Towns: Athol, Orange, Phillipston, Royalston, Wendell
Acreage: 2,288
Wildlife Management Zone: 5, 6
Description
This property is comprised of steep mixed hardwood and conifer forest, wooded and shrub swamps, wetland marshes, and a powerline right-of-way. The Millers River flows through the southern end of the property.
Location, access, & parking
Parking for this area is located off of Royalston Road for 4 vehicles, Gulf Road for 4 vehicles, and the Chestnut Hill Road end of Gulf Road for 2 vehicles. See WMA map.
Note: WMAs are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
Habitat management
Small fields are mowed annually to maintain habitat diversity.
Learn more about MassWildlife’s habitat management activities.
Hunting & fishing opportunities
Ring-necked pheasant are stocked at this WMA. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and gray squirrel all thrive along the hardwood ridges. Wetland marshes provide hunting opportunities for both waterfowl and snowshoe hare. The large powerline right-of-way provides good opportunities for hunting furbearers such as eastern coyote and bobcat. The Millers River is stocked annually with trout. Lawrence Brook is also stocked with trout annually and provides car-top boat access for launching crafts. Certain areas of the Millers River have special regulations that apply including a catch and release area where only artificial lures may be used (possession of bait is prohibited). For more information on trout stocking, visit mass.gov/trout.
Wildlife viewing & other features
The powerline right-of-way provides great viewing opportunities for raptors while the wetlands offer the possibility of seeing moose.
Regulations
During the 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. The catch and release area (artificial lures only- no bait in possession) extends from the Templeton/Athol railroad bridge to the first dam in Athol and from the Wendell Road bridge in Orange to the breached dam in Erving center.
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.