Eastern Massachusetts 

National Wildlife Refuge Complex 

73 Weir Hill Road

Sudbury, MA 01776

978/443 4661

978/443 2898 Fax

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternmanwrcomplex/

Federal Relay Service

for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

800/877 8339

US Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov

June 2010

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Eastern 

Massachusetts

National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex

Hunt Regulations

and Information

Assabet River National 

Wildlife Refuge

Great Meadows National 

Wildlife Refuge

Oxbow National Wildlife 

Refuge
Welcome Welcome to the Assabet River, 

Great Meadows and Oxbow national 

wildlife refuges. These refuges are 

part of the Eastern Massachusetts 

National Wildlife Refuge Complex 

and are three of the eight refuges 

in the Complex and more than 550 

national wildlife refuges in the 

country. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service administers these refuges 

and is responsible for conserving, 

protecting and enhancing the nation’s 

fish and wildlife populations and their 

habitats for the continuing benefit of 

the people.

In response to hunter feedback and 

to streamline the hunt program, 

some refuge regulations and 

procedures have changed. Hunters 

are encouraged to read this 

information carefully.

It is imperative that you conduct 

yourself with the highest level of 

consideration for the safety and 

enjoyment of others. Please respect 

and observe refuge regulations, 

boundaries and safety zones. 

A lack of responsibility on 

your part could result in 

a reduction or closure 

of refuge hunting 

opportunities in the 

future.

Assabet River NWR is open for the 

hunting of white-tailed deer (archery, 

muzzleloader, shotgun), spring 

turkey, American woodcock, ruffed 

grouse, Eastern cottontail rabbit, 

and gray squirrel. Great Meadows 

NWR is open for white-tailed deer 

(archery only) and waterfowl (ducks 

and geese). Oxbow NWR is open 

for white-tailed deer (archery, 

muzzleloader, shotgun), spring and 

fall turkey, waterfowl (ducks and 

geese), snipe, American woodcock, 

ruffed grouse, Eastern cottontail 

rabbit, and gray squirrel. NOT 

ALL PARTS OF EACH REFUGE 

ARE OPEN FOR EACH HUNT 

SEASON. Be familiar with the hunt 

maps and regulations to ensure you 

are hunting in an open area.

Archery permits are valid during 

shotgun and muzzleloader seasons. 

Applicable refuge hunting dates 

and times correspond to state 

regulations. See state abstracts for 

details. 

All hunters are required to have a 

refuge-issued permit along with state 

licenses in their possession to scout 

or hunt on each refuge. Information 

about the application process is 

provided in a separate handout.

The information provided below 

outlines refuge-specific hunt 

regulations. Persons possessing, 

transporting, or carrying firearms on 

national wildlife refuges must comply 

with all provisions of state and local 

law. Persons may only use (discharge) 

firearms in accordance with refuge 

regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and 

specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR 

Part 32). Please contact us if you are 

confused about any of our special 

regulations.

Hunt Seasons

Refuge Permits

Refuge 

Regulations and 

Information

This goose, designed by 

J.N. “Ding” Darling, has 

become the symbol of the 

National Wildlife Refuge 

System.

 Gray 

squirrel
Closed Areas

Not all areas of the three refuges 

are open for hunting. Please ensure 

that you are hunting on land or along 

rivers where hunting is allowed. The 

maps in this brochure show where 

hunting is allowed. Hunters must also 

comply with the 500-foot safety zone 

around occupied buildings and 150-

foot safety zone from public roads.

Waterfowl hunting at Great Meadows 

NWR is authorized between the 

buoys on the Concord and Sudbury 

Rivers. These buoys have been 

installed to indicate where hunting 

is allowed. Waterfowl hunting on the 

rivers is allowed only between buoys 

1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 

8. There are no buoys on the Nashua 

River as waterfowl hunting there is 

only allowed south of Route 2 to the 

Still River Depot Road boat launch.

Nature Trails

Nature trails are located on all 

refuges in areas where hunting is 

allowed. Other outdoor enthusiasts 

may be using the Nashua River, 

Sudbury River or Concord River 

during the hunting season. Please 

exercise caution when hunting on 

or near the rivers or near nature 

trails. It is your responsibility to 

know where trails are located. Also 

realize that some people may wander 

off trails (even though they are not 

supposed to!). Please be aware that 

non-hunters may not know that 

hunting is allowed on some parts 

of the refuges. Be respectful at all 

times.

Refuge Management Activities

Refuge staff, volunteers and 

contractors may be working at any 

time on any of the refuges during 

hunting season. Our management 

activities for wildlife and habitat 

management are important and will 

continue to be conducted during the 

hunt season. We apologize if our 

activities disturb your hunt, but some 

disturbance will be unavoidable. 

Parking

You will receive a parking pass with 

your refuge permit. The number 

on this pass will correspond with 

your permit number. The pass must 

be visible on your dashboard at all 

times when parked in a designated 

parking lot. 

