Ellis R. Hatch Jr. Wildlife Management Area: hunting, map and access in WMU J2
Ellis R. Hatch Jr. Wildlife Management Area is 1,916 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Brookfield and New Durham (Carroll and Strafford counties), inside WMU J2. NHFG lists it as open to hunting and names white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wild turkey and ruffed grouse and woodcock among its game. Hunters registered 32 deer in Brookfield in 2025, against 20 in 2024. NHFG maps 1 parking area, 3 gates, 2 kiosks and 5 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 landEllis R. Hatch Jr. WMAWMU lineParkingHighway
| Size | 1,916 acres (NHFG), in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Brookfield and New Durham |
| County | Carroll, Strafford |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU J2 |
| Region | Lakes Region |
| Game NHFG lists | White-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wild turkey and ruffed grouse and woodcock |
| Parking and access (NHFG) | 1 parking area, 3 gates, 2 kiosks and 5 boundary or entrance signs |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 3.7 miles of trail, 4.6 miles of gravel or woods road |
| Deer taken in WMU J2, 2025 | 2,113 (1,169 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | Brookfield (under a mile), Middleton (2 mi) and New Durham (3 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA?
NHFG's note on the area: "Popular bear hunting location. Forest management projects in 2020 and 2024 may eventually provide upland gamebird hunting opportunities." Its WMA layer lists white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wild turkey and ruffed grouse and woodcock, and marks the area for wildlife watching. On fishing and boats: "Remote trout ponds. Carry-in canoe/kayak access."
Named roads and trails on the property: Hanson Road, Trickey Road and Woodman Hill Road.
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | 43.50709 | -71.11794 |
| Gate | 43.53527 | -71.09269 |
| Gate | 43.53454 | -71.09248 |
| Gate | 43.50727 | -71.11755 |
| Kiosk | 43.53484 | -71.09255 |
| Kiosk | 43.50722 | -71.11775 |
| Sign | 43.54725 | -71.08818 |
| Sign | 43.54352 | -71.08479 |
| Sign | 43.51282 | -71.11330 |
| Sign | 43.50675 | -71.11774 |
The first 10 of 11 points on 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 Brookfield and New Durham?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Male | Female | Per square mile | Deer, 2024 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield | 32 | 23 | 9 | 1.4 | 20 | 2 |
| New Durham | 85 | 52 | 33 | 2.06 | 65 | 4 |
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 Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA in 2026?
Seasons on Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA follow WMU J2. 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 J2: general season September 1 to November 30, baiting September 1 to October 5.
| WMU | Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Adult bucks, 2025 | Bears in bear unit, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU J2 | 1,916 | 2,113 | 1,169 | 49 |
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 Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA?
Fis 903 sets rules for Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA alone: no outboard motors on Jones Pond and no boats left overnight (Fis 903.04).
Source: N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands); NHFG list of Department controlled lands.
How do you get to Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA?
Highways within five miles: NH 153, NH 109, NH 16, NH 28 and NH 125. Distances to the nearest town centers: Brookfield under a mile, Middleton 2 miles, New Durham 3 miles and Wakefield 4 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Beaver Brook (4 miles), Union Meadows (4 miles), Coldrain Pond (6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA?
Yes. NHFG marks it open to hunting, with its own rule: no outboard motors on Jones Pond and no boats left overnight (Fis 903.04). Seasons follow WMU J2 (N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands)).
What WMU is Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA in?
WMU J2. Hunters took 2,113 deer in WMU J2 in 2025, 1,169 of them adult bucks, and bear unit J2 gave 49 bears (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary).
How many deer are taken in Brookfield and New Durham?
Brookfield: 32 deer in 2025 (23 male, 9 female), 1.4 per square mile; 20 in 2024; 2 bears in 2025. New Durham: 85 deer in 2025 (52 male, 33 female), 2.06 per square mile; 65 in 2024; 4 bears in 2025. (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, by town.)
Where do you park for Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA?
NHFG's WMA layer shows 1 parking area and 3 gates, marked on the map above. The nearest numbered highways are NH 153, NH 109 and NH 16.
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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.