Assabet River NWR
Middlesex County, MA · 10 mi SE
!4 special✕2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
2.3K huntable acres
Oxbow 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
Hunting at Oxbow NWR
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic - Fishing
Permitted hunting categories are 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.
Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge consists of approximately 1,667 acres of upland, southern New England flood-plain forest and wetland communities along nearly eight miles of the Nashua River corridor.
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 (7)
- Special regulations1,672 ac 99%
- Closed24 ac 1%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Rd. North Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 128 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Hunting |
| Hospital Rd. South Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 169 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Hunting |
| North Unit Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 393 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Hunting |
| Route 2 South Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 714 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Hunting |
| Sheridan Rd. Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 142 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Hunting |
| Still River Depot Area Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 126 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Hunting |
| Closed Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 24 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Hunting |
Oxbow NWR by the numbers
With about 1,672 huntable acres, Oxbow NWR ranks #6 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Massachusetts and #338 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Route 2 South (714 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Still River Depot Area, covers 126 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.
1 unit totaling 24 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
Besides 1,696 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 6.5 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.
When to hunt Oxbow 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🦆 Waterfowl
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐦 Upland Birds
🕊️ Migratory Birds
🐇 Small Game
Permits & licenses
Refuge permit
Required
Hunting
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 Oxbow NWR
- 🐟 Freshwater fishing
Fishing is allowed on the Nashua River and along its banks within the refuge. Fishing is not permitted in refuge wetland pools, ponds or streams. State fishing regulations and license requirements are in force on the refuge.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to Oxbow NWR
Navigate
Destination: Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
42.51030, -71.62234- DMS
42°30′37.1″N 71°37′20.4″W
Nearest towns
- Worcester, MA20 mi NE of town
- Boston, MA30 mi W of town
- Manchester, NH34 mi S of town
- Newburyport, MA43 mi SW of town
Closest airports
- MHT Manchester–Boston30 mi
- BOS Boston Logan33 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 Oxbow 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 5:40 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:23 PM | 13h 13m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 5:55 AM | 6:25 AM | 6:58 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:12 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:30 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:27 AM | 6:57 AM | 6:06 PM | 11h 08m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:48 AM | 6:18 AM | 4:41 PM | 10h 22m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:06 AM | 6:36 AM | 4:25 PM | 9h 49m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 4:15 PM | 9h 19m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 4:14 PM | 9h 05m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:22 PM | 9h 07m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 4:36 PM | 9h 23m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:31 AM | 7:01 AM | 4:58 PM | 9h 57m |
Computed for 42.510, -71.622 (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 Oxbow 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…
Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas
Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…
Oxbow NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Oxbow NWR?
Yes. Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 6 units (1,672 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 Oxbow NWR?
Yes — Oxbow 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 Oxbow NWR?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is Oxbow NWR located?
Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge is in Worcester County, Massachusetts, about 20 miles NE of Worcester, MA (straight-line). GPS: 42.51030, -71.62234.
What are legal shooting hours at Oxbow 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 · 15 mi SE
!12 special✕2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣
3.4K huntable acres
Nashua NFH
Hillsborough County, NH · 19 mi N
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site
Hillsborough County, NH · 22 mi N
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Wapack NWR
Hillsborough County, NH · 29 mi NW
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
North Attleboro NFH
Bristol County, MA · 39 mi SE
✕1 closed
🎣
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.