McKinstry Brook Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 8
McKinstry Brook Wildlife Management Area is 291 acres of MassWildlife land in Southbridge and Sturbridge (Worcester County), 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 2 parking areas for the property with room for about 15 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's McKinstry Brook 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)Army Corps of EngineersMcKinstry Brook WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 291 acres (MassWildlife), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Southbridge and Sturbridge |
| County | Worcester |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 8 |
| MassWildlife district | Central District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 2 lots, about 15 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 8, 2025 | 1,004 (625 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Sturbridge (2 mi), Southbridge (2 mi) and Charlton (4 mi) |
What is McKinstry Brook WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "McKinstry Brook WMA consists of mature hardwood and eastern hemlock stands, as well as alder thickets and rocky outcrops. McKinstry Brook flows through the WMA."
On its habitat work: "This WMA has served as a study site to monitor habitat response following the 2011 tornado that damaged much of the area."
On wildlife: "Outdoor enthusiasts can observe the impact of the tornado damage and can appreciate the rebounding young forest habitat that this natural disaster has created."
Quoted from MassWildlife's McKinstry Brook WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting McKinstry Brook WMA?
"Mixed hardwood stands provide great opportunities for hunting white-tailed deer and gray squirrel. McKinstry Brook and perennial streams throughout allow for reasonable raccoon hunting opportunities."
How do you get into McKinstry Brook WMA?
"Parking for this area is located off of Pleasant Street and accommodates 3 vehicles. Additional parking off of McGilpin Road can accommodate 2 vehicles."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintained | 5 | Dirt | Good | 42.11370 | -72.04717 |
| Unmaintained | 10 | Dirt | Good | 42.09572 | -72.04282 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: I-90, I-84, US 20, MA 169, MA 31 and MA 131. Distances to the nearest town centers: Sturbridge 2 miles, Southbridge 2 miles, Charlton 4 miles and Brookfield 5 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Leadmine (5 miles), Breakneck Brook (5 miles), Wolf Swamp (6 miles).
When can you hunt deer on McKinstry Brook 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 | 292 | 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 McKinstry Brook 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 McKinstry Brook 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 McKinstry Brook 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 McKinstry Brook WMA?
MassWildlife maps 2 parking areas: Maintained (about 5 cars, dirt); Unmaintained (about 10 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking for this area is located off of Pleasant Street and accommodates 3 vehicles. Additional parking off of McGilpin Road can accommodate 2 vehicles."
What can you hunt on McKinstry Brook WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "Mixed hardwood stands provide great opportunities for hunting white-tailed deer and gray squirrel. McKinstry Brook and perennial streams throughout allow for reasonable raccoon 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).