Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Parking & Access: Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area
Access by boat only.
Trailered launch: the state Housatonic River Boat Launch, 686 Naugatuck Avenue, Milford (under the I-95 bridge). The car-top launch is in the WMA lot at the east end of Court Street.
Hunting on this area
| Deer | Closed |
|---|---|
| Turkey | Closed |
| Small game | Closed |
| Waterfowl | Open |
| Pheasants stocked | No |
Parts of the area are closed to all hunting; see the map.
In tidal areas a 250-foot firearms restriction applies to waterfowl hunting; the zones are on the map.
The Court Street launch is very shallow.
Fluorescent orange is required for most hunting, and CT DEEP recommends an orange vest or hat for every visitor to state land during the hunting season. No Sunday hunting on state and public lands.
Sources: CT DEEP Wildlife Division hunting and access data, DEEP hunting area map (PDF, September 2024), 2026 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide (season dates), CT DEEP fall 2026 season notice (verified October 2026). Rules and seasons change — confirm before you go.
🌤 Weather at Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32–68 °F | 62–83 °F | 38–75 °F | 24–44 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Bridgeport Sikorsky Memorial Airport, 2 mi away, elevation 5 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area is a 750-acre state wildlife management area at the mouth of the Housatonic River in Milford and Stratford, New Haven County, managed by Connecticut DEEP.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Court Street, Milford, CT 06460 (DEEP hunting area map, U.S. Census) |
| Size | 750 acres (DEEP hunting area map, as of October 2026) |
| Type | State wildlife management area (DEEP) |
| Entry Fee | No entrance fee is listed by DEEP (as of October 2026) |
| Hours | Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; hunting and fishing are allowed outside these hours (RCSA § 26-16-3a) |
| Hunting | State hunting area, waterfowl only (DEEP, as of October 2026) |
| Boat Launch | A car-top launch in the WMA parking area at the east end of Court Street (DEEP hunting area map) |
| Access | By boat only (DEEP, as of October 2026) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hunting allowed at Charles E. Wheeler WMA?
Yes. DEEP’s hunting-area data (as of October 2026) list 750 acres of Charles E. Wheeler WMA as a state hunting area. It is open for waterfowl hunting only. The Court Street launch is very shallow. Waterfowl hunters must observe the 250-foot firearms restriction zones for tidal areas. Check the DEEP hunting area map and the current Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide for season dates before you go.
Where do I park for Charles E. Wheeler WMA?
Access by boat only. Trailered launch: the state Housatonic River Boat Launch, 686 Naugatuck Avenue, Milford (under the I-95 bridge). The car-top launch is in the WMA lot at the east end of Court Street. (DEEP hunting area map, as of October 2026)
When can I visit Charles E. Wheeler WMA?
Connecticut’s rules for state wildlife management areas close them from half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise, except for hunting, fishing and other activities DEEP authorizes (RCSA § 26-16-3a, as of October 2026).
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash no longer than 7 feet that you hold at all times, and under control. Dogs that are hunting or being trained for hunting are exempt from the leash rule, and DEEP can close an area to dogs by posting signs (RCSA § 26-16-3a, as of October 2026).
About Charles E. Wheeler WMA
DEEP’s mapped property boundary crosses the town line between Milford and Stratford. DEEP’s hunting area map describes it as tidal marsh with numerous tidal creeks.
DEEP’s hydrography data show Long Island Sound, Beaver Brook, Housatonic River, and Turkey Hill Brook on or along the property. The 2021 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) maps the area as 84 percent wetland and 13 percent open water.
Things to Do
Hunters can use the area for waterfowl hunting under DEEP’s rules for this area. DEEP’s hunting area map shows a car-top launch in the WMA parking area at the east end of Court Street, so you can put in a canoe or kayak. Because the area is reachable by boat only, plan to arrive by canoe, kayak or boat.
Rules on the Property
Connecticut’s regulation for state wildlife management areas (RCSA § 26-16-3a, as of October 2026) sets the ground rules here: no motor vehicles, no camping, horses only where not posted against them, bicycles not on posted trails, roads or areas, target shooting only where DEEP designates it, and dogs on a leash of no more than 7 feet unless they are hunting or in hunting training.
Nearby Attractions
Silver Sands State Park, a 303-acre state park, is less than a mile northeast. Centennial Watershed State Forest, a 5,257-acre state forest, is about 3 miles northwest. Osbornedale State Park, a 425-acre state park, is about 5 miles north. Quinnipiac River Marsh Wildlife Management Area, a 655-acre wildlife management area, is about 11 miles northeast. Distances are straight-line between the DEEP property boundaries; acreages are DEEP figures.
🦆 Visit Charles E. Wheeler WMA
750 acres in Milford and Stratford. Open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area
Park policy: This is a state wildlife management area, not a state park, so Connecticut's state park pet rules do not apply here. Connecticut's rules for state wildlife management areas (RCSA § 26-16-3a) require dogs to be on a leash no longer than 7 feet, held at all times by the person responsible, and under control (as of October 2026).
- Pets allowed?
- Yes, on a leash no longer than 7 feet that the person responsible holds at all times
- Park-specific rules
- Dogs that are hunting or being trained for hunting are exempt from the leash rule. DEEP can close any area or time period to all dogs by posting signs.
Are dogs allowed at Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area?
Yes, on a leash no longer than 7 feet that the person responsible holds at all times.
More: Connecticut state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
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