Richard Cronin Aquatic Resource Center
Franklin County, MA · 0.1 mi SW
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Silvio O. Conte NFWR 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
Hunting at Silvio O. Conte NFWR
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic - Fishing
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.
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge encompasses the 7.2 million-acre Connecticut River watershed. It has divisions and units in four New England states. VERMONT: The refuge has two divisions in Vermont.
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 (28)
- Open30,486 ac 59%
- Special regulations19,708 ac 38%
- Closed1,158 ac 2%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nulhegan Basin Show on map · Directions |
✓Open | 26,815 | — | |
| Putney Show on map · Directions |
✓Open | 285 | — | |
| West River Show on map · Directions |
✓Open | 3,386 | — | |
| Blueberry Swamp Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 1,261 | — | |
| Dead Branch Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 100 | — | |
| Deadman's Swamp Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 79 | — | |
| Fairgrounds Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 48 | — | |
| Fort River Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 251 | — | |
| Hatfield Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 20 | — | |
| Honey Pot Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 21 | — | |
| Maromas Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 24 | — | |
| Mascoma Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 9,373 | — | |
| Mill River Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 254 | — | |
| Mt. Toby Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 29 | — | |
| Mt. Tom Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 141 | — | |
| Pondicherry Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 6,452 | — | |
| Roger Tory Peterson Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 56 | — | |
| Saddle Island Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 1.2 | — | |
| Salmon River Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 912 | — | |
| Third Island Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 3.5 | — | |
| Westfield River Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 555 | — | |
| Whalebone Cove Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 127 | — | |
| Fannie Stebbins Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 130 | — | |
| Fort River Safety Zone Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 75 | — | |
| Ompompanoosuc River Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 803 | — | |
| Salmon River Closed Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 84 | — | |
| Selden Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 45 | — | |
| Wissatinnewag Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 21 | — |
Silvio O. Conte NFWR by the numbers
With about 50,194 huntable acres, Silvio O. Conte NFWR ranks #1 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Massachusetts and #49 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Nulhegan Basin (26,815 acres), while the smallest, Saddle Island, covers 1.2 acres.
6 units totaling 1,158 acres are closed to hunting (Fannie Stebbins, Fort River Safety Zone, Ompompanoosuc River, Salmon River Closed, and Selden, …). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
Besides 43,034 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 10,543 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.
When to hunt Silvio O. Conte NFWR
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
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
- 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 Silvio O. Conte NFWR
- 🐟 Freshwater fishing
Trout fishing is popular along reaches of the North and Black branches of the Nulhegan River within the refuge's Nulhegan Basin Division in Vermont. Nearby Lewis Pond offers wilderness-like fishing opportunities.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to Silvio O. Conte NFWR
Navigate
Destination: Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
42.43183, -72.53525- DMS
42°25′54.6″N 72°32′06.9″W
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–Boston65 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 Silvio O. Conte NFWR
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 | 5:44 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:26 PM | 13h 13m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 5:58 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:02 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:15 AM | 6:45 AM | 6:33 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:31 AM | 7:01 AM | 6:09 PM | 11h 09m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:52 AM | 6:22 AM | 4:45 PM | 10h 23m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:10 AM | 6:40 AM | 4:29 PM | 9h 49m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 4:19 PM | 9h 20m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:42 AM | 7:12 AM | 4:18 PM | 9h 06m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:49 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:26 PM | 9h 07m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:47 AM | 7:17 AM | 4:40 PM | 9h 24m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:34 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:01 PM | 9h 57m |
Computed for 42.432, -72.535 (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.
Guides for hunting Silvio O. Conte NFWR
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…
Silvio O. Conte NFWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Silvio O. Conte NFWR?
Yes. Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 22 units (50,194 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 Silvio O. Conte NFWR?
FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Silvio O. Conte NFWR. 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 Silvio O. Conte NFWR?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is Silvio O. Conte NFWR located?
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is in Franklin County, Massachusetts, about 23 miles N of Springfield, MA (straight-line). GPS: 42.43183, -72.53525.
What are legal shooting hours at Silvio O. Conte NFWR?
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
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 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
1.7K huntable acres
Assabet River NWR
Middlesex County, MA · 54 mi E
!4 special✕2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
2.3K huntable acres
Nashua NFH
Hillsborough County, NH · 58 mi NE
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.