Southwick Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 4S
Southwick Wildlife Management Area is 265 acres of MassWildlife land in Southwick (Hampden County), in Wildlife Management Zone 4S. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 479 deer in Zone 4S in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 2 parking areas for the property with room for about 4 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Southwick WMA fact sheet. Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary. Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates).
MassWildlife (Fish and Game) landSouthwick WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 265 acres (MassWildlife) |
|---|---|
| Town | Southwick |
| County | Hampden |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 4S |
| MassWildlife district | Connecticut Valley District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 2 lots, about 4 spaces |
| Pheasant | Stocked; blaze orange hat required in pheasant season |
| Deer taken in Zone 4S, 2025 | 479 (361 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Southwick (2 mi), Agawam (4 mi) and Westfield (6 mi) |
What is Southwick WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "The creation of Southwick WMA is part of a larger successful effort to conserve grassland habitat in the Connecticut Valley. Grasslands, which are in decline, are vital to the survival of many types of wildlife. Lands to the south and west of the WMA are protected by the state of Connecticut and the town of Southwick, respectively. Most of this area was formerly used for intensive tabaco production. MassWildlife acquired most of the property in 2008 and has since conducted extensive grassland restoration and forest management to promote healthy and vigorous growth of native grasses, shrubs, and trees. Several maintenance roads and unmarked trails wind through the WMA and can be used for walking, hiking, birding, cross-country skiing, and hunting access. Since these habitats need some form of disturbance to thrive, visitors may notice operations like mowing and prescribed fires taking place periodically. Take time to explore these carefully restored areas and the native wildlife they support."
On wildlife: "Wildlife watchers are in for a treat when visiting the restored grassland and shrubland of this WMA. Look for grasshopper, clay-colored, and vesper sparrows along with eastern meadowlarks, American kestrels, and eastern whip-poor wills. Northern harriers are often seen hunting over the grasslands during migration and northern shrikes occasionally overwinter here. The grasslands support a wide variety of butterflies, moths, tiger beetles, and native bees. In recent years, MassWildlife has created and enhanced vernal pools within the property to benefit declining amphibians."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Southwick WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Southwick WMA?
"Ring-necked pheasants are stocked in the expansive grasslands three times per week during the fall season. MassWildlife’s focus on oak regeneration and grassland management benefits white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, black bears, cottontail rabbits, and coyotes."
Its rules for the area: "Southwick is a pheasant-stocked property and a “hunter orange” hat is required during the pheasant season except while night hunting for raccoons or opossums or while hunting waterfowl from within a blind or boat."
On fishing: "Nearby Lake Congamond is renowned for its largemouth bass fishery, which commonly produces fish exceeding 5 pounds. Smallmouth bass, panfish, yellow perch, chain pickerel, black crappie, and stocked brown trout are regularly caught. The town of Southwick manages two public boat ramps; shoreline access is available near the ramps."
How do you get into Southwick WMA?
"The WMA can be accessed from South Longyard Road. A small parking area exists on South Longyard Road that can hold around five cars. Parking areas are not maintained in the winter."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not maintained in winter | 4 | Dirt/Gravel | Good | 42.04805 | -72.74165 |
| Parking | 42.04673 | -72.74877 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: MA 57, MA 10, US 202, MA 187, US 20 and MA 147. Distances to the nearest town centers: Southwick 2 miles, Agawam 4 miles, Westfield 6 miles and West Springfield 7 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Honey Pot (5 miles), Westfield (7 miles), East Mountain (9 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Southwick WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 4S: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31. In 2025 the zone gave 202 deer to archers and 199 in shotgun season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4S | 348 | 479 | 361 | 360 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Southwick 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 Southwick WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 4S, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Southwick WMA in?
Zone 4S, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 479 deer in Zone 4S in 2025, 361 of them adult males, after 360 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Southwick WMA?
MassWildlife maps 2 parking areas: Not maintained in winter (about 4 cars, dirt/gravel); a lot. Its fact sheet adds: "The WMA can be accessed from South Longyard Road. A small parking area exists on South Longyard Road that can hold around five cars. Parking areas are not maintained in the winter."
What can you hunt on Southwick WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "Ring-necked pheasants are stocked in the expansive grasslands three times per week during the fall season. MassWildlife’s focus on oak regeneration and grassland management benefits white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, black bears, cottontail rabbits, and coyotes."
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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).