2025 Deer Hunting Program and Horse Riding Events
Bow Hunting Program Details
When:
October to December 2025 (exact dates TBC)
Where:
Wright Woods
Bigelow Woods/Soutter Field
Hunting Information:
Deer bow hunting occurs 1/2 hour before sunrise to 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to 1/2 hour after sunset. There is no hunting on Saturdays or Sundays.
All trails remain open, even during hours of hunting, except for one secondary trail in Wright Woods, which is signed.
In Wright Woods, check the map at the trailhead kiosk off of Arena Terrace to view where bow hunting is taking place.
Please pay attention to posted signs and follow trail use policies:
– Stay on marked trails
– Dogs (no more than 3 per person) must be under control at all times
– Leash dogs that wander off trail
A limited number of licensed hunters are granted permission to bow hunt each year. Nearly all have been bow hunting with Land Trust permission for twenty-plus years. The use of guns is prohibited.
Horse Riding Events:
Tuesday, May 6 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at Wright Woods (drag hunt)
All trails remain open during riding events. Please plan ahead and remember: horses always have the right of way, followed by hikers, then by bikers!
In other words, hikers yield to horses, and bicyclists yield to hikers and horses on trails. If you must step off a trail to make room for a horse rider to pass, step off to the downhill side. Whenever possible, watch where you step to avoid disturbing plants or wildlife. If you approach a horse rider from behind, calmly make your presence known by offering a friendly, “Hello!” Let the rider know your intentions and only pass once they tell you it is safe to do so.
About Old North Bridge Hounds
Old North Bridge Hounds host annual riding events in Wright Woods and at October Farm Riverfront in the fall and spring each year. The group is one of seven hunt clubs in New England. They engage in drag hunting, which involves laying a scent trail where riders and hounds “hunt” an artificial scent for sport. They also host Hunter Pace events, which are low-key, competitive, cross-country rides that are meant to simulate a fox hunt. Horse and rider teams are sent off at intervals to follow a pre-set course. The goal is to not ride too fast or too slow, but to achieve an optimal time or “pace” in order to win.
