Wolf Swamp Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and parking in Zone 8
Wolf Swamp Wildlife Management Area is 1,358 acres of MassWildlife land in Brookfield and Sturbridge (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 Wolf Swamp 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 EngineersWolf Swamp WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 1,358 acres (MassWildlife), in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town | Brookfield and Sturbridge |
| 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 | Brookfield (under a mile), East Brookfield (3 mi) and Sturbridge (3 mi) |
What is Wolf Swamp WMA like?
MassWildlife describes it: "This property is comprised of hardwood ridges, conifer stands, overgrown fields, small agriculture fields, and a power line right-of-way passing over it. Also, Cranberry Pond, the Wolf Swamp complex, and Trout Brook flow through the middle of the property for water resources."
On its habitat work: "Currently, this WMA has semi-annually mowed fields and active agriculture on some of the fields. This area is also managed for open space."
On wildlife: "This area offers waterfowl viewing opportunities at Cranberry Pond and a power line right-of-way provides opportunities for viewing raptors. There is a Kettlehole Level Bog, an uncommon natural community, around Cranberry Pond."
Quoted from MassWildlife's Wolf Swamp WMA fact sheet.
What does MassWildlife say about hunting Wolf Swamp WMA?
"This property has numerous hardwood ridges providing opportunities for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and small game hunting. Also, the agricultural fields and abandoned fields are well suited for predator hunting and small game. The wetland complexes and wetland edges also offer waterfowl and American woodcock habitat and hunting opportunities. Cranberry Pond, located at the northern edge, is a great choice for ice fishing and offers warm water/pan fishing opportunities."
How do you get into Wolf Swamp WMA?
"Parking for this area is located on Rice Corner Road for six vehicles, Glendale Road for one vehicle, and Molasses Hill Road for two vehicles."
| Parking | Spaces | Surface | Condition | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmaintained | 10 | Dirt | Fair | 42.18384 | -72.09166 |
From MassWildlife parking for recreation.
Highways within five miles: I-90, US 20, MA 148, MA 19, MA 9 and I-84. Distances to the nearest town centers: Brookfield under a mile, East Brookfield 3 miles, Sturbridge 3 miles and Brimfield 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Quacumquasit (2 miles), Hitchcock Mountain (3 miles), Quaboag (3 miles).
When can you hunt deer on Wolf Swamp 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 | 1,239 | 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 Wolf Swamp 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 Wolf Swamp 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 Wolf Swamp 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 Wolf Swamp WMA?
MassWildlife maps 1 parking area: Unmaintained (about 10 cars, dirt). Its fact sheet adds: "Parking for this area is located on Rice Corner Road for six vehicles, Glendale Road for one vehicle, and Molasses Hill Road for two vehicles."
What can you hunt on Wolf Swamp WMA?
MassWildlife's fact sheet: "This property has numerous hardwood ridges providing opportunities for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and small game hunting. Also, the agricultural fields and abandoned fields are well suited for predator hunting and small game. The wetland complexes and wetland edges also offer waterfowl and American woodcock habitat and hunting 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).