Leadmine Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 8
Leadmine Wildlife Management Area is 826 acres of MassWildlife land in Holland and Sturbridge (Worcester and Hampden counties), in Wildlife Management Zone 8. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 1,004 deer in Zone 8 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 1 parking area for the property with room for about 5 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Leadmine WMA fact sheet. Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary. Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates).
MassWildlife (Fish and Game) landArmy Corps of EngineersLeadmine WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 826 acres (MassWildlife), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Holland and Sturbridge |
| County | Worcester, Hampden |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 8 |
| MassWildlife district | Central District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 5 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 8, 2025 | 1,004 (625 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Holland (2 mi), Sturbridge (3 mi) and Southbridge (4 mi) |
What is Leadmine WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "Leadmine WMA features mixed hardwood forest with scattered eastern hemlock and white pine stands."
On wildlife: "In 2011, a tornado touched down on this property. There is ongoing research being conducted at the site of the tornado damage to evaluate change in wildlife populations after severe forest disturbance."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Leadmine WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Leadmine WMA?
"The habitat at this location supports many game animals including white-tailed deer, eastern coyote, ruffed grouse, black bear, and grey squirrel. The WMA contains numerous small headwater streams but flows can be intermittent depending upon rainfall which largely precludes fishing. However, this property is adjacent to Leadmine Pond which offers fishing opportunities from Leadmine Pond Access."
How do you get into Leadmine WMA?
"A dirt parking lot for this WMA is located off of Leadmine Road in Sturbridge and can accommodate about 5 vehicles."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmaintained | 5 | Dirt | Fair | 42.06507 | -72.13174 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: I-84, US 20, I-90, MA 19, MA 131 and MA 169. Distances to the nearest town centers: Holland 2 miles, Sturbridge 3 miles, Southbridge 4 miles and Wales 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Breakneck Brook (2 miles), McKinstry Brook (5 miles), Wales (5 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Leadmine WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 8: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31. In 2025 the zone gave 429 deer to archers and 410 in shotgun season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 8 | 850 | 1,004 | 625 | 865 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Leadmine 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 Leadmine WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 8, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Leadmine WMA in?
Zone 8, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 1,004 deer in Zone 8 in 2025, 625 of them adult males, after 865 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Leadmine WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Unmaintained (about 5 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "A dirt parking lot for this WMA is located off of Leadmine Road in Sturbridge and can accommodate about 5 vehicles."
What can you hunt on Leadmine WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "The habitat at this location supports many game animals including white-tailed deer, eastern coyote, ruffed grouse, black bear, and grey squirrel. The WMA contains numerous small headwater streams but flows can be intermittent depending upon rainfall which largely precludes fishing. However, this property is adjacent to Leadmine Pond which offers fishing opportunities from Leadmine Pond Access."
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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).