Thayer Pond Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 8
Thayer Pond Wildlife Management Area is 131 acres of MassWildlife land in Rutland (Worcester County), in Wildlife Management Zone 8. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 1,004 deer in Zone 8 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 1 parking area for the property with room for about 10 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Thayer Pond 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)Thayer Pond WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 131 acres (MassWildlife), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Rutland |
| County | Worcester |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 8 |
| MassWildlife district | Central District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 10 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 8, 2025 | 1,004 (625 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Rutland (under a mile), Oakham (4 mi) and Paxton (5 mi) |
What is Thayer Pond WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "Almost all of Thayer Pond is contained within the eastern part of the WMA. The western portion of the property contains mixed hardwood forest. Mill Brook enters the property from the north and numerous beaver impoundments can be found along the brook as it flows through the WMA."
On wildlife: "Thayer Pond offers waterfowl, wading bird, and aquatic mammal viewing opportunities. The Central Mass Rail Trail passes through this property."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Thayer Pond WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Thayer Pond WMA?
"There are opportunities to pursue waterfowl, raccoon, and beaver along the banks of the pond and brook. The mixed hardwood forest allows for pursuit of gray fox and gray squirrel. Thayer Pond is accessible from shore or via car-top boat and offers warm water fishing although limited species information exists."
How do you get into Thayer Pond WMA?
"A dirt parking lot along Depot Road has space for 10 vehicles and allows access to Thayer Pond. Additional access can be gained via limited roadside parking along Millbrook Street."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintained | 10 | Dirt | Good | 42.38166 | -71.96356 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: MA 122, MA 56, MA 68, MA 31, MA 62 and MA 148. Distances to the nearest town centers: Rutland under a mile, Oakham 4 miles, Paxton 5 miles and Holden 5 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Savage Hill (4 miles), Oakham (5 miles), Moose Hill (7 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Thayer Pond WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 8: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31. In 2025 the zone gave 429 deer to archers and 410 in shotgun season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 8 | 121 | 1,004 | 625 | 865 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Thayer Pond 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 Thayer Pond WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 8, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Thayer Pond WMA in?
Zone 8, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 1,004 deer in Zone 8 in 2025, 625 of them adult males, after 865 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Thayer Pond WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Maintained (about 10 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "A dirt parking lot along Depot Road has space for 10 vehicles and allows access to Thayer Pond. Additional access can be gained via limited roadside parking along Millbrook Street."
What can you hunt on Thayer Pond WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "There are opportunities to pursue waterfowl, raccoon, and beaver along the banks of the pond and brook. The mixed hardwood forest allows for pursuit of gray fox and gray squirrel. Thayer Pond is accessible from shore or via car-top boat and offers warm water fishing although limited species information exists."
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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).