Parking & Access: Ragged Rock Wildlife Management Area
Access by boat only.
The nearest launch is the Baldwin Bridge 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), 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 Ragged Rock Wildlife Management Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30–71 °F | 60–85 °F | 35–76 °F | 20–42 °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 Hartford Brainard Field, 8 mi away, elevation 19 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Ragged Rock Wildlife Management Area is a 204-acre state wildlife management area on the Connecticut River 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 | 204 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 Ragged Rock WMA?
Yes. DEEP’s hunting-area data (as of October 2026) list 204 acres of Ragged Rock WMA as a state hunting area. It is open for waterfowl hunting only. 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 Ragged Rock WMA?
Access by boat only. The nearest launch is the Baldwin Bridge Boat Launch. (DEEP hunting area map, as of October 2026)
When can I visit Ragged Rock 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 Ragged Rock WMA
DEEP’s mapped property boundary lies in Old Saybrook. DEEP’s hunting area map describes it as tidal marsh fronting on the Connecticut River.
DEEP’s hydrography data show Long Island Sound, North Cove, Connecticut River, and Ragged Rock Creek on or along the property. The 2021 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) maps the area as 98 percent wetland.
Things to Do
Hunters can use the area for waterfowl hunting under DEEP’s rules for this area. 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
Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Area, a 625-acre wildlife management area, is less than a mile southeast. Nehantic State Forest, a 4,224-acre state forest, is about 4 miles northeast. Rocky Neck State Park, a 678-acre state park, is about 5 miles east. Cockaponset State Forest, a 16,512-acre state forest, is about 6 miles northwest. Distances are straight-line between the DEEP property boundaries; acreages are DEEP figures.
🦆 Visit Ragged Rock WMA
204 acres in Old Saybrook. Open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Ragged Rock 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 Ragged Rock 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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