Tully Mountain Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 5
Tully Mountain Wildlife Management Area is 645 acres of MassWildlife land in Orange (Franklin 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 3 parking areas for the property with room for about 15 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Tully Mountain 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)Army Corps of EngineersTully Mountain WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 645 acres (MassWildlife), in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Orange |
| County | Franklin, Worcester |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 5 |
| MassWildlife district | Connecticut Valley District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 3 lots, about 15 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 5, 2025 | 917 (541 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Royalston (3 mi), Athol (3 mi) and Orange (3 mi) |
What is Tully Mountain WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "This property covers most of Tully Mountain and the surrounding hillsides along the West Branch of the Tully River. This WMA is predominantly comprised of mature upland forest of northern hardwoods (maple, beech, birch) intermixed with oak, white pine, and hemlock. Beaver-created wetlands occur where Collar Brook flows into the Tully River in the broad plain known locally as “Tully Meadows”. A small field dotted with apple trees can be found at the end of Mountain Road. Another 693 acres of MassWildlife Wildlife Conservation Easements (WCE) surround this WMA providing increased wildlife habitat and public access."
On its habitat work: "As of 2021, MassWildlife created 30 acres of young forest habitat, thinned 23 acres of white pine-oak-hemlock forest, and maintained mowing the old fields. On the adjacent Tully Mountain WCE, similar habitat work has been conducted by the landowner. These purposeful actions benefit rare and uncommon birds in the area such as prairie warbler and eastern whip-poor-will as well as game birds like ruffed grouse and American woodcock. Young forests are dense thickets of saplings, shrubs, and plants which sprout after forest canopy is removed. Tree thinning improves acorn production in red and white oaks and reduces disease susceptibility in white pines. Maintaining mowed fields creates areas of bare soil that support specialized plants and pollinators."
On wildlife: "In the young forest habitat, listen for the prairie warbler’s song in spring, a buzzy upward progression on the chromatic scale. Late spring and summer evenings are filled with the persistent calls of the whip-poor-will while the “peenting” of woodcock adds to the forest chorus. The “Tully Meadows” wetland area provides more great birding opportunities. The 22- mile Tully Trail passes through the WMA and includes a loop to Tully Mountain peak. Enjoy extensive views of the surrounding hillsides and Mt. Monadnock. Portions of the Tully Trail which traverse the WMA, the adjoining WCE, and nearby Fish Brook WMA are maintained under a MassWildlife Trail License Agreement with the North Quabbin Trails Association."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Tully Mountain WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Tully Mountain WMA?
"This WMA provides hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, and eastern coyote."
On fishing: "Anglers can fish the West Branch of the Tully River for native brook trout, largemouth bass, and stocked trout. Go to mass.gov/trout for more information. Collar Brook provides fishing opportunities for native brook trout."
How do you get into Tully Mountain WMA?
"The property can be accessed from Mountain Road and Tully Road. A gravel parking area accommodates 10 vehicles at the end of Mountain Road. There is a grassy parking area for large enough for two cars on Tully Road. Parking areas are not maintained in the winter."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not maintained in winter | 10 | Dirt/Gravel | Excellent | 42.64630 | -72.24525 |
| Not maintained in winter | 2 | Grass | Poor | 42.66104 | -72.26380 |
| At gated road | 3 | Dirt/Gravel | Good | 42.65408 | -72.21745 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: MA 32, MA 68, MA 78, US 202, MA 2 and MA 122. Distances to the nearest town centers: Royalston 3 miles, Athol 3 miles, Orange 3 miles and Warwick 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Fish Brook (2 miles), Millers River (3 miles), Orange (3 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Tully Mountain 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 | 997 | 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 Tully Mountain 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 Tully Mountain 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 Tully Mountain 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 Tully Mountain WMA?
MassWildlife maps 3 parking areas: Not maintained in winter (about 10 cars, dirt/gravel); Not maintained in winter (about 2 cars, grass); At gated road (about 3 cars, dirt/gravel). Its fact sheet adds: "The property can be accessed from Mountain Road and Tully Road. A gravel parking area accommodates 10 vehicles at the end of Mountain Road. There is a grassy parking area for large enough for two cars on Tully Road. Parking areas are not maintained in the winter."
What can you hunt on Tully Mountain WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "This WMA provides hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, and eastern coyote."
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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).