Fox Den Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 2
Fox Den Wildlife Management Area is 5,910 acres of MassWildlife land in Chester, Middlefield and Worthington (Hampshire and Hampden counties), in Wildlife Management Zone 2 and 4N. 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 6 parking areas for the property with room for about 12 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Fox Den 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 wildlife refugeArmy Corps of EngineersFox Den WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 5,910 acres (MassWildlife), in 13 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Chester, Middlefield and Worthington |
| County | Hampshire, Hampden |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 2, Zone 4N |
| MassWildlife district | Western District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 6 lots, about 12 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 2, 2025 | 617 (492 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Middlefield (under a mile), Worthington (under a mile) and Peru (2 mi) |
What is Fox Den WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "Northern hardwoods including American beech, maple, birch, and white ash, along with scattered white pine comprise most of the forest. Eastern hemlock is found along stream corridors, shaded ravines, and poor drainage areas. Norway spruce plantations grow along Chipman Road. Elevations range from 700 feet along the Middle Branch of the Westfield River to 2000 feet at Pelton Hill in Middlefield."
On its habitat work: "Habitat forest cuts have been conducted off of Chipman Road between 2005 and 2007. These cuts have created young forest which is exceptional habitat for a variety of wildlife species."
On wildlife: "Numerous nongame species are associated with the forest habitat and moose occasionally inhabit the area."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Fox Den WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Fox Den WMA?
"White-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, black bear, bobcat, and fisher all inhabit this WMA. The large hardwood area, young forest, and the overall variety of habitats provide excellent food and cover for these species. A portion of Moss Meadow Brook and its headwaters are located in the western parcel of this WMA. The Little River which borders and bisects the eastern parcel is stocked with trout. For more information, visit mass.gov/trout."
How do you get into Fox Den WMA?
"Parking areas are located at pull-offs along Main Road, Chipman Road, and East River Road in Middlefield, as well as at Buffington Hill Road and West Street in Worthington."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road to parking not maintained | 2 | Grass | Fair | 42.38622 | -73.00399 |
| Parking | 2 | Grass | Fair | 42.42072 | -72.96570 |
| Parking | 2 | Dirt | Fair | 42.35645 | -72.94180 |
| Parking | 2 | Gravel | Fair | 42.39979 | -72.97475 |
| Parking | 2 | Dirt | Poor | 42.37722 | -73.00122 |
| Parking | 2 | Dirt | Poor | 42.37488 | -73.03885 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: MA 112, MA 143, MA 8, MA 9, US 20 and MA 66. Distances to the nearest town centers: Middlefield under a mile, Worthington under a mile, Peru 2 miles and Chester 3 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Peru (5 miles), Tracy Pond (5 miles), Walnut Hill (5 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Fox Den 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 Fox Den 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 Fox Den 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 Fox Den WMA in?
Zone 2 (2,982 acres) and Zone 4N (2,928 acres), 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 Fox Den WMA?
MassWildlife maps 6 parking areas: Road to parking not maintained (about 2 cars, grass); a lot (about 2 cars, grass); a lot (about 2 cars, dirt); a lot (about 2 cars, gravel). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking areas are located at pull-offs along Main Road, Chipman Road, and East River Road in Middlefield, as well as at Buffington Hill Road and West Street in Worthington."
What can you hunt on Fox Den WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "White-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, black bear, bobcat, and fisher all inhabit this WMA. The large hardwood area, young forest, and the overall variety of habitats provide excellent food and cover for these species. A portion of Moss Meadow Brook and its headwaters are located in the western parcel of this WMA. The Little River which borders and bisects the eastern parcel is stocked with trout."
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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).