Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve: hunting, map and access in WMU A
Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve is 14,998 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Pittsburg (Coos County), inside WMU A. NHFG lists it as open to hunting and names white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock among its game. Hunters registered 294 deer in Pittsburg in 2025, against 207 in 2024. NHFG maps 2 parking areas, 2 gates and 4 kiosks 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 landState forest and park landConnecticut Lakes Nature PreserveWMU lineParkingHighway
| Size | 14,998 acres (NHFG) |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Pittsburg |
| County | Coos |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU A |
| Region | Great North Woods Region |
| Game NHFG lists | White-tailed deer, black bear, moose, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock |
| Parking and access (NHFG) | 2 parking areas, 2 gates and 4 kiosks |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 9.9 miles of trail, 34.4 miles of gravel or woods road |
| Deer taken in WMU A, 2025 | 508 (396 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | Pittsburg (4 mi), Atkinson and Gilmanton Academy Grant (12 mi) and Clarksville (13 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve?
NHFG's note on the area: "Forest management not allowed by deed. However, heavy harvesting prior to state ownership may still yield upland gamebird hunting opportunities." Its WMA layer lists white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock, and marks the area for wildlife watching. On fishing and boats: "Shoreline fishing at East Inlet and Scott's Bog. Improved boat access at both locations."
Named roads and trails on the property: East Inlet West Side, SB Spur N, Scott Brook Spur, EI Spur and Beaman seas.
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | 45.21023 | -71.16813 |
| Parking | 45.17929 | -71.16112 |
| Gate | 45.18591 | -71.17595 |
| Gate | 45.17345 | -71.16899 |
| Kiosk | 45.21040 | -71.16767 |
| Kiosk | 45.18628 | -71.17621 |
| Kiosk | 45.17943 | -71.16120 |
| Kiosk | 45.17463 | -71.17658 |
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 Pittsburg?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Male | Female | Per square mile | Deer, 2024 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburg | 294 | 233 | 61 | 1.04 | 207 | 14 |
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 Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve in 2026?
Seasons on Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve follow WMU A. Any deer may be taken November 11 in firearms season; the firearms season closes November 29. Bears in unit A: general season September 1 to November 10, baiting September 1 to 28.
| WMU | Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult bucks, 2025 | Bears in bear unit, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU A | 14,989 | 508 | 396 | 39 |
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 Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve?
Fis 903 has no rule written for Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve 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 Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve?
Distances to the nearest town centers: Pittsburg 4 miles, Atkinson and Gilmanton Academy Grant 12 miles, Clarksville 13 miles and Second College Grant 17 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Connecticut Lakes North (East) (3 miles), Connecticut Lakes North (West) (6 miles), Connecticut Lakes South Bay Bog (13 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve?
Yes. NHFG marks it open to hunting. Seasons follow WMU A (N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands)).
What WMU is Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve in?
WMU A. Hunters took 508 deer in WMU A in 2025, 396 of them adult bucks, and bear unit A gave 39 bears (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary).
How many deer are taken in Pittsburg?
Pittsburg: 294 deer in 2025 (233 male, 61 female), 1.04 per square mile; 207 in 2024; 14 bears in 2025. (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, by town.)
Where do you park for Connecticut Lakes Nature Preserve?
NHFG's WMA layer shows 2 parking areas and 2 gates, marked on the map above.
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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.