Parking & Access: Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Lots off Route 126 and Route 7; more access points off Route 7 and Barnes 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.
Parts of the area are closed to all hunting; see the map.
Pheasants are stocked in the fields off Route 126.
Borders Housatonic State Forest.
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 2024), 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 Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23–72 °F | 53–85 °F | 29–76 °F | 14–40 °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 Falls Village, 4 mi away, elevation 550 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area is a 1,638-acre state wildlife management area in Canaan and North Canaan, Litchfield County, managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | U.S. Route 7, North Canaan, CT 06018 (DEEP hunting area map, U.S. Census) |
| Size | 1,638 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 Robbins Swamp WMA?
Yes. DEEP’s hunting-area data (as of October 2026) list 1,638 acres of Robbins Swamp 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. Pheasants are stocked in the fields off Route 126. Borders Housatonic State Forest. 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 Robbins Swamp WMA?
Lots off Route 126 and Route 7; more access points off Route 7 and Barnes Road. (DEEP hunting area map, as of October 2026)
When can I visit Robbins Swamp 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 Robbins Swamp WMA
DEEP’s mapped property boundary crosses the town line between Canaan and North Canaan.
DEEP’s hydrography data show Hollenbeck River, Housatonic River, Swamp Brook, Wangum Lake Brook, and Whiting Brook on or along the property. The 2021 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) maps the area as 5 percent forest, 84 percent wetland, and 9 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
Centennial Watershed State Forest, a 5,257-acre state forest, is less than a mile south. Mount Riga State Park, a 322-acre state park, is about 5 miles northwest. Haystack Mountain State Park, a 386-acre state park, is about 5 miles east. Goshen Wildlife Management Area, a 1,599-acre wildlife management area, is about 5 miles southeast. Distances are straight-line between the DEEP property boundaries; acreages are DEEP figures.
🦆 Visit Robbins Swamp WMA
1,638 acres in Canaan and North Canaan. Open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Robbins Swamp 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 Robbins Swamp 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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