Millers River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 5
Millers River Wildlife Management Area is 2,288 acres of MassWildlife land in Athol, Orange, Phillipston, Royalston and Wendell (Worcester County), in Wildlife Management Zone 5 and 6. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 917 deer in Zone 5 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 5 parking areas for the property with room for about 16 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Millers River 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)DCR watershed land (Quabbin, Wachusett, Ware River)Army Corps of EngineersMillers River WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 2,288 acres (MassWildlife), in 21 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Athol, Orange, Phillipston, Royalston and Wendell |
| County | Worcester, Franklin |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 5, Zone 6 |
| MassWildlife district | Central District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 5 lots, about 16 spaces |
| Pheasant | Stocked; blaze orange hat required in pheasant season |
| Deer taken in Zone 5, 2025 | 917 (541 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Athol (under a mile), Royalston (under a mile) and Phillipston (2 mi) |
What is Millers River WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "This property is comprised of steep mixed hardwood and conifer forest, wooded and shrub swamps, wetland marshes, and a powerline right-of-way. The Millers River flows through the southern end of the property."
On its habitat work: "Small fields are mowed annually to maintain habitat diversity."
On wildlife: "The powerline right-of-way provides great viewing opportunities for raptors while the wetlands offer the possibility of seeing moose."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Millers River WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Millers River WMA?
"Ring-necked pheasant are stocked at this WMA. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and gray squirrel all thrive along the hardwood ridges. Wetland marshes provide hunting opportunities for both waterfowl and snowshoe hare. The large powerline right-of-way provides good opportunities for hunting furbearers such as eastern coyote and bobcat. The Millers River is stocked annually with trout. Lawrence Brook is also stocked with trout annually and provides car-top boat access for launching crafts. Certain areas of the Millers River have special regulations that apply including a catch and release area where only artificial lures may be used (possession of bait is prohibited). For more information on trout stocking, visit mass.gov/trout."
Its rules for the area: "During the pheasant season, a blaze orange hat must be worn by all hunters except while night-hunting raccoon or opossum or while hunting waterfowl from within a blind or boat. The catch and release area (artificial lures only- no bait in possession) extends from the Templeton/Athol railroad bridge to the first dam in Athol and from the Wendell Road bridge in Orange to the breached dam in Erving center."
How do you get into Millers River WMA?
"Parking for this area is located off of Royalston Road for 4 vehicles, Gulf Road for 4 vehicles, and the Chestnut Hill Road end of Gulf Road for 2 vehicles."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmaintained | 5 | Dirt | Fair | 42.63293 | -72.15830 |
| Unmaintained | 5 | Dirt | Good | 42.61697 | -72.14791 |
| Pull off at break in stonewall. Gate at main road | 2 | Dirt | Fair | 42.64726 | -72.19758 |
| Gate at main road | 1 | Dirt | Fair | 42.64724 | -72.19620 |
| Gate at main road | 3 | Dirt | Fair | 42.64699 | -72.19595 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: US 202, MA 2, MA 32, MA 68, MA 122 and MA 101. Distances to the nearest town centers: Athol under a mile, Royalston under a mile, Phillipston 2 miles and Orange 2 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Tully Mountain (3 miles), Birch Hill (3 miles), Lawrence Brook (4 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Millers River WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 5: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31. In 2025 the zone gave 337 deer to archers and 411 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 Millers River WMA?
It is stocked with pheasant, so every hunter must wear a blaze orange hat during pheasant season, except raccoon and opossum hunters at night and waterfowl hunters in a blind or boat. 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 Millers River WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 5, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Millers River WMA in?
Zone 5 (4,179 acres) and Zone 6, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 917 deer in Zone 5 in 2025, 541 of them adult males, after 798 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Millers River WMA?
MassWildlife maps 5 parking areas: Unmaintained (about 5 cars, dirt); Unmaintained (about 5 cars, dirt); Pull off at break in stonewall. Gate at main road (about 2 cars, dirt); Gate at main road (one car, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking for this area is located off of Royalston Road for 4 vehicles, Gulf Road for 4 vehicles, and the Chestnut Hill Road end of Gulf Road for 2 vehicles."
What can you hunt on Millers River WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "Ring-necked pheasant are stocked at this WMA. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and gray squirrel all thrive along the hardwood ridges. Wetland marshes provide hunting opportunities for both waterfowl and snowshoe hare. The large powerline right-of-way provides good opportunities for hunting furbearers such as eastern coyote and bobcat. The Millers River is stocked annually with trout."
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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).