National Fish Hatchery & Technology Center · Massachusetts · FWS Region 5

Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 58 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
58FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center 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.

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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 Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 58 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed58 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 58 —

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 Massachusetts hunting license and any required tags or stamps — MassWildlife
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center.

How to get to Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center

Navigate

Destination: Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
42.43049, -72.53657
DMS
42°25′49.8″N 72°32′11.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Springfield, MA23 mi N of town
  • Brattleboro, VT29 mi S of town
  • Pittsfield, MA36 mi E of town
  • Keene, NH37 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • BDL Hartford Bradley35 mi
  • MHT Manchester–Boston66 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 Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center

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, 20265:44 AM6:14 AM7:26 PM13h 13m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM7:02 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM6:33 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:09 PM11h 09m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM4:45 PM10h 23m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM4:29 PM9h 49m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM4:19 PM9h 20m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM4:18 PM9h 06m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM4:26 PM9h 07m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:40 PM9h 24m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:01 PM9h 57m

Computed for 42.430, -72.537 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

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

Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center?

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

Where is Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center located?

Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center is in Franklin County, Massachusetts, about 23 miles N of Springfield, MA (straight-line). GPS: 42.43049, -72.53657.

What are legal shooting hours at Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center?

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

Silvio O. Conte NFWR

Franklin County, MA · 0.1 mi NE

3 open19 special6 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

50.2K huntable acres

Berkshire NFH

Berkshire County, MA · 41 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Wapack NWR

Hillsborough County, NH · 46 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Oxbow NWR

Worcester County, MA · 47 mi E

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.7K huntable acres

Assabet River NWR

Middlesex County, MA · 54 mi E

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.3K huntable acres

Nashua NFH

Hillsborough County, NH · 58 mi NE

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.