Atwood Reservoir Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 11
Atwood Reservoir Wildlife Management Area is 513 acres of MassWildlife land in Carver (Plymouth County), in Wildlife Management Zone 11. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 4,153 deer in Zone 11 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 2 parking areas for the property with room for about 7 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Atwood Reservoir WMA fact sheet. Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary. Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates).
MassWildlife (Fish and Game) landState forest and park land (DCR)Atwood Reservoir WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 513 acres (MassWildlife) |
|---|---|
| Town | Carver |
| County | Plymouth |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 11 |
| MassWildlife district | Southeast District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 2 lots, about 7 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 11, 2025 | 4,153 (2,120 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Carver (under a mile), Middleborough (4 mi) and Plympton (6 mi) |
What is Atwood Reservoir WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "Atwood Reservoir is a 513-acre Wildlife Management Area in Carver. The property is mostly a mix of upland forest, wetlands, and open water. The 280-acre Atwood Reservoir is the main feature of the WMA. The reservoir and surrounding land are part of Carver's long history of cranberry farming. MassWildlife acquired this property in 2017, which protected the land for wildlife and public recreation."
On wildlife: "The mix of forest, wetlands, and open water makes this a good spot for birding and general wildlife viewing. The WMA also protects habitat for rare plant species."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Atwood Reservoir WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Atwood Reservoir WMA?
"The WMA offers opportunities to hunt white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and small game. The reservoir and surrounding wetlands also provide good habitat for waterfowl. Atwood Reservoir is known for largemouth bass fishing and also supports other common warmwater fish species."
How do you get into Atwood Reservoir WMA?
"Atwood Reservoir WMA is in central Carver. The main access is from two gravel parking areas along Meadow Street. From the parking areas, visitors have non-motorized access to the property."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parking | 3 | Gravel | Good | 41.86924 | -70.77549 |
| Parking | 4 | Sand | Good | 41.87001 | -70.76656 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: I-495, MA 58 and MA 28. Distances to the nearest town centers: Carver under a mile, Middleborough 4 miles, Plympton 6 miles and Rochester 7 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Rocky Gutter (3 miles), Muddy Pond (4 miles), Sippican Headwaters (4 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Atwood Reservoir WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 11: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31 and a winter season January 1 to 30, 2027. In 2025 the zone gave 2,139 deer to archers and 1,358 in shotgun season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 11 | 514 | 4,153 | 2,120 | 3,830 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Atwood Reservoir WMA?
Under 321 CMR 3.01, camping, fires and target practice need the Director's written permission, vehicles stay on roads open to traffic, and dogs must be leashed unless hunting or training with a licensed hunter.
Source: MassWildlife WMA regulations.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Atwood Reservoir WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 11, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Atwood Reservoir WMA in?
Zone 11, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 4,153 deer in Zone 11 in 2025, 2,120 of them adult males, after 3,830 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Atwood Reservoir WMA?
MassWildlife maps 2 parking areas: a lot (about 3 cars, gravel); a lot (about 4 cars, sand). Its fact sheet adds: "Atwood Reservoir WMA is in central Carver. The main access is from two gravel parking areas along Meadow Street. From the parking areas, visitors have non-motorized access to the property."
What can you hunt on Atwood Reservoir WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "The WMA offers opportunities to hunt white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and small game. The reservoir and surrounding wetlands also provide good habitat for waterfowl. Atwood Reservoir is known for largemouth bass fishing and also supports other common warmwater fish species."
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Sources: MassWildlife fact sheet; MassWildlife Lands (MassGIS); MassWildlife parking for recreation; MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates); MassWildlife WMA regulations; public land MassGIS Protected and Recreational OpenSpace for state and Army Corps land; USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1) for federal land; towns U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, towns (county subdivisions). FilledTag is not part of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife).