National Wildlife Refuge · Massachusetts · FWS Region 5

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with about 3,848 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 14 mapped hunt units: 12 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 3,377 huntable acres.

12 with special regs2 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
14hunt units
3.4Khuntable acres
3.8KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Great Meadows 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 Great Meadows NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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.

Not far from Walden Pond, the freshwater wetlands of Great Meadows influenced and inspired the transcendentalist writing of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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 turkeySmall 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 (14)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 3,377 (88%)Closed: 453 (12%)3.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations3,377 ac 88%
  • Closed453 ac 12%
Units by size (acres)
Water Row
611 ac
South of S.R. 225
484 ac
Pelham Island
376 ac
Concord Impoundments
345 ac
Stone Bridge
303 ac
North of Sherman Bridge Rd.
295 ac
Sudbury River Waterfowl
274 ac
Bedford
271 ac
Carlisle
259 ac
Wolbach-Strand
237 ac
Closed
109 ac
Concord River Waterfowl
108 ac
South of Heard Pond
105 ac
Kinelly
53 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bedford
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 271 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Carlisle
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 259 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Concord River Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 108 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Kinelly
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 53 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
North of Sherman Bridge Rd.
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 295 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Pelham Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 376 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
South of Heard Pond
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 105 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
South of S.R. 225
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 484 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Stone Bridge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 303 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Sudbury River Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 274 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Water Row
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 611 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Wolbach-Strand
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 237 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 109 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities
Concord Impoundments
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 345 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 permit required for all hunting opportunities

Great Meadows NWR by the numbers

With about 3,377 huntable acres, Great Meadows NWR ranks #3 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Massachusetts and #291 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 88% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Water Row (611 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Kinelly, covers 53 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

2 units totaling 453 acres are closed to hunting (Closed and Concord Impoundments). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 3,848 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 18 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Great Meadows NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Massachusetts sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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 Great Meadows NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is allowed from boats on the Sudbury and Concord Rivers or from riverbanks. State fishing regulations and license requirements are in force on the refuge. No fishing from any refuge pond or marsh in Concord is allowed.

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

How to get to Great Meadows NWR

Navigate

Destination: Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
42.38832, -71.37431
DMS
42°23′18.0″N 71°22′27.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Boston, MA16 mi W of town
  • Worcester, MA23 mi E of town
  • Newburyport, MA38 mi SW of town
  • Providence, RI39 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • BOS Boston Logan19 mi
  • MHT Manchester–Boston38 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 Great Meadows 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 12m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM6:57 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM6:29 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:05 PM11h 09m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM4:40 PM10h 23m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:25 PM9h 49m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:14 PM9h 20m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:13 PM9h 06m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM4:22 PM9h 08m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM4:36 PM9h 24m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:29 AM6:59 AM4:57 PM9h 57m

Computed for 42.388, -71.374 (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.

Guides for hunting Great Meadows NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Great Meadows NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Great Meadows NWR?

Yes. Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 12 units (3,377 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Great Meadows NWR?

Yes — Great Meadows 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 Great Meadows NWR?

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

Where is Great Meadows NWR located?

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, about 16 miles W of Boston, MA (straight-line). GPS: 42.38832, -71.37431.

What are legal shooting hours at Great Meadows 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

Assabet River NWR

Middlesex County, MA · 5.2 mi W

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.3K huntable acres

Oxbow NWR

Worcester County, MA · 15 mi NW

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.7K huntable acres

Nashua NFH

Hillsborough County, NH · 27 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

North Attleboro NFH

Bristol County, MA · 27 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

Hillsborough County, NH · 30 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Parker River NWR

Essex County, MA · 38 mi NE

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.5K huntable acres

All refuges in Massachusetts →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.