Prince River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 5
Prince River Wildlife Management Area is 787 acres of MassWildlife land in Barre (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 Prince 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)Prince River WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 787 acres (MassWildlife), in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Barre |
| County | Worcester |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 5 |
| MassWildlife district | Central District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 5 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 5, 2025 | 917 (541 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Barre (under a mile), Petersham (5 mi) and Hubbardston (5 mi) |
What is Prince River WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "This property consists of mixed hardwood and conifer forest as well as wooded swamps."
On wildlife: "There are old stone chimney remains of the old homestead located at the parking area, offering photography opportunities."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Prince River WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Prince River WMA?
"The hardwood and mixed hardwood ridges offer hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer and gray squirrel."
How do you get into Prince River WMA?
"Parking for this area is located on Hawes Hill Road and can accommodate 4 vehicles."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmaintained | 5 | Dirt | Fair | 42.46335 | -72.12057 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: MA 32, MA 122, MA 62, MA 101, MA 68 and MA 67. Distances to the nearest town centers: Barre under a mile, Petersham 5 miles, Hubbardston 5 miles and Phillipston 6 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Phillipston (2 miles), Moose Brook (4 miles), Popple Camp (5 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Prince 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.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 | 801 | 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 Prince River 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 Prince 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 Prince River 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 Prince River WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Unmaintained (about 5 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking for this area is located on Hawes Hill Road and can accommodate 4 vehicles."
What can you hunt on Prince River WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "The hardwood and mixed hardwood ridges offer hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer and gray squirrel."
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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).