Town: Freetown
Acreage: 571
Wildlife Management Zone: 11
Waterfowl Zone: Central
Description
Mill Brook Bogs (formerly Freetown Swamp) WMA consists of shrub swamp, Atlantic white cedar swamp, former cranberry bogs and a large former cranberry bog reservoir, with small areas of mixed upland forest. Common vegetation on the WMA includes red maple, sweet pepperbush, highbush blueberry, leatherleaf, swamp azalea, sphagnum moss, and Atlantic white cedar, with uplands dominated by white pine, red oak, and common greenbrier. Cotton grass, sundew, and other bog plant species are also present.
Learn more about MassWildlife's habitat management activities.
Location, access, & parking
The WMAs primary access point is a small gravel parking area at the north end of the property on Howland Road approximately 0.10 mile east of the intersection with Rebecca Road (adjacent to where Mill Brook crosses under Howland Road). It is also accessible through Department of Conservation and Recreation property at the Freetown-Fall River State Forest along the eastern side of Slab Bridge Road, approximately 700 feet north of the entrance to the State Forest Headquarters (old campground) or just south of the entrance to Profile Rock. Numerous unofficial and unmarked foot paths lead from the State Forest into the WMA. See WMA map.
Note: WMAs are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
Hunting opportunities
The WMA consists primarily of a very dense shrub and Atlantic white cedar swamp, which contains an impressive diversity of plant and animal species. Game species are abundant including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and eastern coyote. The former cranberry bogs and bog reservoir also hold abundant waterfowl seasonally. Hunting and trapping opportunities are likely very good for those individuals that take the time to walk into the WMA.
Fishing opportunities
Fishing opportunities in the bog reservoir is limited due to shallow water depths, however typical warmwater species are present.
Wildlife viewing & other features
This WMA contains one of the largest remaining shrub swamps in southeastern Massachusetts. The property and abutting former cranberry bogs were likely once part of a much larger Atlantic white cedar swamp. Within the remaining cedar and shrub swamp there are several very large boulders left behind by receding glaciers that can clearly be seen in aerial photos. Visitors might hear Whip-poor-wills—a state listed Special Concern species—from the uplands on the eastern side of the property.
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.