Upper Parker River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 10
Upper Parker River Wildlife Management Area is 171 acres of MassWildlife land in Georgetown and Groveland (Essex County), in Wildlife Management Zone 10. MassWildlife says all of its WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunters took 2,515 deer in Zone 10 in 2025, and MassWildlife maps 1 parking area for the property with room for about 3 vehicles.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MassWildlife's Upper Parker 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)Upper Parker River WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 171 acres (MassWildlife), in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Georgetown and Groveland |
| County | Essex |
| Wildlife Management Zone | Zone 10 |
| MassWildlife district | Northeast District |
| Parking (MassWildlife) | 1 lot, about 3 spaces |
| Deer taken in Zone 10, 2025 | 2,515 (1,320 adult males) |
| Nearest town centers | Groveland (under a mile), Georgetown (2 mi) and Boxford (3 mi) |
What is Upper Parker River WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "This property features a diverse collection of habitats ranging from mature beaver impoundments and sand pits to mixed hardwood and successional forests."
On its habitat work: "The sand pits are managed yearly for invasive species and to keep vegetation in check."
On wildlife: "This property provides excellent birdwatching and wildlife viewing opportunities."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Upper Parker River WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Upper Parker River WMA?
"The forest supports ruffed grouse, deer, fox, cottontail rabbit, coyote, fisher, raccoon, woodcock, and gray squirrel. Beaver ponds support multiple waterfowl species. The Upper Parker River WMA contains a section of the Parker River but it is likely too small to support fishing opportunities."
How do you get into Upper Parker River WMA?
"Property can be accessed through the pull off on Salem Street and through Meadow Pond WCE off of Uptack Road."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parking on cul-de-sac behind #6 (private business) on Federal Way. | 3 | Paved | Excellent | 42.73412 | -71.01955 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: I-95, MA 97, MA 133, MA 113, MA 125 and MA 110. Distances to the nearest town centers: Groveland under a mile, Georgetown 2 miles, Boxford 3 miles and Haverhill 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Crane Pond (3 miles), Martin H. Burns (7 miles), William Forward (8 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Upper Parker River WMA in 2026?
Deer seasons follow Zone 10: archery October 5 to November 28, shotgun November 30 to December 12, primitive firearms December 14 to 31 and a winter season January 1 to 30, 2027. In 2025 the zone gave 1,435 deer to archers and 645 in shotgun season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult males, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10 | 214 | 2,515 | 1,320 | 2,423 |
Seasons: MassWildlife deer hunting regulations (2026 dates). Harvest: MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; MassWildlife 2024 Deer Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Upper Parker 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 Upper Parker River WMA?
Yes. MassWildlife says all WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping; deer seasons follow Zone 10, where the 2026 shotgun season runs November 30 to December 12 (MassWildlife WMA regulations).
What zone is Upper Parker River WMA in?
Zone 10, as MassWildlife's fact sheet gives it. Hunters took 2,515 deer in Zone 10 in 2025, 1,320 of them adult males, after 2,423 in 2024 (MassWildlife 2025 Deer Harvest Summary).
Where do you park for Upper Parker River WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Parking on cul-de-sac behind #6 (private business) on Federal Way. (about 3 cars, paved). Its fact sheet adds: "Property can be accessed through the pull off on Salem Street and through Meadow Pond WCE off of Uptack Road."
What can you hunt on Upper Parker River WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "The forest supports ruffed grouse, deer, fox, cottontail rabbit, coyote, fisher, raccoon, woodcock, and gray squirrel. Beaver ponds support multiple waterfowl species. The Upper Parker River WMA contains a section of the Parker River but it is likely too small to support fishing opportunities."
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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).