Rhode Island Members

The 2024 Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday January 27th in Concord, NH

New England Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame

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Jim Chadwick - Inducted 2017

Jim Chadwick, wildlife biologist and Deputy Chief of the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife, was the architect and father of the Rhode Island Wild Turkey program.  Born in Massachusetts, Jim began his professional career in West Virginia as a deer biologist for WV DNR but eventually moved back to Rhode Island to begin a long career with Rhode Island in the mid-1960.  Jim oversaw many of the Fish and Wildlife programs in the course of his career and was very interested in wild turkey management.  Jim participated in the early NWTF Technical Committee in the early 1970’s and developed knowledge that led him to plan a wild turkey release for Rhode Island.  In 1980, working with the state of Vermont, he organized the first RI release of 29 wild turkey’s in Exeter.  The led to the opening of the first wild turkey hunting season in RI in 1986.  Jim retired in 1990 but remained active with conservation issues. 

He was helpful in starting the Rhode Island Chapter of NWTF and was active on its board for the next 15 years.  He was the mentor and inspiration of many and assisted the Division’s turkey program with sage advice and guidance after his retirement.  Jim was a strong supporter of NWTF and annually attended the National Convention.  An avid sportsman and hunter, turkey hunting was his passion and he took it far and wide looking for new adventures hunting the wild turkey.  Jim passed away in 2007 at the age of 79. 

Ralph Dellinger - Inducted 2018 

​Brian Tefft - Inducted 2022

Mark Robitaille - Inducted 2024