Parking & Access: Meadow Brook Wildlife Management Area
From Route 2 westbound take Exit 16, left on Route 149, right on Old Hartford Road, then after 2 miles right on Prospect Hill Road. From Route 2 eastbound take Exit 17, left on Mill Hill Road and follow signs for Old Hartford Road; after 2 miles turn left on Prospect Hill Road.
Hunting on this area
| Deer | Archery, firearms, muzzleloader |
|---|---|
| Turkey | Spring and fall: archery, firearms |
| Small game | Open |
| Waterfowl | Open |
| Pheasants stocked | Yes |
Zones within 500-foot boundaries marked on the DEEP map are closed to firearms hunting.
Pheasants are stocked in the fields at the top of the hill, through the gate in the lot.
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, November 2023), 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 Meadow Brook Wildlife Management Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27–70 °F | 56–83 °F | 31–74 °F | 18–41 °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 Willimantic Windham Airport, 15 mi away, elevation 247 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Meadow Brook Wildlife Management Area is a 269-acre state wildlife management area in Colchester, New London County, managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Prospect Hill Road, Colchester, CT 06415 (DEEP hunting area map, U.S. Census) |
| Size | 269 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 Meadow Brook WMA?
Yes. DEEP’s hunting-area data (as of October 2026) list 270 acres of Meadow Brook WMA as a state hunting area. It is open for small game, stocked pheasant, waterfowl, spring and fall turkey (archery and firearms), archery deer, firearms deer without a lottery, and muzzleloader deer hunting. DEEP stocks pheasant in the fields at the top of the hill, through the gate at the Prospect Hill Road parking lot. 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 Meadow Brook WMA?
The parking area is on Prospect Hill Road. From Route 2 westbound, take Exit 16 to Route 149 and Old Hartford Road; from Route 2 eastbound, take Exit 17 to Mill Hill Road and Old Hartford Road. Prospect Hill Road turns off Old Hartford Road after about 2 miles. (DEEP hunting area map, as of October 2026)
When can I visit Meadow Brook 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 Meadow Brook WMA
DEEP’s mapped property boundary lies in Colchester.
DEEP’s hydrography data show Meadow Brook on or along the property. The 2021 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) maps the area as 86 percent forest, 4 percent wetland, and 2 percent pasture and cropland.
Things to Do
Hunters can use the area for small game, stocked pheasant, waterfowl, spring and fall turkey (archery and firearms), archery deer, firearms deer without a lottery, and muzzleloader 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
Salmon River State Forest, a 6,623-acre state forest, is less than a mile northwest. Day Pond State Park, a 183-acre state park, is about 2 miles southwest. Raymond Brook Wildlife Management Area, a 260-acre wildlife management area, is about 3 miles northeast. Sunrise State Park, a 145-acre state park, is about 7 miles southwest. Distances are straight-line between the DEEP property boundaries; acreages are DEEP’s mapped figures.
🦆 Visit Meadow Brook WMA
269 acres in Colchester. Open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Meadow Brook 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 Meadow Brook 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
