If you have your own archery equipment but don't have a great place to practice, try out one of MassWildlife’s free ranges this summer. Six archery ranges will be set up at different dates on Wildlife Management Areas:
- Ayer Game Farm, Ayer (June 13 – October 24)
- Erwin Wilder WMA, Norton/Taunton (June 13 – October 24)
- George L. Darey Housatonic Valley WMA, Lenox (June 13 – September 28)
- High Ridge WMA, Westminster (June 13 – September 28)
- Southampton WMA, Southampton (June 13 – September 28)
- Wayne F. MacCallum WMA, Westborough (June 13 – September 28)
To use the range, you must obtain a range pass for 2025. Complete an application to receive a confirmation email that serves as your range pass. If you had a range pass last year, please complete the application again for 2025.
Directions
Ayer Game Farm, Ayer (June 13 – October 24)
Parking is available off Groton Shirley Road at the powerline entrance. From this parking area, walk down the trail southeast, across the powerlines and into the old Ayer Game Farm fields. The range will be in the first field.
Erwin Wilder WMA, Norton/Taunton (June 13 – October 24)
Park at the designated WMA parking area at the end of Toad Island Road in Taunton (just over the Norton town line). From the parking area, walk around the gate on the access road and take an almost immediate left and follow the mowed path out to the range in the southeastern corner of the hayfield.
George L. Darey Housatonic Valley WMA, Lenox (June 13 – September 28)
Park in the George L. Darey Housatonic Valley WMA designated lot off New Lenox Road. The lot is north of New Lenox Road. From there, follow the signs, head south and cross New Lenox Road, and the range will be in the second field.
High Ridge WMA, Westminster (June 13 – September 28)
Parking is at the WMA parking area on East Gardner Road in Westminster. After parking in the lot, follow the signs and go past the gate walking west about 50 yards on East Gardner Road. The range will be in a field to your right (just north of the road).
Southampton WMA, Southampton (June 13 – September 28)
Parking is located WMA parking area off Cook Road in Southampton. Follow signs beyond the yellow gate into the open field to the east; the range is located within the first field.
Wayne F. MacCallum WMA, Westborough (June 13 – September 28)
Parking is available for the range at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters at 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA. From the parking lot, head north down the asphalt road that leads into Wayne F. MacCallum WMA. Follow the asphalt road for approximately 30 yards. Take a right on the path that leads east through the field (directly below the headquarters building). From here, you will see the range below the building.
Range rules
While these ranges will be monitored, they are unstaffed. Range visitors must bring their own equipment and follow all rules while on the range. These rules will also be posted at the range.
Rules:
- Must have a valid access pass to use this range.
- Always walk when moving about the range. No running.
- Arrows with target points only can be used. No broadheads.
- Transport arrows safely in a bow case or quiver until at the shooting line and ready to shoot.
- Shoot only at the targets in your shooting lane.
- Straddle the shooting line while shooting. Keep one foot in front and one foot behind the line. Never stand ahead of the shooting line while anyone is shooting.
- Be certain the range is clear before nocking your arrow.
- Keep nocked arrows pointed down or towards the target at all times.
- No more than six arrows may be shot before the arrows are retrieved.
- Step back from the shooting line when done shooting and rack or case your bow.
- Only walk down range to retrieve arrows when all archers have racked or cased their bows.
- Confirm that shooting has stopped by making eye contact with other archers and say loudly CLEAR before proceeding down range.
- Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol is prohibited from the range.
Range layout
