Cocheco River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, map and access in WMU L
Cocheco River Wildlife Management Area is 140 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Dover (Strafford County), inside WMU L. NHFG lists it as open to hunting and names white-tailed deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse and woodcock among its game. Hunters registered 126 deer in Dover in 2025, against 129 in 2024. NHFG maps 1 gate and 2 boundary or entrance signs 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 landCocheco River WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 140 acres (NHFG), in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Dover |
| County | Strafford |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU L |
| Region | Seacoast Region |
| Game NHFG lists | White-tailed deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse and woodcock |
| Parking and access (NHFG) | 1 gate and 2 boundary or entrance signs |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 1.3 miles of trail, 0.1 miles of gravel or woods road |
| Deer taken in WMU L, 2025 | 1,610 (779 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | Dover (under a mile), Rollinsford (2 mi) and Madbury (4 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Cocheco River WMA?
NHFG's note on the area: "Clearcuts harvested in 2009/10 and 2025 may provide some upland gamebird hunting opportunties now and in the future." Its WMA layer lists white-tailed deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse and woodcock, and marks the area for wildlife watching. On fishing and boats: "Although fronts on the Cocheco River, the river bank is steep and well vegetated making it challenging to fish from shore."
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Gate | 43.19054 | -70.85948 |
| Sign | 43.19269 | -70.84660 |
| Sign | 43.19032 | -70.85969 |
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 Dover?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Male | Female | Per square mile | Deer, 2024 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | 126 | 72 | 54 | 4.72 | 129 | 0 |
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 Cocheco River WMA in 2026?
Seasons on Cocheco River WMA follow WMU L. Any deer may be taken October 31 to November 10 in muzzleloader season and November 11 to 22 in firearms season; the firearms season closes December 6. Bears in unit L: 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 L | 140 | 1,610 | 779 | 8 |
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 Cocheco River WMA?
Fis 903 has no rule written for Cocheco River 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 Cocheco River WMA?
Highways within five miles: NH 16, NH 9, NH 108, US 4, NH 4 and NH 155. Distances to the nearest town centers: Dover under a mile, Rollinsford 2 miles, Madbury 4 miles and Somersworth 4 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Bellamy River - West (3 miles), Lamprey River (7 miles), Adams Point (7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Cocheco River WMA?
Yes. NHFG marks it open to hunting. Seasons follow WMU L (N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands)).
What WMU is Cocheco River WMA in?
WMU L. Hunters took 1,610 deer in WMU L in 2025, 779 of them adult bucks, and bear unit L gave 8 bears (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary).
How many deer are taken in Dover?
Dover: 126 deer in 2025 (72 male, 54 female), 4.72 per square mile; 129 in 2024. (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, by town.)
Where do you park for Cocheco River WMA?
NHFG's WMA layer shows no marked parking lot for Cocheco River WMA, though it shows 1 gate; check NHFG's map before you go. The nearest numbered highways are NH 16, NH 9 and NH 108.
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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.