Parking & Access: Menunketesuck Wildlife Management Area
The lot is off Fish Plain Road in Clinton. No parking on Chapman Mill Pond Road.
Hunting on this area
| Deer | Archery only |
|---|---|
| Turkey | Spring and fall: archery |
| Small game | Open |
| Waterfowl | Closed |
| Pheasants stocked | No |
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, May 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 Menunketesuck Wildlife Management Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32–65 °F | 60–82 °F | 41–74 °F | 25–45 °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 Orient Point State Park, 17 mi away, elevation 3 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Menunketesuck Wildlife Management Area is a 163-acre state wildlife management area on the Menunketesuck River in Clinton, Middlesex County, managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Fish Plain Road, Clinton, CT 06413 (DEEP hunting area map, U.S. Census) |
| Size | 163 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 | Archery-only hunting area (DEEP, as of October 2026) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hunting allowed at Menunketesuck WMA?
Yes. DEEP’s hunting-area data (as of October 2026) list Menunketesuck WMA as an archery-only hunting area. It is open for small game, spring and fall archery turkey, and archery deer hunting, but closed to waterfowl and firearms deer hunting. Only archery equipment may be used. 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 Menunketesuck WMA?
The lot is off Fish Plain Road in Clinton. No parking on Chapman Mill Pond Road. (DEEP hunting area map, as of October 2026)
When can I visit Menunketesuck 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 Menunketesuck WMA
DEEP’s mapped property boundary lies in Clinton.
DEEP’s hydrography data show Menunketesuck River and Chapmans Pond on or along the property. The 2021 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) maps the area as 81 percent forest, 12 percent wetland, and 6 percent open water.
Things to Do
Hunters can use the area for small game, spring and fall archery turkey, 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
Cockaponset State Forest, a 16,512-acre state forest, is less than a mile north. Hammonasset Beach State Park, a 581-acre state park, is about 2 miles southwest. Chatfield Hollow State Park, a 399-acre state park, is about 6 miles northwest. Nott Island Wildlife Management Area, an 80-acre wildlife management area, is about 7 miles northeast. Distances are straight-line between the DEEP property boundaries; acreages are DEEP figures.
🦆 Visit Menunketesuck WMA
163 acres in Clinton. Open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Menunketesuck 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 Menunketesuck 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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