Housatonic River East Branch Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 2
Housatonic River East Branch Wildlife Management Area is 28 acres of MassWildlife land in Dalton (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 1 parking area for the property with room for about 10 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Housatonic River East Branch 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 Park ServiceHousatonic River East Branch WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 28 acres (MassWildlife), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Dalton |
| County | Berkshire |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 2 |
| MassWildlife district | Western District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 10 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 2, 2025 | 617 (492 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Dalton (under a mile), Hinsdale (3 mi) and Windsor (6 mi) |
What is Housatonic River East Branch WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "This WMA is the land surrounding the Western District Headquarters. In addition to the building and parking areas, the property includes the East Branch of the Housatonic River and some fields mowed for access to the river. The history of the property is evident in the form of berms and a canal that were used to divert the river through a mill in the early 20th century. The mill building was removed decades ago, and the canal is now a corridor for wildlife through the otherwise suburban setting. Old apple trees and vernal pools on the property provide additional refuge for wildlife."
On its habitat work: "MassWildlife mows the fields adjacent to the river once per year in the late summer to keep the area open while allowing nesting birds to utilize the habitat. Apple trees that are scattered throughout the property are occasionally pruned and cleared for wildlife food production."
On wildlife: "The fields and proximity to the river make this an important area for suburban wildlife. white-tailed deer are frequently seen on the property and black bear have been known to travel though. Woodchuck, fox, raccoon, and wild turkey are also commonly found."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Housatonic River East Branch WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Housatonic River East Branch WMA?
"The property configuration and the proximity to nearby houses make the property unhuntable because of setbacks from homes and the nearby school. The East Branch is stocked with trout at multiple times throughout the spring. Access to the river for shore fishing is quite good and trout can be found here with regularity during the stocking season. There are also fishing opportunities for native brook trout, reproducing brown trout, and sunfish. The ease of access to the river makes this WMA a good location for anglers looking to take advantage of MassWildlife's trout stocking program. Go to mass.gov/trout for more information."
How do you get into Housatonic River East Branch WMA?
"The property can be accessed from the District Headquarters parking lot or from an informal parking area immediately west of the Old Windsor Road bridge over the Housatonic River. A sewer easement runs parallel to the river from this point and provides easy access into the property."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District Headquarters Parking | 10 | Paved | Good | 42.47350 | -73.14284 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: MA 8, MA 9, US 7 and MA 143. Distances to the nearest town centers: Dalton under a mile, Hinsdale 3 miles, Windsor 6 miles and Pittsfield 6 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Day Mountain (1 mile), Chalet (3 miles), Hinsdale Flats (5 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Housatonic River East Branch 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.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | 22 | 617 | 492 | 546 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Housatonic River East Branch 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 Housatonic River East Branch 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 Housatonic River East Branch 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 Housatonic River East Branch WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: District Headquarters Parking (about 10 cars, paved). Its fact sheet adds: "The property can be accessed from the District Headquarters parking lot or from an informal parking area immediately west of the Old Windsor Road bridge over the Housatonic River. A sewer easement runs parallel to the river from this point and provides easy access into the property."
What can you hunt on Housatonic River East Branch WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "The property configuration and the proximity to nearby houses make the property unhuntable because of setbacks from homes and the nearby school. The East Branch is stocked with trout at multiple times throughout the spring. Access to the river for shore fishing is quite good and trout can be found here with regularity during the stocking season. There are also fishing opportunities for native brook trout, reproducing brown trout, and sunfish."
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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).