Towns: Ashburnham, Gardner, Westminster
Acreage: 1,040
Wildlife Management Zone: 5
Description
High Ridge WMA contains a combination of grassland areas, rolling forested lands, and beaver-enhanced wetlands. Scattered apple trees and many acres of grassy fields serve as a reminder that the area was once a working farm. MassWildlife maintains the fields by mowing annually to support the birds, mammals, and insects that thrive in grasslands. Watch for wildlife near the edges of field and forest as this habitat is often used by white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and hawks. Several maintenance roads wind through the WMA and can be used for walking, hiking, birding, cross-country skiing, and hunting access. On a clear day, Mount Monadnock to the north and Mount Wachusett to the south can be seen from the high point of Beech Hill. This was once the site of the Gardner State Hospital. Today, a Department of Corrections facility abuts the WMA.
Location, access, & parking
There are three major access points and parking lots at High Ridge. The two eastern accesses are located in Westminster at the end of Overlook and East Gardner Roads respectively. The western access is in Gardner, off of Route 140 via Smith Street. It is marked with a "Wildlife Viewing Area" sign. See WMA map.
Note: WMAs are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
Hunting opportunities
This WMA is stocked with ring-necked pheasants during the fall season. The mix of field and forest attracts white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, eastern coyotes, and foxes. The wetlands support wood ducks and mallards, while snowshoe hares frequent their marshy borders. Canada geese are often found in the fields.
Wildlife viewing & other features
More than 100 nest boxes are installed near the abandoned roads and field edges, offering a unique opportunity to observe cavity-nesting birds. Virtually every box is occupied during the nesting season by tree swallows, eastern bluebirds, house wrens, or black-capped chickadees. Watch the nest boxes from a short distance away to observe adult birds bringing food to their chicks. The wetland areas support uncommon marsh birds and great blue herons. This is also a popular spot for observing the fall hawk migration in mid-September.
Regulations
During pheasant season, a blaze orange hat must be worn by all hunters except while night-hunting raccoon or opossum or while hunting waterfowl from within a blind or boat. No person shall hunt before sunrise or after sunset during the open season on pheasant, except for the hunting of raccoon or opossum between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
About Wildlife Management Areas
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.