Hoit Road Marsh Wildlife Management Area: hunting, map and access in WMU J2
Hoit Road Marsh Wildlife Management Area is 291 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Canterbury and Loudon (Merrimack County), inside WMU J2. 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 78 deer in Canterbury in 2025, against 76 in 2024. NHFG maps 1 parking area, 1 gate 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 landState forest and park landHoit Road Marsh WMAWMU lineParkingHighway
| Size | 291 acres (NHFG), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Canterbury and Loudon |
| County | Merrimack |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU J2 |
| Region | Merrimack Valley 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 gate and 1 kiosk |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 1.3 miles of trail, 0.5 miles of gravel or woods road |
| Deer taken in WMU J2, 2025 | 2,113 (1,169 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | Loudon (3 mi), Canterbury (3 mi) and Concord (4 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Hoit Road Marsh WMA?
NHFG's note on the area: "Groups cut in winter 2014 will may provide grouse/woodcock opportunties." 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: "Unimproved canoe/kayak access. Warmwater fishing."
Named roads and trails on the property: Riley Trails.
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | 43.29261 | -71.52823 |
| Gate | 43.29520 | -71.53053 |
| Kiosk | 43.29275 | -71.52803 |
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 Canterbury and Loudon?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Male | Female | Per square mile | Deer, 2024 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | 78 | 49 | 29 | 1.78 | 76 | 4 |
| Loudon | 130 | 81 | 49 | 2.82 | 113 | 2 |
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 Hoit Road Marsh WMA in 2026?
Seasons on Hoit Road Marsh 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 | 291 | 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 Hoit Road Marsh WMA?
Fis 903 has no rule written for Hoit Road 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 Hoit Road Marsh WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 4, I-93, NH 132, NH 106, US 202 and NH 129. Distances to the nearest town centers: Loudon 3 miles, Canterbury 3 miles, Concord 4 miles and Chichester 6 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Morrill Pond (2 miles), Sewall's Falls Multi-Use Recreation Area (3 miles), Muchyedo Banks (4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Hoit Road Marsh WMA?
Yes. NHFG marks it open to hunting. Seasons follow WMU J2 (N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands)).
What WMU is Hoit Road Marsh 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 Canterbury and Loudon?
Canterbury: 78 deer in 2025 (49 male, 29 female), 1.78 per square mile; 76 in 2024; 4 bears in 2025. Loudon: 130 deer in 2025 (81 male, 49 female), 2.82 per square mile; 113 in 2024; 2 bears in 2025. (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, by town.)
Where do you park for Hoit Road Marsh WMA?
NHFG's WMA layer shows 1 parking area and 1 gate, marked on the map above. The nearest numbered highways are US 4, I-93 and NH 132.
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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.