Marks Wildlife Management Area: hunting, map and access in WMU J2
Marks Wildlife Management Area is 289 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Alton and New Durham (Belknap County), inside WMU J2. NHFG lists it as open to hunting and names white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wild turkey, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock among its game. Hunters registered 137 deer in Alton in 2025, against 97 in 2024. NHFG maps 1 parking area and 3 gates 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 landMarks WMAWMU lineParkingHighway
| Size | 289 acres (NHFG) |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Alton and New Durham |
| County | Belknap |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU J2 |
| Region | Lakes Region |
| Game NHFG lists | White-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wild turkey, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock |
| Parking and access (NHFG) | 1 parking area and 3 gates |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 0.5 miles of trail |
| Deer taken in WMU J2, 2025 | 2,113 (1,169 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | New Durham (under a mile), Alton (3 mi) and Middleton (6 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Marks WMA?
NHFG's note on the area: "A salvage harvest in a windblown area in 2009 yields good grouse/woodcock." Its WMA layer lists white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wild turkey, waterfowl and ruffed grouse and woodcock. On fishing and boats: "Potential shoreline fishing on Marsh Pond."
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | 43.47538 | -71.18541 |
| Gate | 43.47541 | -71.18547 |
| Gate | 43.47528 | -71.18513 |
| Gate | 43.45888 | -71.18089 |
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 Alton and New Durham?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Male | Female | Per square mile | Deer, 2024 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton | 137 | 88 | 49 | 2.16 | 97 | 4 |
| 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 Marks WMA in 2026?
Seasons on Marks 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 | 289 | 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 Marks WMA?
Fis 903 has no rule written for Marks 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 Marks WMA?
Highways within five miles: NH 28, NH 11, NH 140, NH 28A and NH 11D. Distances to the nearest town centers: New Durham under a mile, Alton 3 miles, Middleton 6 miles and Brookfield 7 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Powdermill Fish Hatchery (under a mile), Coldrain Pond (2 miles), Merrymeeting Marsh (3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Marks 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 Marks 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 Alton and New Durham?
Alton: 137 deer in 2025 (88 male, 49 female), 2.16 per square mile; 97 in 2024; 4 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 Marks WMA?
NHFG's WMA layer shows 1 parking area and 3 gates, marked on the map above. The nearest numbered highways are NH 28, NH 11 and NH 140.
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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.