Eugene D. Moran Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 2

Eugene D. Moran Wildlife Management Area is 1,870 acres of MassWildlife land in Windsor (Berkshire County), in Wildlife Management Zone 2. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 617 deer in Zone 2 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 3 parking areas for the property with room for about 93 vehicles.

Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Eugene D. Moran WMA fact sheet. Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary. Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates).

What is Eugene D. Moran WMA like?

MassWildlife describes it: "The diverse character of Eugene D. Moran WMA attracts hunters, birders, and other wildlife enthusiasts. This high-elevation property is part of a large collection of conserved land scattered across the Berkshire Plateau. The forested areas are primarily northern hardwood interspersed with spruce–fir stands. Abandoned agricultural fields and shrubland habitats along with extensive wetlands can be found west of Savoy Road. Beavers are active on the landscape, so waterways are always shifting. MassWildlife mows in certain locations to maintain grassland habitat and to provide cover for ring-necked pheasant. The Fobes Hill area is managed for shrubland and young forest habitat. Visitors can explore these varied habitats and observe wildlife living there. A walk to the open summit of Windsor Hill offers one of the most impressive views in the Berkshires."

On wildlife: "Moose, black bears, bobcats, coyotes, fishers, beavers, and river otters frequent this property. More than 180 bird species have been observed here. The marshes and wet meadows provide breeding habitat for unusual birds like the American bittern, Wilson’s snipe, and northern harrier. The managed young forests provide homes for American woodcock, chestnut-sided warblers, and other species that rely on this dwindling habitat type. The spruce–fir forests support songbirds like the blackburnian warbler and golden-crowned kinglet, while American kestrel and bobolink can be observed in the grassy, open areas"

Quoted from MassWildlife's Eugene D. Moran WMA fact sheet.

What does MassWildlife say about hunting Eugene D. Moran WMA?

"Hunting Opportunities: This WMA provides some of the best upland game bird hunting in the region. The combination of mowed fields, young forests, and forest edges make this a premier pheasant hunting destination. The managed shrublands and alder swamps also provide excellent opportunities to pursue American woodcock and ruffed grouse. Pheasants are stocked both sides of Savoy Road. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and black bears can be found throughout the property."

Its rules for the area: "During the pheasant season, a “hunter orange” hat is required for all hunters except while night hunting raccoons or opossums or while hunting waterfowl from within a blind or boat."

How do you get into Eugene D. Moran WMA?

"This property is wholly in the town of Windsor with numerous points of entry. The primary access is via two large paved parking lots on the east and west sides of Route 8A. The WMA can also be accessed from the south side of Cheshire Road where there is a small grass parking lot or from the west side of North Street."

From MassWildlife parking for recreation.

Highways within five miles: MA 9, MA 116, MA 8 and MA 143. Distances to the nearest town centers: Cheshire 3 miles, Savoy 4 miles, Dalton 5 miles and Adams 5 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Savoy (2 miles), Chalet (3 miles), Stafford Hill (3 miles).

When can you hunt deer on Eugene D. Moran WMA in 2026?

Deer seasons follow Zone 2: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31. In 2025 the zone gave 244 deer to archers and 281 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 Eugene D. Moran 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 Eugene D. Moran WMA?

Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 2, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).

What zone is Eugene D. Moran WMA in?

Zone 2, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 617 deer in Zone 2 in 2025, 492 of them adult males, after 546 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).

Where do you park for Eugene D. Moran WMA?

MassWildlife maps 3 parking areas: Not plowed (about 40 cars, paved); often plowed (about 50 cars, paved); a lot (about 3 cars, grass). Its fact sheet adds: "This property is wholly in the town of Windsor with numerous points of entry. The primary access is via two large paved parking lots on the east and west sides of Route 8A."

What can you hunt on Eugene D. Moran WMA?

MassWildlife's fact sheet: "Hunting Opportunities: This WMA provides some of the best upland game bird hunting in the region. The combination of mowed fields, young forests, and forest edges make this a premier pheasant hunting destination. The managed shrublands and alder swamps also provide excellent opportunities to pursue American woodcock and ruffed grouse. Pheasants are stocked both sides of Savoy Road."

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).

Massachusetts hunting Zone 2