Facing Rock Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 7
Facing Rock Wildlife Management Area is 1,389 acres of MassWildlife land in Granby and Ludlow (Hampden and Hampshire counties), in Wildlife Management Zone 7. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 945 deer in Zone 7 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 1 parking area for the property with room for about 3 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Facing Rock 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)Facing Rock WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 1,389 acres (MassWildlife), in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Granby and Ludlow |
| County | Hampden, Hampshire |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 7 |
| MassWildlife district | Connecticut Valley District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 3 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 7, 2025 | 945 (497 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Ludlow (under a mile), Granby (under a mile) and Belchertown (4 mi) |
What is Facing Rock WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "Facing Rock WMA is part of a complex of lands with public access easements that total more than 3,000 acres. The rolling terrain is predominately upland central hardwood forest of oak, hickory, and white pine with a few beaver wetlands along the western side of the property."
On wildlife: "This WMA provides quality habitat for species requiring large areas of unfragmented forest. Two major transmission lines bisect the property which allows opportunities to spot wildlife along the wooded edges."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Facing Rock WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Facing Rock WMA?
"Opportunities to pursue white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, and gray squirrel are present on this property."
On fishing: "Facing Rock WMA contains headwater sections of several streams which, due to their small size, provide limited fishing opportunities. Higher Brook is a coldwater fisheries resource which flows through the southern portion of the property."
How do you get into Facing Rock WMA?
"Parking for 3 vehicles is available at a town-owned, unmaintained dirt parking area off of Bridle Road. Access to this property can be gained from Carver Street or from Facing Rock WCE and Ludlow Reservoir WCE."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At end of town road | 3 | Dirt | Fair | 42.20135 | -72.45639 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: I-90, MA 21, US 202, US 20, MA 181 and MA 141. Distances to the nearest town centers: Ludlow under a mile, Granby under a mile, Belchertown 4 miles and Wilbraham 5 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Bachelor Brook (5 miles), Herman Covey (6 miles), Mt. Tom (10 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Facing Rock WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 7: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31. In 2025 the zone gave 407 deer to archers and 385 in shotgun season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7 | 1,389 | 945 | 497 | 824 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Facing Rock 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 Facing Rock WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 7, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Facing Rock WMA in?
Zone 7, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 945 deer in Zone 7 in 2025, 497 of them adult males, after 824 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Facing Rock WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: At end of town road (about 3 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking for 3 vehicles is available at a town-owned, unmaintained dirt parking area off of Bridle Road. Access to this property can be gained from Carver Street or from Facing Rock WCE and Ludlow Reservoir WCE."
What can you hunt on Facing Rock WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "Opportunities to pursue white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, and gray squirrel are present on this property."
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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).