Carpenters Marsh Wildlife Management Area: hunting, map and access in WMU H2
Carpenters Marsh Wildlife Management Area is 291 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Hancock (Hillsborough County), inside WMU H2. NHFG lists it as open to hunting and names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock among its game. Hunters registered 50 deer in Hancock in 2025, against 36 in 2024. NHFG maps 1 parking area, 1 kiosk and 1 boundary or entrance sign on the property.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: NHFG Wildlife Management Areas. Harvest: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary. Rules: N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands).
Fish and Game landCarpenters Marsh WMAWMU lineParkingHighway
| Size | 291 acres (NHFG) |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Hancock |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU H2 |
| Region | Monadnock Region |
| Game NHFG lists | White-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock |
| Parking and access (NHFG) | 1 parking area, 1 kiosk and 1 boundary or entrance sign |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 2.4 miles of trail, 0.6 miles of gravel or woods road |
| Deer taken in WMU H2, 2025 | 1,262 (833 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | Hancock (under a mile), Antrim (3 mi) and Harrisville (5 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Carpenters Marsh WMA?
NHFG's note on the area: "May still hold grouse/woodcock potential in timber harvest area cut in 2007." Its WMA layer lists white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock, and marks the area for wildlife watching. On fishing and boats: "Shoreline fishing for stocked trout and warmwater fish. Unimproved canoe/kayak access."
Named roads and trails on the property: Depot Rd and Prospect Hill Loop.
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | 42.99729 | -72.00024 |
| Kiosk | 42.99731 | -72.00025 |
| Sign | 42.99618 | -71.99148 |
From NHFG's WMA parking, gates, kiosks and signs layer.
From NHFG Wildlife Management Areas and NHFG WMA parking, gates, kiosks and signs. NHFG asks hunters to seek landowner permission on conservation land it does not own.
How many deer are registered in Hancock?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Male | Female | Per square mile | Deer, 2024 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock | 50 | 35 | 15 | 1.68 | 36 | 3 |
Source: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary and NHFG 2024 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, deer and bear kill by town. The figures cover the whole town, not just the WMA.
When can you hunt Carpenters Marsh WMA in 2026?
Seasons on Carpenters Marsh WMA follow WMU H2. Any deer may be taken October 31 to November 3 in muzzleloader season and November 11 to 15 in firearms season; the firearms season closes December 6. Bears in unit H2: general season September 1 to November 30, baiting September 1 to 28.
| WMU | Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult bucks, 2025 | Bears in bear unit, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU H2 | 291 | 1,262 | 833 | 79 |
Seasons: NHFG Deer Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 dates); NHFG Bear Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 seasons); NHFG Dates and Seasons. Harvest: NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary.
What rules apply on Carpenters Marsh WMA?
Fis 903 has no rule written for Carpenters Marsh WMA alone; Fis 902.02, the rule for all Department lands, allows portable stands and bars camping, and baiting except as Fis 307 allows.
Source: N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands); NHFG list of Department controlled lands.
How do you get to Carpenters Marsh WMA?
Highways within five miles: NH 123, US 202, NH 31, NH 137, NH 9 and NH 47. Distances to the nearest town centers: Hancock under a mile, Antrim 3 miles, Harrisville 5 miles and Bennington 5 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Evas Marsh (1 mile), Hosmer (2 miles), Powder Mill Pond (5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Carpenters Marsh WMA?
Yes. NHFG marks it open to hunting. Seasons follow WMU H2 (N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands)).
What WMU is Carpenters Marsh WMA in?
WMU H2. Hunters took 1,262 deer in WMU H2 in 2025, 833 of them adult bucks, and bear unit H2 gave 79 bears (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary).
How many deer are taken in Hancock?
Hancock: 50 deer in 2025 (35 male, 15 female), 1.68 per square mile; 36 in 2024; 3 bears in 2025. (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, by town.)
Where do you park for Carpenters Marsh WMA?
NHFG's WMA layer shows 1 parking area, marked on the map above. The nearest numbered highways are NH 123, US 202 and NH 31.
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Sources: NHFG Wildlife Management Areas and NHFG's NHFG Wildlife Management Areas page; NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary; NHFG Deer Hunting in New Hampshire (2026 dates); N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands); public land USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1); 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 the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.