Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Parking & Access: Higganum Meadows Wildlife Management Area
Access only through Hurd State Park: enter at the main park entrance, take the first open gated road on the left to the gate at its end, then walk the gravel road along the power lines to the fields. No hunting access via Clarkhurst Road.
Hunting on this area
| Deer | Archery only |
|---|---|
| Turkey | Spring and fall: archery, firearms |
| Small game | Open |
| Waterfowl | Open |
| Pheasants stocked | Yes |
Pheasants are stocked in the lower fields by the river.
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, March 2025), 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 Higganum Meadows Wildlife Management Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28–70 °F | 57–84 °F | 32–75 °F | 19–42 °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 Meriden Markham Municipal Airport, 15 mi away, elevation 103 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Higganum Meadows Wildlife Management Area is a 334-acre state wildlife management area on the Connecticut River in Haddam, Middlesex County, managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Hurd Park Road, East Hampton, CT 06424 (DEEP hunting area map, U.S. Census) |
| Size | 334 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 (DEEP, as of October 2026) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hunting allowed at Higganum Meadows WMA?
Yes. DEEP’s hunting-area data (as of October 2026) list 334 acres of Higganum Meadows WMA as a state hunting area. It is open for small game, stocked pheasant, waterfowl, spring and fall turkey (archery and firearms), and archery deer hunting, but closed to firearms deer hunting. Pheasants are stocked in the lower fields by the river. 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 Higganum Meadows WMA?
Access only through Hurd State Park: enter at the main park entrance, take the first open gated road on the left to the gate at its end, then walk the gravel road along the power lines to the fields. No hunting access via Clarkhurst Road. (DEEP hunting area map, as of October 2026)
When can I visit Higganum Meadows 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 Higganum Meadows WMA
DEEP’s mapped property boundary lies in Haddam.
DEEP’s hydrography data show Axelson Brook and Connecticut River on or along the property. The 2021 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) maps the area as 7 percent forest, 90 percent wetland, and 3 percent open water.
Things to Do
Hunters can use the area for small game, stocked pheasant, waterfowl, spring and fall turkey (archery and firearms), and archery deer hunting under DEEP’s rules for this area.
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
Haddam Island State Park, a 25-acre state park, is less than a mile southeast. Hurd State Park, a 913-acre state park, is less than a mile north. Cockaponset State Forest, a 16,512-acre state forest, is less than a mile south. Wopowog Wildlife Management Area, a 465-acre wildlife management area, is about 2 miles northeast. Distances are straight-line between the DEEP property boundaries; acreages are DEEP figures.
🦆 Visit Higganum Meadows WMA
334 acres in Haddam. Open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Higganum Meadows 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 Higganum Meadows 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
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