Rhode Island § 20-13-18 - Hunting and Hunting Safety

§ 20-13-18. Captive hunting prohibited.

(a) As used in this section, the term “captive hunting” means a hunt that occurs within a structure designed to restrict the free movement of animals created by the use of fences, man-made structures, and/or natural barriers, including, but not limited to, private lands set up as hunting or shooting preserves or game ranches, wherein the animal is restricted from escaping or fleeing from the confined area during the hunt.

(b) No species of animal whether domestic or wild, whether exotic to the state or naturally occurring in the state, may be imported into the state or released on any property within the state for purposes of conducting captive hunting.

(c) No native or domestic species of the state shall be intentionally or unintentionally captured or restricted of free movement by the use of fences, man-made structures, and/or natural barriers for the purpose of conducting captive hunting.

(d) The term captive hunting shall not apply to the release of domestic game birds for hunting, whether on public property or on private property properly licensed by the department of environmental management (“department”) as a shooting preserve, or to field trials conducted in accordance with the provisions of this title and properly licensed by the department.