We ask hunters to park in designated 

refuge hunt parking areas shown on 

the hunt maps. You may be fined or 

towed if your vehicle blocks gates, 

roads or buildings. We realize that 

Woodcock

Duck

taking 

flight
some hunt areas have limited 

or no parking access

—we 

encourage carpooling or 

being dropped off and 

picked up. 

Some parking areas 

are on non-refuge 

lands (Rt. 225 

boat launch in 

Bedford and 

Lake George 

Street in 

Devens) or 

are commonly 

used by the 

general public 

to access 

the Sudbury 

River. Please 

be courteous 

of others if parking in 

these areas. Also, 

ensure you are on 

refuge property 

before you 

begin hunting. 

At Great Meadows NWR, hunters 

MUST NOT access the refuge from 

Town of Carlisle conservation lands. 

Parking is available off the driveway 

at 342 Maple Street, Carlisle. Please 

be courteous as this is a private 

residence.

Scouting

Scouting may only be done on the 

four Sundays prior to opening day 

of the permitted season. Hunters 

engaged in scouting must carry state 

and refuge licenses and permits.

Hours

Hunters may enter the refuge no 

earlier than one and one-half hours 

before legal hunting hours and leave 

no later than one and one-half hours 

after legal sunset. 

Tree stands

Refuge hunters will be allowed to 

keep one tree stand on each refuge 

during the white-tailed deer archery, 

shotgun and muzzleloader seasons. 

Tree stands must be marked with 

the hunter’s permit number in such 

a fashion that it can be visible from 

the ground. Tree stands may be 

put up as soon as the first eligible 

scouting day of the permitted season 

and must be removed by January 

15 of the permitted season. Any 

tree stand remaining on the refuge 

after January 15 may be confiscated. 

Climbers or ladder type tree stands 

are recommended. Nails, spikes, 

screws or other objects may not be 

driven into any tree to access or 

secure the stand.

Having a tree stand in place does 

not claim your right to a specific 

area of the refuge. Hunters must 

rely on good judgment and hunter 

ethics to avoid conflict. Tree stands 

left up are done so at the sole risk 

of the hunter. Stands left on the 

refuge may be secured with a lock. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

is not responsible for lost, stolen or 

damaged property. 

Turkey

Eastern 

cottontail

rabbit
Youth hunting

Any child 

between the ages 

of 12 and 17 can 

receive a refuge 

hunting permit 

(not subject to 

lottery process) and 

must be accompanied 

by a licensed hunter 

18 years of age or older 

when hunting. 

Non-hunting 

companion 

We no longer issue 

companion hunt permits. 

However, we will allow 

each permitted hunter 

to be accompanied 

by one non-hunting 

companion. Nonhunting companions 

cannot engage in 

the act of hunting 

but they can 

help retrieve and carry 

downed game. All companions must 

carry personal identification with 

them and be willing to show it to any 

law enforcement official. Non-hunting 

companions must be close enough to 

the hunter to speak to them without 

raising their voice. 

Hunter orange

During any season in which it is 

legal to hunt deer with a shotgun or 

muzzleloader, we require all hunters 

to wear a minimum of 500 square 

inches of solid-orange clothing or 

material on their chest, back and 

head (except if hunting waterfowl 

from a blind or boat). During all 

other times, hunters engaged in 

woodcock, ruffed grouse, squirrel, or 

cottontail rabbit hunting at Assabet 

River or Oxbow NWRs, as well as 

snipe hunting at Oxbow NWR, are 

required to wear at the minimum a 

solid-orange hat. Camouflage orange 

alone is NOT permitted. This is not 

only a safety consideration, but it 

is also respectful of refuge visitors, 

staff or contractors who may be in 

the area. During turkey season, 

hunters must wear an orange cap 

when moving to and between their 

hunt location.

Refuge boundaries

We have tried to clearly mark refuge 

boundaries. However, not all refuge 

areas are completely signed. Please 

refer to the refuge maps and call the 

refuge office if you need clarification 

on a refuge boundary.

Approved shot

Hunters may possess only approved 

non-toxic shot when hunting 

ruffed grouse, rabbit, squirrel and 

migratory birds.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on any of the 

refuges during scouting. For seasons 

where State regulations allow the use 

of dogs, we allow no more than two 

dogs per hunting party. 

Decoys

Decoys can only be used while 

hunting waterfowl or turkey.

Trail markers

We do not permit the marking of any 

tree, trail, or other refuge feature 

White-tailed

deer

Canvasback

 decoys
with flagging or paint. Hunters may 

use reflective tacks and other small 

reflective markers, which need to be 

removed at the end of the season. We 

encourage the use of a GPS to avoid 

putting up markers.

