National Wildlife Refuge · Rhode Island · FWS Region 5

John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Washington County, Rhode Island, John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 562 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 7 mapped hunt units: 6 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 440 huntable acres.

6 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
7hunt units
440huntable acres
562FWS-owned acres
4game categories

John H. Chafee 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 John H. Chafee NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and small game, 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.

The tidal salt marshes and forests at John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge support many wildlife species, including geese, ducks, white-tailed deer and wild turkey.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeySmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

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 (7)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 440 (78%)Closed: 123 (22%)440huntable acres
  • Special regulations440 ac 78%
  • Closed123 ac 22%
Units by size (acres)
Foddering Farms
129 ac
Stedman
129 ac
Closed to Hunting
123 ac
Middlebridge
99 ac
Congdon Cove
50 ac
Starr Drive
26 ac
Sedge Island
5.9 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Congdon Cove
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 50 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 all hunting opportunities require signed brochure
Foddering Farms
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 129 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 all hunting opportunities require signed brochure
Middlebridge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 99 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 all hunting opportunities require signed brochure
Sedge Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5.9 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 all hunting opportunities require signed brochure
Starr Drive
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 26 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 all hunting opportunities require signed brochure
Stedman
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 129 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 all hunting opportunities require signed brochure
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 123 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 all hunting opportunities require signed brochure

John H. Chafee NWR by the numbers

With about 440 huntable acres, John H. Chafee NWR ranks #2 of 5 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Rhode Island and #385 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 78% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Foddering Farms (129 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Sedge Island, covers 5.9 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 123 acres is closed to hunting (Closed to Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 562 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3.0 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt John H. Chafee 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, Wild Turkey, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

all hunting opportunities require signed brochure

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

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 John H. Chafee NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Saltwater fishing is allowed in designated areas per Rhode Island state regulations, but there are very few shoreline access points and no trails at John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge.

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

How to get to John H. Chafee NWR

Navigate

Destination: John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.44580, -71.46596
DMS
41°26′44.9″N 71°27′57.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Newport, RI8.6 mi W of town
  • Westerly, RI19 mi E of town
  • Providence, RI26 mi S of town
  • New Bedford, MA31 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • PVD Providence T.F. Green19 mi
  • BOS Boston Logan67 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 John H. Chafee 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, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM6:57 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM6:29 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:06 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM4:42 PM10h 26m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:27 PM9h 54m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM4:17 PM9h 26m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:17 PM9h 12m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM4:25 PM9h 14m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM4:39 PM9h 29m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:28 AM6:58 AM4:59 PM10h 02m

Computed for 41.446, -71.466 (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 John H. Chafee 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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

John H. Chafee NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at John H. Chafee NWR?

Yes. John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 6 units (440 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt John H. Chafee NWR?

Yes — John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. 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 John H. Chafee NWR?

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

Where is John H. Chafee NWR located?

John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge is in Washington County, Rhode Island, about 9 miles W of Newport, RI (straight-line). GPS: 41.44580, -71.46596.

What are legal shooting hours at John H. Chafee 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 · 7.8 mi SW

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

368 huntable acres

Sachuest Point NWR

Newport County, RI · 12 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

141 huntable acres

Ninigret NWR

Washington County, RI · 12 mi SW

2 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

852 huntable acres

Block Island NWR

RI · 16 mi S

2 open3 special
🦌🦆🎣

129 huntable acres

Nomans Land Island NWR

MA · 36 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

North Attleboro NFH

Bristol County, MA · 39 mi N

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in Rhode Island →

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