Merrymeeting Marsh Wildlife Management Area: hunting, map and access in WMU J2
Merrymeeting Marsh Wildlife Management Area is 586 acres of New Hampshire Fish and Game land in Alton and New Durham (Belknap and Strafford counties), inside WMU J2. NHFG lists it as open to hunting and names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and waterfowl among its game. Hunters registered 137 deer in Alton in 2025, against 97 in 2024. NHFG maps 1 gate and 2 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 landMerrymeeting Marsh WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 586 acres (NHFG), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Town (NHFG) | Alton and New Durham |
| County | Belknap, Strafford |
| Wildlife Management Unit | WMU J2 |
| Region | Lakes Region |
| Game NHFG lists | White-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and waterfowl |
| Parking and access (NHFG) | 1 gate and 2 boundary or entrance signs |
| Trails and woods roads (NHFG) | 1.9 miles of gravel or woods road |
| Deer taken in WMU J2, 2025 | 2,113 (1,169 adult bucks) |
| Nearest town centers | New Durham (2 mi), Alton (4 mi) and Middleton (6 mi) |
What does NHFG say about Merrymeeting Marsh WMA?
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 to Merrymeeting River."
Where are the parking areas, gates and kiosks?
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Gate | 43.41996 | -71.17661 |
| Sign | 43.43451 | -71.18285 |
| Sign | 43.42004 | -71.17660 |
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 Merrymeeting Marsh WMA in 2026?
Seasons on Merrymeeting 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 | 586 | 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 Merrymeeting Marsh WMA?
Fis 903 has no rule written for Merrymeeting 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 Merrymeeting Marsh WMA?
Highways within five miles: NH 28, NH 11, NH 140 and NH 28A. Distances to the nearest town centers: New Durham 2 miles, Alton 4 miles, Middleton 6 miles and Barnstead 6 miles. Other NHFG areas nearby: Coldrain Pond (3 miles), Marks (3 miles), Powdermill Fish Hatchery (3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Merrymeeting 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 Merrymeeting 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 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 Merrymeeting Marsh WMA?
NHFG's WMA layer shows no marked parking lot for Merrymeeting Marsh WMA, though it shows 1 gate; check NHFG's map before you go. 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.