Mascoma River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, map and access in WMU G1
Mascoma River Wildlife Management Area is 171 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Canaan (Grafton County), inside WMU G1. NHFG lists it as open to hunting and names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, pheasant and ruffed grouse and woodcock among its game. Hunters registered 90 deer in Canaan in 2025, against 94 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 landMascoma River WMAWMU lineParkingHighway
| Size | 171 acres (NHFG), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Canaan |
| County | Grafton |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU G1 |
| Region | Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region |
| Game NHFG lists | White-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, pheasant and ruffed grouse and woodcock |
| Parking and access (NHFG) | 1 parking area, 1 gate and 1 kiosk |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 0.9 miles of trail |
| Deer taken in WMU G1, 2025 | 738 (501 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | Enfield (3 mi), Canaan (3 mi) and Hanover (6 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Mascoma River WMA?
NHFG's note on the area: "Popular pheasant hunting site. Significant area of shrubland and alder swales that provide good grouse/woodcock cover." Its WMA layer lists white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, pheasant and ruffed grouse and woodcock. On fishing and boats: "Unimproved canoe/kayak access across Route 4."
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | 43.65941 | -72.09852 |
| Gate | 43.65923 | -72.09860 |
| Kiosk | 43.65851 | -72.10147 |
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 Canaan?
| Town | Deer, 2025 | Male | Female | Per square mile | Deer, 2024 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canaan | 90 | 67 | 23 | 1.69 | 94 | 13 |
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 Mascoma River WMA in 2026?
Seasons on Mascoma River WMA follow WMU G1. Any deer may be taken October 31 to November 5 in muzzleloader season and November 11 to 16 in firearms season; the firearms season closes December 6. Bears in unit G: 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 G1 | 173 | 738 | 501 | 141 |
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 Mascoma River WMA?
Fis 903 has no rule written for Mascoma River 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 Mascoma River WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 4, I-89, NH 10 and NH 118. Distances to the nearest town centers: Enfield 3 miles, Canaan 3 miles, Hanover 6 miles and Lebanon 7 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Herbert L. Webster (under a mile), Lower Shaker (4 miles), Henry Laramie (6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Mascoma River WMA?
Yes. NHFG marks it open to hunting. Seasons follow WMU G1 (N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Fis 900 (Department controlled lands)).
What WMU is Mascoma River WMA in?
WMU G1. Hunters took 738 deer in WMU G1 in 2025, 501 of them adult bucks, and bear unit G gave 141 bears (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary).
How many deer are taken in Canaan?
Canaan: 90 deer in 2025 (67 male, 23 female), 1.69 per square mile; 94 in 2024; 13 bears in 2025. (NHFG 2025 New Hampshire Wildlife Harvest Summary, by town.)
Where do you park for Mascoma River 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-89 and NH 10.
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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.