Parking & Access: Plum Bank Wildlife Management Area
Access by boat only.
Nearest state launches: Baldwin Bridge Boat Launch and Great Island Boat Launch.
Hunting on this area
| Deer | Closed |
|---|---|
| Turkey | Closed |
| Small game | Closed |
| Waterfowl | Open |
| Pheasants stocked | No |
In tidal areas a 250-foot firearms restriction applies to waterfowl hunting; the zones are on the map.
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, July 2026), 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 Plum Bank 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, 12 mi away, elevation 3 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Plum Bank Wildlife Management Area is a 219-acre state wildlife management area of tidal salt marsh in Old Saybrook, Middlesex County, managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Saybrook, CT 06475 (DEEP hunting area map, U.S. Census) |
| Size | 219 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) |
| Access | By boat only (DEEP, as of October 2026) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hunting allowed at Plum Bank WMA?
Yes. DEEP’s hunting-area data (as of October 2026) list 168 acres of Plum Bank WMA as a state hunting area. It is open for waterfowl hunting only. 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 Plum Bank WMA?
DEEP lists the area as reachable by boat only and suggests the state-owned Baldwin Bridge Boat Launch or Great Island Boat Launch. (DEEP hunting area map, as of October 2026)
When can I visit Plum Bank 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 Plum Bank WMA
DEEP’s mapped property boundary lies in Old Saybrook.
DEEP’s hydrography data show Long Island Sound, Indiantown Harbor, South Cove, Back River, and Beamon Creek on or along the property. The 2021 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) maps the area as 2 percent forest, 91 percent wetland, and 1 percent open water.
Things to Do
Hunters can use the area for waterfowl hunting under DEEP’s rules for this area. Because the marsh 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
Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Area, a 562-acre wildlife management area, is about 2 miles northeast. Cockaponset State Forest, a 16,512-acre state forest, is about 4 miles northwest. Nehantic State Forest, a 4,224-acre state forest, is about 6 miles northeast. Rocky Neck State Park, a 678-acre state park, is about 7 miles east. Distances are straight-line between the DEEP property boundaries; acreages are DEEP’s mapped figures.
🦆 Visit Plum Bank WMA
219 acres in Old Saybrook. Open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Plum Bank 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 Plum Bank 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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