Town: Rochester
Acreage: 163
Wildlife Management Zone: 11
Waterfowl Zone: Central
Description
Mattapoisett River WMA consists of mixed upland forest and red maple swamp. Common vegetation on the property includes white pine, red oak, white oak, red maple, sweet pepperbush, and common greenbrier, with a wide variety of upland and wetland herbaceous plants and grasses.
Location, access, & parking
The area is accessed via a small gravel parking area off Wolf Island Road just west of where the road crosses the Mattapoisett River. There is a small footpath along the western bank of the river that extends from the crossing at Wolf Island Road north into the WMA that is primarily used by anglers. An old gated woods road extends into the property from Wolf Island Road approximately 75 yards west of the gravel parking area and can be accessed by either walking the edge of the road from the parking area or cutting through the woods. See WMA map.
Note: WMAs are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
Hunting opportunities
Mattapoisett River WMA provides great opportunities to pursue white-tailed deer, wild turkey, eastern coyote, gray squirrel, aquatic furbearers, fox, and waterfowl.
Fishing opportunities
The WMA has over 4,000 feet of frontage on the Mattapoisett River, which serves as the WMA’s entire eastern boundary and a portion of the northern boundary, extending from Wolf Island Road to the north. MassWildlife stocks the river annually with trout. The river is easily accessed by the footpath mentioned above. For more information on trout stocking, visit mass.gov/trout.
Wildlife viewing & other features
MassWildlife acquired this property in 2005 from George and Katherine Church. This property was one of several large parcels owned by the Church family along both sides of the Mattapoisett River where the family owned and operated a lumber mill, harvested sustainable timber products, and maintained agricultural hay fields.
Regulations
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.