Erwin S. Wilder Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 11
Erwin S. Wilder Wildlife Management Area is 651 acres of MassWildlife land in Norton and Taunton (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, and MassWildlife maps 1 parking area for the property with room for about 20 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Erwin S. Wilder 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)Erwin S. Wilder WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 651 acres (MassWildlife), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Norton and Taunton |
| County | Bristol |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 11 |
| MassWildlife district | Southeast District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 20 spaces |
| Pheasant | Stocked; blaze orange hat required in pheasant season |
| Deer taken in Zone 11, 2025 | 4,153 (2,120 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Norton (3 mi), Raynham (4 mi) and Easton (4 mi) |
What is Erwin S. Wilder WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "The forested upland areas of Erwin S. Wilder WMA consist mostly of oak, maple, and white pine. There are also several small red maple swamps surrounded by some open fields, and a wide band of marshland along the Snake River."
On wildlife: "This area contains a wide variety of habitats suitable for many different game species as well as non-game species such as songbirds, waterbirds, reptiles, and amphibians. There are some unimproved old roads for walking as well."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Erwin S. Wilder WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Erwin S. Wilder WMA?
"This WMA provides great hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, eastern coyote, and wild turkey, all of which are abundant on the property. Multiple furbearer species are also present. The area is also stocked with ring-necked pheasants in the fall. The Snake River provides warmwater fishing opportunities for chain pickerel, largemouth bass, sunfish, and yellow perch. Winnecunnet Pond offers warmwater fishing for bullhead, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, white perch, and yellow perch."
Its rules for the area: "During pheasant season, a blaze orange hat must be worn by all hunters except while night-hunting raccoon or opossum or while hunting waterfowl from within a blind or boat."
How do you get into Erwin S. Wilder WMA?
"Parking access is located on Toad Island Road and can accommodate up to 20 vehicles."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilder WMA | 20 | Dirt | Good | 41.97202 | -71.12030 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: I-495, MA 24, MA 140, MA 138, MA 123 and MA 106. Distances to the nearest town centers: Norton 3 miles, Raynham 4 miles, Easton 4 miles and Taunton 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Hockomock Swamp (1 mile), Canoe River (3 miles), Puddingstone (6 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Erwin S. Wilder 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 | 470 | 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 Erwin S. Wilder WMA?
It is stocked with pheasant, so every hunter must wear a blaze orange hat during pheasant season, except raccoon and opossum hunters at night and waterfowl hunters in a blind or boat. 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 Erwin S. Wilder 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 Erwin S. Wilder 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 Erwin S. Wilder WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Wilder WMA (about 20 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking access is located on Toad Island Road and can accommodate up to 20 vehicles."
What can you hunt on Erwin S. Wilder WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "This WMA provides great hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, eastern coyote, and wild turkey, all of which are abundant on the property. Multiple furbearer species are also present. The area is also stocked with ring-necked pheasants in the fall. The Snake River provides warmwater fishing opportunities for chain pickerel, largemouth bass, sunfish, and yellow perch."
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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).