Hockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 11

Hockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area is 6,157 acres of MassWildlife land in Bridewater, Easton, Norton, Raynham, Taunton and West Bridgewater (Bristol and Plymouth counties), 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 4 parking areas for the property with room for about 15 vehicles.

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

What is Hockomock Swamp WMA like?

MassWildlife describes it: "Hockomock Swamp WMA consists of numerous parcels that are primarily vegetated wetlands which are extremely variable in nature. In fact, this area of Massachusetts contains the largest wetland in the state. Marshes and cattails dominate some areas, other locations are comprised of red maple, and there are numerous pockets of Atlantic white cedar bogs and swamps, and acidic fens. The upland habitat consists of open farmland and mixed stands of hardwood, pine, and hemlock."

On wildlife: "The area contains many non-game species such as wading birds and songbirds, reptiles, and amphibians. There are multiple areas for canoe and kayak use as well."

Quoted from MassWildlife's Hockomock Swamp WMA fact sheet.

What does MassWildlife say about hunting Hockomock Swamp WMA?

"Opportunities to pursue upland game species such as white-tailed deer and eastern coyote are abundant. The WMA is also home to several furbearer species and numerous species of waterfowl. The WMA abuts Lake Nippenicket and includes multiple canoe-accessible rivers, including the Hockomock River, Town River, and Snake River. Lake Nippenicket and the three river systems provide quality warmwater fishing for species including chain pickerel, largemouth bass, sunfish, black crappie, bullheads, white perch, and yellow perch. Shore fishing opportunities are present at this WMA."

How do you get into Hockomock Swamp WMA?

"Several parking areas are available near this property. For access to the northern section, a dirt lot with space for 6 vehicles can be found off of Route 106 in West Bridgewater. To the east of the property, there is a 4-vehicle dirt lot off of Maple Street in West Bridgewater. The southeastern section, which features access to Lake Nippenicket, has roadside parking at the end of Chase Road in Bridgewater. You can access the southern and western area of this property from the 5-vehicle lot off of Prospect Hill Street in Raynham. This property can also be accessed by parking at the end of Toad Island Road in Norton and crossing through the Erwin S. Wilder WMA which borders the Hockomock Swamp WMA."

From MassWildlife parking for recreation.

Highways within five miles: MA 24, I-495, MA 106, MA 138, MA 123 and MA 28. Distances to the nearest town centers: Easton under a mile, West Bridgewater under a mile, Bridgewater 2 miles and Raynham 2 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Erwin S. Wilder (1 mile), Canoe River (4 miles), West Meadows (5 miles).

When can you hunt deer on Hockomock Swamp 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.

Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.

What rules apply on Hockomock Swamp 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 Hockomock Swamp 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 Hockomock Swamp 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 Hockomock Swamp WMA?

MassWildlife maps 4 parking areas: Hockomock Swamp WMA (about 6 cars, dirt); Hockomock Swamp WMA Black Mallard Club Lake Nippenicket Access; Hockomock Swamp WMA (about 5 cars, dirt); Hockomock Swamp WMA (about 4 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Several parking areas are available near this property. For access to the northern section, a dirt lot with space for 6 vehicles can be found off of Route 106 in West Bridgewater. To the east of the property, there is a 4-vehicle dirt lot off of Maple Street in West Bridgewater."

What can you hunt on Hockomock Swamp WMA?

MassWildlife's fact sheet: "Opportunities to pursue upland game species such as white-tailed deer and eastern coyote are abundant. The WMA is also home to several furbearer species and numerous species of waterfowl. The WMA abuts Lake Nippenicket and includes multiple canoe-accessible rivers, including the Hockomock River, Town River, and Snake River."

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 11