Rhode Island Wildlife Area: hunting rules and map
Rhode Island Wildlife Area is 106 acres of CDFW land in Contra Costa County, in CDFW's Bay Delta Region. Title 14, Section 551 lists it as Type C: open daily for hunting all legal species without a hunting pass, except where CDFW's area rules say otherwise. CDFW limits hunting here to: Waterfowl, coot, and moorhen only. It lies in deer Zone A, where CDFW estimates 9,184 deer were taken in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: CDFW's 2026-2027 land use regulations (updated July 1, 2026). Boundary and acres: CDFW. Zones: CDFW. Land around it: CPAD 2026a.
CDFW landState parkRhode Island WADeer zone lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 106 acres (CDFW boundary) |
|---|---|
| CDFW region | Region 3, Bay Delta Region |
| County | Contra Costa |
| Wildlife area type | Type C |
| Species that may be hunted | Waterfowl, coot, and moorhen only. |
| Camping | Not listed in section 551(m), so not allowed |
| Deer zone | Zone A |
| Nearest towns | Bethel Island (3 mi), Knightsen (5 mi) and Oakley (6 mi) |
What are CDFW's rules for Rhode Island Wildlife Area?
As a Type C area, Rhode Island WA needs no hunting pass; the rows below are CDFW's own limits for it.
| Rule | Unit | CDFW's words |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms | Whole area | Rifles and pistols are prohibited. |
| Species that may be hunted | Whole area | Waterfowl, coot, and moorhen only. |
Source: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations, Title 14, Section 551. CDFW's page for Rhode Island Wildlife Area has maps and contacts. Deer, elk and pronghorn hunting also follow the zone's own season and tag.
What does CDFW say about Rhode Island Wildlife Area?
Rhode Island Wildlife Area is a 67-acre island, the perimeter of which contains alder, willow, blackberry and tules. The marsh vegetation of tules and cattails exists in water up to several feet deep. Island habitat provides for river otters, beavers, muskrat and many species of birds, including: nesting wood duck, cinnamon teal, mallards, great blue heron, black crowned night heron, common and snowy egrets, and other riparian-associated passerines.
On hunting, CDFW's page says: Type C: Rhode Island Wildlife Area does not require the purchase of a hunting pass for entry. Entry permits and/or passes or special drawing may be required for hunting on some Type C wildlife areas. Facilities: None
CDFW lists waterfowl hunting for the area, and also wildlife viewing and fishing.
From CDFW's page for Rhode Island Wildlife Area, read October 2026.
Which hunt zones is Rhode Island Wildlife Area in?
CDFW's numbers for each zone are for the whole zone, not the wildlife area alone.
| Zone | Acres of Rhode Island WA in it | CDFW's latest numbers for the zone |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone A | 106 | 9,184 deer taken in 2025, 34.2% hunter success; 2026 general season August 8 to September 20 |
Harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres measured by FilledTag from CDFW's boundaries.
What public land is around Rhode Island Wildlife Area?
Within 4 miles of its boundary, CPAD 2026a maps 2,909 acres of state park land and 114 acres of CDFW land.
How do you get to Rhode Island Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: CA 4 and CA 12. Nearest towns: Bethel Island (3 miles), Knightsen (5 miles), Oakley (6 miles) and Discovery Bay (6 miles). CDFW's page for the area gives directions and parking.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Rhode Island Wildlife Area?
Yes. Section 551 lists it as Type C. Species: Waterfowl, coot, and moorhen only.
Can you camp on Rhode Island Wildlife Area?
No. Section 551(m) does not list Rhode Island Wildlife Area, and camping is prohibited on wildlife areas it does not list (Section 550(p)).
Which deer zone is Rhode Island Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in deer Zone A, by CDFW's boundaries. CDFW estimates 9,184 deer were taken in Zone A in 2025, across the whole zone.
What is the closest town to Rhode Island Wildlife Area?
Bethel Island (3 miles), Knightsen (5 miles) and Oakley (6 miles), by the Census Bureau's places.
Get a California hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for California are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, California included.
Where these facts come from
- Rules: CDFW 2026-2027 Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations.
- Boundary and acres: CDFW public access lands (BIOS ds3077); CDFW, Rhode Island Wildlife Area.
- Zones: CDFW BIOS zone layers. Surrounding public land: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026a.
- Deer harvest: CDFW California Deer Harvest Statistics (2020 to 2025).
FilledTag is not part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.