Chalet Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 1
Chalet Wildlife Management Area is 7,804 acres of MassWildlife land in Cheshire, Dalton, Lanesborough and Windsor (Berkshire County), in Wildlife Management Zone 1 and 2. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 414 deer in Zone 1 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 8 parking areas for the property with room for about 24 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Chalet 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)National Park ServiceChalet WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 7,804 acres (MassWildlife), in 6 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Cheshire, Dalton, Lanesborough and Windsor |
| County | Berkshire |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 1, Zone 2 |
| MassWildlife district | Western District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 8 lots, about 24 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 1, 2025 | 414 (269 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Cheshire (under a mile), Dalton (under a mile) and Windsor (2 mi) |
What is Chalet WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "Most of the forest is comprised of northern hardwoods containing primarily maple, birch, white ash, black cherry, and American beech. Hemlock grows along moist, shaded slopes and stream channels. Red spruce and balsam fir are found at higher elevations especially near beaver ponds and meadows. Elevations range from 995 feet along Rte. 8 in Cheshire to 2,265 feet atop Weston Mountain."
On its habitat work: "Several fields along the northern part of the parcel are managed under license agreement for agricultural use. These fields are kept open through haying to provide habitat for ground-nesting bird species."
On wildlife: "This large area of forest provides a variety of opportunities to see wildlife. Moose inhabit the area. The Appalachian Trail runs through the western part of the management area. At the headwaters of Tyler Brook, on the Dalton/Windsor line, is a red spruce swamp, an uncommon type of forested wetland."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Chalet WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Chalet WMA?
"At over 7,000 acres, Chalet WMA covers many different habitats. The large tracts of forest support a variety of game species including black bear, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, eastern coyote, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, and American woodcock. The northern part of the WMA contains and is adjacent to agricultural fields that provide meadows, hay, and crops that attract deer, turkey, and bear. Many furbearer species such as bobcats, coyotes, fishers, and beavers inhabit the WMA as well."
Its rules for the area: "There is no hunting on the Appalachian Trail. All firearms must be unloaded when crossing or on the trail."
How do you get into Chalet WMA?
"Parking areas are available on Flintstone Road in Windsor, North Street in Windsor, Windsor Road in Cheshire, Notch Road in Cheshire, Gulf Road in Cheshire, and Route 8 in Lanesboro."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not plowed | 6 | Gravel | Good | 42.55609 | -73.14447 |
| Parking | 3 | 42.51086 | -73.10870 | ||
| Parking | 3 | Grass | Fair | 42.55888 | -73.11763 |
| Parking | 3 | Grass | Fair | 42.53330 | -73.09495 |
| Can be wet at times, | 3 | Grass | Fair | 42.54010 | -73.09305 |
| Parking | 2 | Dirt | Good | 42.54986 | -73.16345 |
| Parking | 2 | Dirt | Poor | 42.49010 | -73.18784 |
| Parking | 2 | Grass | Fair | 42.52646 | -73.08209 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: MA 8, MA 9, US 7, MA 116, MA 143 and US 20. Distances to the nearest town centers: Cheshire under a mile, Dalton under a mile, Windsor 2 miles and Lanesborough 3 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Stafford Hill (3 miles), Eugene D. Moran (3 miles), Housatonic River East Branch (3 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Chalet WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 1: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31. In 2025 the zone gave 147 deer to archers and 196 in shotgun season.
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Chalet 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 Chalet WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 1, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Chalet WMA in?
Zone 1 and Zone 2 (7,889 acres), as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 414 deer in Zone 1 in 2025, 269 of them adult males, after 347 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Chalet WMA?
MassWildlife maps 8 parking areas: Not plowed (about 6 cars, gravel); a lot (about 3 cars, ); a lot (about 3 cars, grass); a lot (about 3 cars, grass). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking areas are available on Flintstone Road in Windsor, North Street in Windsor, Windsor Road in Cheshire, Notch Road in Cheshire, Gulf Road in Cheshire, and Route 8 in Lanesboro."
What can you hunt on Chalet WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "At over 7,000 acres, Chalet WMA covers many different habitats. The large tracts of forest support a variety of game species including black bear, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, eastern coyote, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, and American woodcock. The northern part of the WMA contains and is adjacent to agricultural fields that provide meadows, hay, and crops that attract deer, turkey, and bear."
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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).