Noquochoke Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 11
Noquochoke Wildlife Management Area is 205 acres of MassWildlife land in Dartmouth (Bristol County), in Wildlife Management Zone 11. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 4,153 deer in Zone 11 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 1 parking area for the property with room for about 50 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Noquochoke WMA fact sheet. Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary. Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates).
MassWildlife (Fish and Game) landNoquochoke WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 205 acres (MassWildlife), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Dartmouth |
| County | Bristol |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 11 |
| MassWildlife district | Southeast District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 50 spaces |
| Pheasant | Stocked; blaze orange hat required in pheasant season |
| Deer taken in Zone 11, 2025 | 4,153 (2,120 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | New Bedford (4 mi), Fall River (5 mi) and Westport (6 mi) |
What is Noquochoke WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "Noquochoke WMA features hardwood and softwood forests primarily of pine, cedar, and oak and contains multiple, small grassy meadows."
On its habitat work: "The grassy areas are mowed and burned on an infrequent basis to maintain grassland habitat for wildlife."
On wildlife: "Along the Shingle Island River there is an alluvial Atlantic white cedar swamp, an uncommon type of natural community. On the eastern side of the WMA there is an acidic graminoid fen, another uncommon natural community. These wetland communities and the grasslands here support a diverse array of plants and animals. There are multiple unmaintained short trails throughout this property."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Noquochoke WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Noquochoke WMA?
"This WMA provides good opportunities for hunting white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and eastern coyote. This area is stocked with ring-necked pheasants. For more information on pheasant stocking, go to mass.gov/pheasant."
Its rules for the area: "During 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."
On fishing: "Shingle Island River provides fishing opportunities for warmwater species including bullhead, largemouth bass, and yellow perch and is stocked with trout in the spring. For more information on trout stocking, visit Mass.gov/trout."
How do you get into Noquochoke WMA?
"A large dirt parking lot for 50 vehicles is located off of Hixville Road in Dartmouth."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noquochoke WMA Parking Area | 50 | Dirt | Fair | 41.66806 | -71.02446 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: US 6, I-195, MA 140, MA 18, MA 88 and MA 177. Distances to the nearest town centers: New Bedford 4 miles, Fall River 5 miles, Westport 6 miles and Acushnet 7 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Copicut (7 miles), Dartmoor Farm (8 miles), Mill Brook Bogs (9 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Noquochoke WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 11: 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 2,139 deer to archers and 1,358 in shotgun season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 11 | 201 | 4,153 | 2,120 | 3,830 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Noquochoke 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 Noquochoke WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 11, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Noquochoke WMA in?
Zone 11, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 4,153 deer in Zone 11 in 2025, 2,120 of them adult males, after 3,830 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Noquochoke WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Noquochoke WMA Parking Area (about 50 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "A large dirt parking lot for 50 vehicles is located off of Hixville Road in Dartmouth."
What can you hunt on Noquochoke WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "This WMA provides good opportunities for hunting white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and eastern coyote. This area is stocked with ring-necked pheasants. For more information on pheasant stocking, go to mass.gov/pheasant."
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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).