Martha Deering Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 9
Martha Deering Wildlife Management Area is 181 acres of MassWildlife land in Grafton and Millbury (Worcester County), in Wildlife Management Zone 9. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 1,534 deer in Zone 9 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 Martha Deering WMA fact sheet. Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary. Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates).
MassWildlife (Fish and Game) landMartha Deering WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 181 acres (MassWildlife), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Grafton and Millbury |
| County | Worcester |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 9 |
| MassWildlife district | Central District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 10 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 9, 2025 | 1,534 (742 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Grafton (2 mi), Millbury (2 mi) and Shrewsbury (5 mi) |
What is Martha Deering WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "This property contains hardwood ridges, old overgrown brushy fields, and lowland swamp-wetland complexes. The remains of the old Martha Deering Estate are still present on the site."
On wildlife: "The remains (cellar holes, stone walls, and outbuildings) of the former Martha Deering estate are still present. There are also certified vernal pools on site."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Martha Deering WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Martha Deering WMA?
"This area has vast hardwood ridges and is a popular spot for white-tailed deer and wild turkey hunting. The overgrown fields are also promising for eastern cottontail and predator hunting opportunities."
How do you get into Martha Deering WMA?
"There is gravel road access into the interior of the property. A gated parking area off of Riverlin Street can accommodate approximately four vehicles."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmaintained | 10 | Dirt | Fair | 42.21386 | -71.73739 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: I-90, MA 146, MA 122, US 20, MA 9 and I-290. Distances to the nearest town centers: Grafton 2 miles, Millbury 2 miles, Shrewsbury 5 miles and Sutton 5 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Merrill Pond (7 miles), Wayne F. MacCallum (8 miles), Lackey Pond (8 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Martha Deering WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 9: 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 660 deer to archers and 557 in shotgun season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 9 | 231 | 1,534 | 742 | 1,374 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Martha Deering 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 Martha Deering WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 9, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Martha Deering WMA in?
Zone 9, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 1,534 deer in Zone 9 in 2025, 742 of them adult males, after 1,374 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Martha Deering WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Unmaintained (about 10 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "There is gravel road access into the interior of the property. A gated parking area off of Riverlin Street can accommodate approximately four vehicles."
What can you hunt on Martha Deering WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "This area has vast hardwood ridges and is a popular spot for white-tailed deer and wild turkey hunting. The overgrown fields are also promising for eastern cottontail and predator hunting opportunities."
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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).