Wetland Management District · Maine · FWS Region 5

Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area is located in Waldo County, Maine, with about 1,034 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 1,034 huntable acres.

1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
1Khuntable acres
1KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Carlton Pond WPA 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 Carlton Pond WPA

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.

Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area is the only WPA on the East Coast that can trace its origins to an old sawmill dam. The dam has provided nesting areas for a variety of waterfowl species in central Maine since 1850, and in 1966 the U.S.

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 Maine regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,034 (100%)1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,034 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Special regs 1,034 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Maine hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
  • 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 Carlton Pond WPA

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Carlton Pond WPA

Navigate

Destination: Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
44.70939, -69.27074
DMS
44°42′33.8″N 69°16′14.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Bangor, ME25 mi W of town
  • Augusta, ME37 mi NE of town
  • Rockland, ME43 mi N of town
  • Ellsworth, ME43 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • BGR Bangor Intl23 mi
  • PWM Portland Intl Jetport89 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 Carlton Pond WPA

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, 20265:28 AM5:58 AM7:16 PM13h 18m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:44 AM6:14 AM6:50 PM12h 36m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM6:19 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:54 PM11h 04m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:43 AM6:13 AM4:27 PM10h 14m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:10 PM9h 38m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM3:59 PM9h 05m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM3:57 PM8h 50m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM4:05 PM8h 52m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM4:20 PM9h 10m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM4:43 PM9h 46m

Computed for 44.709, -69.271 (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.

Carlton Pond WPA FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Carlton Pond WPA?

Yes. Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area offers hunting in 1 unit (1,034 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 Carlton Pond WPA?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Carlton Pond WPA. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Carlton Pond WPA?

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

Where is Carlton Pond WPA located?

Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area is in Waldo County, Maine, about 25 miles W of Bangor, ME (straight-line). GPS: 44.70939, -69.27074.

What are legal shooting hours at Carlton Pond WPA?

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

Craig Brook NFH

Hancock County, ME · 30 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

87 huntable acres

Sunkhaze Meadows NWR

Penobscot County, ME · 40 mi NE

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.6K huntable acres

Green Lake NFH

Hancock County, ME · 41 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

55 huntable acres

Franklin Island NWR

ME · 57 mi S

1 open
🦆🕊️

18 huntable acres

Seal Island NWR

ME · 63 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Petit Manan NWR

Washington County, ME · 70 mi E

35 open16 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

5.1K huntable acres

All refuges in Maine →

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