Popple Camp Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 5
Popple Camp Wildlife Management Area is 1,052 acres of MassWildlife land in Petersham and Phillipston (Worcester County), in Wildlife Management Zone 5. 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 1 parking area for the property with room for about 5 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Popple Camp 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)Popple Camp WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 1,052 acres (MassWildlife), in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Petersham and Phillipston |
| County | Worcester |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 5 |
| MassWildlife district | Central District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 5 spaces |
| Pheasant | Stocked; blaze orange hat required in pheasant season |
| Deer taken in Zone 5, 2025 | 917 (541 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Phillipston (under a mile), Petersham (4 mi) and Templeton (4 mi) |
What is Popple Camp WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "This property consists of old apple orchards, reclaimed fields, agriculture fields, hardwood stands, hemlock stands, and marshland river edges. The East Branch of the Swift River flows through the property."
On its habitat work: "This WMA has active agriculture on the fields and annual mowing of fields. The property is also managed for open habitat."
On wildlife: "Waterfowl and aquatic mammals may be viewed along the East Branch of the Swift River. Uncommon marsh birds are sometimes seen in the wetlands along the East Branch of the Swift River."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Popple Camp WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Popple Camp WMA?
"Hardwood ridges provide hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and gray squirrel. Waterfowl hunting opportunities exist in river/marsh areas with American woodcock hunting opportunities along river brush lands. This WMA is stocked with pheasants in the fielded section during the pheasant season. The East Branch of the Swift River is stocked with trout annually. There is an informal canoe access point off Petersham Road (Route 101). The East Branch of the Swift River is stocked with trout, Go to mass.gov/trout for more information."
Its rules for the area: "During the pheasant season, a “hunter orange” hat is required for all hunters except while night-hunting raccoons or opossums or while hunting waterfowl from within a blind or boat."
How do you get into Popple Camp WMA?
"Parking for access to this area is located off of Petersham Road (Route 101) and can accommodate 5 vehicles."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmaintained | 5 | Dirt | Good | 42.52424 | -72.14214 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: MA 2, MA 32, MA 122, US 202, MA 101 and MA 68. Distances to the nearest town centers: Phillipston under a mile, Petersham 4 miles, Templeton 4 miles and Athol 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Phillipston (3 miles), Stone Bridge (3 miles), Prince River (5 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Popple Camp 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.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 | 1,501 | 917 | 541 | 798 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Popple Camp 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 Popple Camp 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 Popple Camp WMA in?
Zone 5, 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 Popple Camp WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Unmaintained (about 5 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking for access to this area is located off of Petersham Road (Route 101) and can accommodate 5 vehicles."
What can you hunt on Popple Camp WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "Hardwood ridges provide hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and gray squirrel. Waterfowl hunting opportunities exist in river/marsh areas with American woodcock hunting opportunities along river brush lands. This WMA is stocked with pheasants in the fielded section during the pheasant season. The East Branch of the Swift River is stocked with trout annually."
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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).