Law enforcement

Individuals utilizing the refuge are 

subject to inspections of permits, 

licenses, hunting equipment, bag 

limits, boats, vehicles, and their 

contents by federal or state law 

enforcement officers. Any member of 

the refuge staff may ask to see your 

refuge permit.

t%SJWJOHPGEFFSCZBOZNFBOT

tLittering 

tUse of a spotlight or other artificial 

light to locate wildlife

tBaiting or hunting over bait or salt

tUse of electronic calls

tDriving or screwing a nail, spike 

or other metal object into a tree 

or hunting from any tree in which 

such an object has been driven

tTrimming or cutting vegetation 

greater than the diameter of a 

quarter

tUse or possession of alcoholic 

beverages while hunting

tUse of ATVs, dirt bikes and/or 

other motorized vehicles

tTarget practice

tCamping and campfires

tOvernight parking

tSearching for, or removing, any 

object of antiquity including 

arrowheads, pottery or other 

artifacts

tBlocking gates or roadways with 

vehicles

tDog training

Our wildlife is a valuable resource. 

Laws and regulations are intended 

to protect them, while allowing for 

some consumptive use. Hunters are 

encouraged to report any violations 

they may encounter to a State or 

federal employee.

Prohibited 

Activities

An Important 

Message

The future of hunting on the refuges 

requires responsible hunter behavior 

and compliance with regulations. You 

can help us by complying with these 

regulations, reporting unethical 

hunter behavior and providing us 

with feedback.

Thank you. Have a safe and 

enjoyable hunting experience.

For information on how to apply, 

please contact us at: 

Eastern Massachusetts National 

Wildlife Refuge Complex 

73 Weir Hill Road

Sudbury, MA 01776

978/443 4661

http: //www.fws.gov/northeast/

easternmanwrcomplex/

To apply online, visit

http//www.easternmapermits.com

 Ruffed 

grouse
Heard

126

126

27

126

WAYLAND

WAYLAND

White

Pond

117

NORTH 

SUDBURY

Fairhaven

Bay

Farrar 

Pond

Concord Rd

Sherman 

Bridge Rd

Weir Hill Rd

Sudbury 

Division

SUDBURY

LINCOLN

Lincoln Rd

Sudbury RiverSudbury River

Sudbury

River

Sudbury

River

 LEGEND

Rivers/Stream

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, 

Swamp or Bog

Primary Route

Road or Street

Refuge Boundary

Trails

Parking Lots

Boat Ramp

Archery deer hunting

Waterfowl hunting

Great 

Meadows

National 

Wildlife 

Refuge

Sudbury Unit

N

0 .75 Miles 1.5

20

27

Water Row

Stonebridge Rd

Landham 

Rd

Pelham 

Island Rd

Concord 

Division

62

4

2A

BEDFORD

CARLISLE

BILLERICA

Concord 

Impoundments

225

 LEGEND

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, 

Swamp or Bog

Rivers/Stream

Road or Street

Refuge Boundary

Trails

Parking Lots

Comfort Station

Boat Ramp

Archery deer hunting

Waterfowl hunting

River Rd 

62

Maple St

Maple St

West St

Great 

Meadows 

National Wildlife 

Refuge

Concord Unit

N

0 .75 Miles 1.5

Concord

River

Concord River
W. Main St

Shirley Rd

Hospital Rd

B&M Railroad

Exit 37B Exit 37B

Robbins

Pond

Mirror

Lake

Little

Mirror

Lake

Sherman

Ave

Walker Rd

 FORT

DEVENS

MILITARY

RESERVATION

2

110

HARVARD

LANCASTER

SHIRLEY

AYER

Patton Rd

Still River

Depot Rd

Jackson

Rd

Bishop

Rd

George

St

Lake

Walker Rd

 LEGEND

Rivers/Stream

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, Swamp or Bog

Refuge Boundary

Trails

Parking Lots

Boat Ramp

Shotgun, archery and primitive 

firearms hunting for deer, turkey, 

ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, rabbit, 

woodcock, and snipe

Archery deer hunting, shotgun 

hunting for turkey, ruffed grouse, gray 

squirrel, rabbit, and woodcock

Archery hunting only for deer and 

turkey

Waterfowl hunting areas

Oxbow

National 

Wildlife 

Refuge

.75

N

0 Miles 1.5

2A Nashua River

Nashua

River

Concord Rd

Bruen Rd

27

62

117

MAYNARD

HUDSON

SUDBURY

Assabet River

Willis Pond

Cuttings

Pond

SUDBURYMARLBOROUGH

STATE FOREST

SUDBURYMARLBOROUGH

STATE FOREST

SUDBURYMARLBOROUGH

STATE 

FOREST

Assabet River

National Wildlife Refuge

White

 Pond

Pratt's Mill Pond

Voss

Pond

Main St

SUDBURY STATE FORESTSUDBURY STATE FOREST

Hudson Rd Fairbanks

Rd

 LEGEND

Rivers/Stream

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, Swamp or Bog

Refuge Boundary

Trails

Parking Lots

Archery, Shotgun and primitive

firearms hunting for turkey, 

deer, ruffed grouse gray 

squirrel, rabbit, and 

woodcock

Archery hunting only for deer 

and turkey

 Puffer Pond

Taylor Brook

Sudbury Road

0 1 Miles 2

N

20

STOW