Town: Plymouth
Acreage: 789
Wildlife Management Zone: 11
Waterfowl Zone: Central
Description
Camp Cachalot is a 789-acre Wildlife Management Area located within the larger complex of conservation properties surrounding and including Myles Standish State Forest. The property was formerly a scouting camp and was acquired in 2022 to be part of the network of protected lands in southeastern Massachusetts that helps conserve the region's coastal pine-barrens. Pine barrens are dry and sandy fire-adapted forests which are dominated by pitch pine and scrub oak. Management activities such as selective cutting and prescribed fire are used to maintain the conditions that pine-barrens species depend on, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce the negative impacts of severe wildfires and southern pine beetle outbreaks.
The property also includes several freshwater ponds and wetlands that provide habitats for fish, amphibians, reptiles, waterfowl, and other wildlife. Abner Pond, Five Mile Pond, and Little Five Mile Pond are some of the larger ponds in the WMA.
Location, access, & parking
Access is primarily through paved roads in Myles Standish State Forest. Parking is available at the end of Southeast Line Road, in gravel parking areas ahead of the gate at Five Mile Pond Road. Multiple unimproved roads cross the property, but these roads are closed to motorized vehicle traffic.
Hunting & fishing opportunities
Hunting opportunities include white-tailed deer, wild turkey, small game, and waterfowl. The property's freshwater ponds also provide opportunities for warmwater fishing, including largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and pumpkinseed.
Wildlife viewing & other features
One of the most unique features of Camp Cachalot is its coastal pine-barrens ecosystem. This ecosystem supports numerous state-listed species and is considered an important regional hotspot for biodiversity in southern New England. The property's forests, ponds, and wetlands provide habitat for several rare species, including the barrens buck moth, frosted elfin butterfly, barrens tiger beetle, eastern whip-poor-will, and northern red-bellied cooter.
This WMA provides an opportunity to view northern red-bellied cooter, a state and federally endangered species. Ponds within this WMA have been used as release sites as part of MassWildlife's conservation efforts for this turtle.
About Wildlife Management Areas
WMAs are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
MassWildlife owns and manages over 220,000 acres of land to conserve fish and wildlife habitats and provide access for outdoor recreation. All WMAs are open to hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreation activities. Visit the MassWildlife Lands Viewer for an interactive map of MassWildlife properties.
You can support land protection in Massachusetts. Contributions to the Wildlands Fund help pay for the cost of acquiring wildlife habitat. Learn more about the Wildlands Fund.