National Wildlife Refuge · Massachusetts · FWS Region 5

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with about 2,357 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 2,273 huntable acres.

4 with special regs2 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
2.3Khuntable acres
2.4KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Assabet River NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Assabet River NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge is one of five refuges (including Great Meadows, Oxbow, Mashpee and Monomoy) in the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex that is open to hunting not from Boston.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Massachusetts regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,273 (96%)Closed: 84 (4%)2.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,273 ac 96%
  • Closed84 ac 4%
Units by size (acres)
North Unit A
1,332 ac
North Unit B
520 ac
South Unit
298 ac
Unit C
123 ac
Safety Zone
80 ac
Closed
4.1 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
North Unit A Special regs 1,332 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
North Unit B Special regs 520 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
South Unit Special regs 298 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Unit C Special regs 123 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Closed Closed 4.1 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Safety Zone Closed 80 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

permit required for all hunting opportunities

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid Massachusetts hunting license and any required tags or stamps — MassWildlife
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Assabet River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is only allowed from the two fishing piers on Puffer Pond: the handicap-accessible fishing pier on the Sandbank Trail and at the Barron Fishing Access Site on the Puffer Pond trail. Fishing from the banks of Puffer Pond is not permitted.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Assabet River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
42.40932, -71.47221
DMS
42°24′33.6″N 71°28′20.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Worcester, MA20 mi NE of town
  • Boston, MA21 mi W of town
  • Manchester, NH40 mi S of town
  • Providence, RI41 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • BOS Boston Logan24 mi
  • MHT Manchester–Boston36 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Assabet River NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in New York local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:39 AM6:09 AM7:22 PM13h 13m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM6:58 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM6:29 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:05 PM11h 09m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM4:40 PM10h 23m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM4:25 PM9h 49m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:15 PM9h 20m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:13 PM9h 06m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM4:22 PM9h 08m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM4:36 PM9h 24m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:30 AM7:00 AM4:57 PM9h 57m

Computed for 42.409, -71.472 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Assabet River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Assabet River NWR?

Yes. Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (2,273 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Assabet River NWR?

Yes — Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Assabet River NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Assabet River NWR located?

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, about 20 miles NE of Worcester, MA (straight-line). GPS: 42.40932, -71.47221.

What are legal shooting hours at Assabet River NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Great Meadows NWR

Middlesex County, MA · 5.2 mi E

12 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

3.4K huntable acres

Oxbow NWR

Worcester County, MA · 10 mi NW

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.7K huntable acres

Nashua NFH

Hillsborough County, NH · 25 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

Hillsborough County, NH · 28 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

North Attleboro NFH

Bristol County, MA · 30 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Wapack NWR

Hillsborough County, NH · 39 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Massachusetts →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.