Canoe River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 11
Canoe River Wildlife Management Area is 117 acres of MassWildlife land in Norton (Bristol 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.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Canoe River WMA fact sheet. Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary. Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates).
MassWildlife (Fish and Game) landCanoe River WMAZone lineHighway
| Size | 117 acres (MassWildlife), in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Norton |
| County | Bristol |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 11 |
| MassWildlife district | Southeast District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | None mapped |
| Deer taken in Zone 11, 2025 | 4,153 (2,120 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Norton (under a mile), Mansfield (3 mi) and Easton (4 mi) |
What is Canoe River WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "The Canoe River WMA lies along both sides of Interstate 495 in Norton and abuts Canoe River and additional open space. The property contains mixed upland forest and forested wetlands, along with several small isolated wetland patches."
On wildlife: "This WMA offers good wildlife viewing opportunities. All common species of bird and mammal can be observed here and there is a possibility of observing river otter and muskrat."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Canoe River WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Canoe River WMA?
"This property provides opportunities to pursue aquatic furbearers, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and gray squirrel; however, hunting is limited due to the presence of roads and dwellings. While the Canoe River runs through this WMA it is too small to support any substantial warmwater sportfishing opportunities."
How do you get into Canoe River WMA?
"There is no designated parking area for this WMA. Limited roadside parking and access can be gained through abutting Town of Norton Conservation Areas off North Washington Street. Access can also be gained via canoe/kayak from the Canoe River."
MassWildlife's parking layer shows no lot for Canoe River WMA.
Highways within five miles: I-495, MA 140, MA 123, MA 106, MA 138 and I-95. Distances to the nearest town centers: Norton under a mile, Mansfield 3 miles, Easton 4 miles and Taunton 6 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Erwin S. Wilder (3 miles), Hockomock Swamp (4 miles), Puddingstone (6 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Canoe River 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 | 120 | 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 Canoe River 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 Canoe River 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 Canoe River 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).
How do you get into Canoe River WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "There is no designated parking area for this WMA. Limited roadside parking and access can be gained through abutting Town of Norton Conservation Areas off North Washington Street. Access can also be gained via canoe/kayak from the Canoe River."
What can you hunt on Canoe River WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "This property provides opportunities to pursue aquatic furbearers, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and gray squirrel; however, hunting is limited due to the presence of roads and dwellings. While the Canoe River runs through this WMA it is too small to support any substantial warmwater sportfishing opportunities."
Get a Massachusetts hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Massachusetts 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, Massachusetts included.
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).