Nissitissit River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 9

Nissitissit River Wildlife Management Area is 627 acres of MassWildlife land in Pepperell (Middlesex 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 12 parking areas for the property with room for about 34 vehicles.

Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Nissitissit River WMA fact sheet. Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary. Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates).

What is Nissitissit River WMA like?

MassWildlife describes it: "In the Nipmuc language, Nissitissit means “between two brooks.” The Nissitissit River WMA contains over 600 acres of forests and wetlands that surround and protect the river and several of its tributaries. The river is widely recognized for its ecological, recreational, cultural, and aesthetic value. Upstream near the New Hampshire border, the river is narrow with high banks and lots of large woody debris, a feature beneficial to aquatic life. Further downstream as Sucker Brook and then Mine Brook flow in, the Nissitissit becomes wider and rockier. In 2015, MassWildlife removed the Millie Turner Dam and reinforced areas of eroding streambank to restore trout and freshwater mussel habitat. Visitors can explore the WMA by way of several unmarked paths."

On its habitat work: "Removal of the Turner Dam was completed in 2015. Restoration of the river shed area will continue for several years. River bank erosion from ATV trespass was restored along Sucker Brook."

On wildlife: "The WMA provides excellent bird watching, wildlife viewing, and nature study opportunities. Listen for the distinctive breeding vocalizations of the common yellowthroat, yellow warbler, and black-capped chickadee and watch the skies for bald eagles. At the river’s edge, look for ducks tucked in under cover along the streambanks. Find dragonflies and damselflies, including the showy ebony jewelwing, flitting along the shorelines. Thanks to good water quality, the river supports an impressive variety of freshwater mussels, including six rare species. Freshwater mussels are filter feeders that play an important role in the river ecosystem by cleaning the water; they are also a valuable food source for many animals."

Quoted from MassWildlife's Nissitissit River WMA fact sheet.

What does MassWildlife say about hunting Nissitissit River WMA?

"White-tailed deer, eastern coyotes, foxes, and gray squirrels are found in the uplands. Opportunities for hunting waterfowl and trapping aquatic furbearers can be found near the river. Ring-necked pheasants are stocked during the fall season. View Massachusetts hunting regulations."

Its rules for the area: "The reach of the Nissitissit River from the New Hampshire border to the Prescott Street Bridge is designated as fly fishing only (artificial lures only, no bait in possession) and is a catch-and-release only site. Get more information on catch and-release fishing areas."

On fishing: "The nearly two-mile stretch of the Nissitissit River from the New Hampshire border downstream to the Prescott Street bridge is a catch-and-release, fly fishing-only area. MassWildlife stocks trout in the river each spring and fall. The excellent water quality and cool water temperatures can support trout in all but the hottest summer months, at which point fish take refuge in deep pools and cooler tributaries. Sections of the river and some tributaries support populations of wild brook trout. The river also holds white suckers, common shiners, yellow bullheads, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, pumpkinseeds, and American eels. View Massachusetts freshwater fishing regulations."

How do you get into Nissitissit River WMA?

"Two parking areas are available off Prescott Street, one parking area is available off North Street, and an additional parking area is on Brookline Street. The southernmost parcel can be accessed by parking on Hollis Street at the site of the Turner Dam removal."

From MassWildlife parking for recreation.

Highways within five miles: MA 113, MA 119, MA 111, MA 13, MA 225 and MA 40. Distances to the nearest town centers: Pepperell under a mile, Dunstable 4 miles, Groton 4 miles and Townsend 5 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Townsend Hill (3 miles), Hauk Swamp (5 miles), Unkety Brook (6 miles).

When can you hunt deer on Nissitissit River 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.

Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.

What rules apply on Nissitissit 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 Nissitissit River 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 Nissitissit River 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 Nissitissit River WMA?

MassWildlife maps 12 parking areas: Parking on North Street- Fly Fishing Only Access Area (about 3 cars, dirt); Pull-off at road side- Fly Fishing Only Access Area (about 2 cars, dirt); Dirt/grass pull-off- Fly Fishing Only Area (about 2 cars, dirt); Dirt pulloff (about 2 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Two parking areas are available off Prescott Street, one parking area is available off North Street, and an additional parking area is on Brookline Street. The southernmost parcel can be accessed by parking on Hollis Street at the site of the Turner Dam removal."

What can you hunt on Nissitissit River WMA?

MassWildlife's fact sheet: "White-tailed deer, eastern coyotes, foxes, and gray squirrels are found in the uplands. Opportunities for hunting waterfowl and trapping aquatic furbearers can be found near the river. Ring-necked pheasants are stocked during the fall season. View Massachusetts hunting regulations."

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).

Massachusetts hunting Zone 9