Merrymeeting Bay Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Merrymeeting Bay Wildlife Management Area is 3,901 acres of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife land in Bowdoinham, Topsham, Richmond and Woolwich, inside WMD 22. MDIFW lists 12 access points for it. Hunting is allowed, with MDIFW's rules for its WMAs.
Data updated October 2026. Boundary and access points: MDIFW's WMA layers. Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons.
State public lands and parks (BPL)MDIFW land (WMAs)Other state landMilitary (closed unless the base allows)Merrymeeting Bay WMAMDIFW access pointWMD lineHighway
| Size | 3,901 acres (MDIFW) |
|---|---|
| Towns (MDIFW) | Bowdoinham, Topsham, Richmond, Woolwich |
| Wildlife Management District | WMD 22 |
| MDIFW region | Region B |
| Access points | 12 |
| What MDIFW lists to do here | Walking, Boating, Canoeing, Wildlife Watching (Eagles and Osprey, Deer, and Water Birds), Hunting (Big Game, Small Game, Upland Game, Waterfowl), Trapping, Fishing (Warm Water and Saltwater Species) |
| Not allowed (MDIFW) | Camping, fires, and swimming are prohibited. |
| Nearest towns | Topsham (next to it), Bowdoinham (next to it) and Richmond (2 mi) |
Where do you get into Merrymeeting Bay WMA?
MDIFW lists 12 access points for Merrymeeting Bay WMA:
| Point | Where (MDIFW) | Latitude, longitude | Directions (MDIFW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmot Brook, Pitts Center Rd, Richmond | 44.12269, -69.79125 | From Richmond, follow Route 24 north and turn west on Pitts Center Road. A small parking lot and sign are on the right |
| 2 | River Road, Bowdoinham | 44.03363, -69.83407 | |
| 3 | Wildes Road, Bowdoinham | 44.00068, -69.87244 | From the center of Bowdoin, travel north on Rte 24 for approximately 0.5 miles. Turn right on to Brown’s Point Rd and travel approximately 0.75 miles. Turn right on to the Wildes Road and follow the Wildes Road until it dead-ends at the WMA. |
| 4 | Feeney Parcel, Route 24, Bowdoinham | 43.99551, -69.89014 | |
| 5 | Wallentine Parcel, Bowdoinham | 44.00316, -69.88833 | |
| 6 | Robinson Parcel, Foreside Road, Topsham | 43.94596, -69.89657 | |
| 7 | Lund Parcel, River Road, Woolwich | 44.01785, -69.80316 | |
| 8 | Pork Point Road, Bowdoinham | 44.02384, -69.82623 | |
| 9 | Wallace Parcel, River Road, Woolwich | 43.98602, -69.80849 | |
| 10 | Chopps Point Road, Woolwich | 43.98980, -69.82093 | |
| 11 | Center Point Road | 44.00469, -69.85865 | No parking available for these lots. Users must park on the side of Center Point Road. |
| 12 | Foreside Road | 43.96088, -69.89625 |
Source: MDIFW WMA access points.
What are the rules on Merrymeeting Bay WMA?
MDIFW: "Camping, fires, and swimming are prohibited. Some WMAs have recreational vehicle trails which are managed by local ATV and snowmobile clubs. Please visit the local ATV or snowmobile club's website for trail information." Hunting and trapping are welcome under MDIFW's rules for its WMAs: stands or blinds left more than one day need a permit and the owner's name and address, permanent structures are not allowed, trapping and hunting over bait need a permit, and game cameras may be used if labeled.
From MDIFW WMA access points.
When can you hunt Merrymeeting Bay WMA in 2026-27?
Seasons follow WMD 22: deer firearms November 2 to 28 (residents only day October 31), archery October 3 to 30, muzzleloader November 30 to December 5 and December 7 to 12.
| WMD | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Moose, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMD 22 | 3,904 | 4,134 | 0 | 0 |
Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons. Harvest: MDIFW's figures by town, added up by district. Added up by FilledTag from MDIFW's figures by town: each town is counted in the district that holds its centre, so a town on a district line counts wholly on one side.
How do you get to Merrymeeting Bay WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-295, ME 24, US 1, US 201, ME 127 and ME 128. Nearest towns: Topsham (next to it), Bowdoinham (next to it), Richmond (2 miles) and Bath (2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Merrymeeting Bay WMA?
Yes. MDIFW welcomes hunting and trapping on its WMAs, with rules: a removable stand or blind left more than a day needs a permit and the hunter's name and address, permanent stands are not allowed, and trapping or hunting over bait needs a permit. Merrymeeting Bay WMA lies in WMD 22, so its seasons follow that district's.
Where do you get into Merrymeeting Bay WMA?
MDIFW lists 12 access points: Wilmot Brook, Pitts Center Rd, Richmond (44.1227, -69.7913), River Road, Bowdoinham (44.0336, -69.8341) and Wildes Road, Bowdoinham (44.0007, -69.8724), and more in the table on this page.
Can you camp on Merrymeeting Bay WMA?
No. MDIFW lists camping, fires and swimming as prohibited on the area.
What WMD is Merrymeeting Bay WMA in?
WMD 22. Hunters registered 4,134 deer and 0 moose in WMD 22's towns in 2025, adding up MDIFW's town figures.
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Where these facts come from
- Boundary, acres and towns: MDIFW Wildlife Management Area boundaries. Access points, rules and directions: MDIFW WMA access points.
- Seasons: MDIFW 2026-27 Maine hunting seasons. District harvest: MDIFW white-tailed deer harvest by town; MDIFW moose harvest by town; MDIFW black bear harvest by town.
- Public land around it: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.