Wash Pond
38 ac
Beane Point
22 ac
Skippers Island
17 ac
Grove Point
9.6 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Beane Point
Show on map · Directions		 Open 22 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 signed brochure required
Sandy Point
Show on map · Directions		 Open 42 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 signed brochure required
Grove Point
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 9.6 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 signed brochure required
Skippers Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 17 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 signed brochure required
Wash Pond
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 38 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 signed brochure required

Block Island NWR by the numbers

With about 129 huntable acres, Block Island NWR ranks #5 of 5 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Rhode Island and #405 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Sandy Point (42 acres), while the smallest, Grove Point, covers 9.6 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

Besides 109 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 20 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Block Island NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Rhode Island sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

signed brochure required

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)

You'll also need

  • A valid Rhode Island hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Rhode Island DEM Fish & Wildlife
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Block Island NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

The distinctive habitats on and around Block Island support some of the best sport-fishing in New England. With more than 300 freshwater ponds and the surrounding Atlantic Ocean, almost any type of fishing is available, depending on the season.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Block Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Block Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.22461, -71.57539
DMS
41°13′28.6″N 71°34′31.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Westerly, RI17 mi SE of town
  • Newport, RI23 mi SW of town
  • New London, CT29 mi E of town
  • Providence, RI42 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • PVD Providence T.F. Green35 mi
  • BDL Hartford Bradley76 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Block Island NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in New York local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:41 AM6:11 AM7:21 PM13h 10m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM6:57 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM6:30 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:07 PM11h 11m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM4:43 PM10h 27m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:28 PM9h 55m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM4:19 PM9h 27m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:18 PM9h 14m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM4:26 PM9h 15m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM4:40 PM9h 31m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:28 AM6:58 AM5:00 PM10h 03m

Computed for 41.225, -71.575 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Block Island NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

Block Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Block Island NWR?

Yes. Block Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (129 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Block Island NWR?

Yes — Block Island National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained online through fws. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Block Island NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Block Island NWR located?

Block Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Rhode Island, about 17 miles SE of Westerly, RI (straight-line). GPS: 41.22461, -71.57539.

What are legal shooting hours at Block Island NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Trustom Pond NWR

Washington County, RI · 10 mi N

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

368 huntable acres

Ninigret NWR

Washington County, RI · 11 mi NW

2 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

852 huntable acres

John H. Chafee NWR

Washington County, RI · 16 mi N

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

440 huntable acres

Sachuest Point NWR

Newport County, RI · 25 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

141 huntable acres

Amagansett NWR

Suffolk County, NY · 34 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Nomans Land Island NWR

MA · 40 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Rhode Island →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.