Hirst Wildlife Management Area: hunting, map and access in WMU I1
Hirst Wildlife Management Area is 156 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Boscawen (Merrimack County), inside WMU I1. NHFG lists it as open to hunting and names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and waterfowl among its game. Hunters registered 29 deer in Boscawen in 2025, against 30 in 2024. NHFG maps 1 parking area, 2 gates and 1 kiosk 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 landHirst WMAWMU lineParkingHighway
| Size | 156 acres (NHFG) |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Boscawen |
| County | Merrimack |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU I1 |
| Region | Merrimack Valley Region |
| Game NHFG lists | White-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and waterfowl |
| Parking and access (NHFG) | 1 parking area, 2 gates and 1 kiosk |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 0.3 miles of trail |
| Deer taken in WMU I1, 2025 | 499 (308 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | Boscawen (3 mi), Concord (4 mi) and Webster (5 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Hirst WMA?
NHFG's note on the area: "Strips cut perpendicular to the marsh in early 2000s will yield a flush or two of grouse/woodcock." Its WMA layer lists white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and waterfowl, and marks the area for wildlife watching. On fishing and boats: "Unimproved canoe/kayak access. Warmwater fishing."
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | 43.28449 | -71.61741 |
| Gate | 43.28444 | -71.61744 |
| Gate | 43.28405 | -71.61931 |
| Kiosk | 43.28414 | -71.61921 |
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 Boscawen?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Male | Female | Per square mile | Deer, 2024 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boscawen | 29 | 18 | 11 | 1.18 | 30 | 6 |
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 Hirst WMA in 2026?
Seasons on Hirst WMA follow WMU I1. Any deer may be taken October 31 to November 2 in muzzleloader season and November 11 to 13 in firearms season; the firearms season closes December 6. Bears in unit I1: 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 I1 | 155 | 499 | 308 | 53 |
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 Hirst WMA?
Fis 903 has no rule written for Hirst 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 Hirst WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-93, US 4, US 3, NH 132, NH 127 and NH 129. Distances to the nearest town centers: Boscawen 3 miles, Concord 4 miles, Webster 5 miles and Canterbury 6 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Muchyedo Banks (2 miles), Sewall's Falls Multi-Use Recreation Area (3 miles), Hoit Road Marsh (5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Hirst WMA?
Yes. NHFG marks it open to hunting. Seasons follow WMU I1 (N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands)).
What WMU is Hirst WMA in?
WMU I1. Hunters took 499 deer in WMU I1 in 2025, 308 of them adult bucks, and bear unit I1 gave 53 bears (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary).
How many deer are taken in Boscawen?
Boscawen: 29 deer in 2025 (18 male, 11 female), 1.18 per square mile; 30 in 2024; 6 bears in 2025. (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, by town.)
Where do you park for Hirst WMA?
NHFG's WMA layer shows 1 parking area and 2 gates, marked on the map above. The nearest numbered highways are I-93, US 4 and US 3.
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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.