Town: Sandwich
Acreage: 16
Wildlife Management Zone: 12
Waterfowl Zone: Coastal (South)
Description
Pickerel Cove WMA features white pine, pitch pine, red oak forests with sweet pepperbush and common greenbrier in the understory. This property borders the Pickerel Cove WCE and the edge of Wakeby Pond.
Location, access, & parking
Parking for 6 vehicles is located on Main Street in Mashpee and access to this property is gained through Pickerel Cove WCE. You can access this WMA directly on foot from Cove Road and Hirsch Road in Sandwich. There are several old roads and foot paths on this property left over from an old summer camp, which make access easier. See WMA map.
Note: WMAs are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
Hunting opportunities
This WMA provides good hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, eastern coyote, and cottontail rabbit.
Fishing opportunities
You can find shore fishing access to Mashpee and Wakeby Ponds. These ponds contain warmwater species including bullhead, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, white perch, and yellow perch. Additionally, the pond is stocked with trout. For more information on trout stocking, visit mass.gov/trout.
Wildlife viewing & other features
Two rare freshwater mussels are found in Wakeby and Mashpee Ponds—eastern pondmussel and tidewater mucket. There are many trails for walking, hiking, and biking.
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.