Towns: Ashby, Groton, Shirley, Townsend
Acreage: 1,306
Wildlife Management Zone: 9
Waterfowl Zone: Central
Description
Squannacook River WMA is composed of many scattered parcels. The parcels are mostly flat, valley bottom land that follow the Squannacook River from just below its origin at the confluence of Willard and Trapfall Brooks in West Townsend, downstream to just above where it flows into the Nashua River in Ayer. The area is mostly wooded. Its sandy soils support unusually fine stands of white pine interspersed with less dominant oaks and maples. There are a few open fields, in addition an abandoned power line runs from a sandpit on Harbor Road to route 225.
Location, access, & parking
Several areas of parking and access can be obtained from Route 119, Townsend Road, Harbor Road, Shirley Road, Meetinghouse Road, South Row Road, Elm Circle, Turnpike Road, Dudley Road, Greenville Road and Squannacook Road. See the map for details. See WMA Map.
Note: WMA's are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
Hunting & fishing opportunities
American beaver, muskrat, raccoon, and waterfowl may be found along the river. There are wood duck boxes above the Route 225 dam but waterfowl hunting is limited in that area. The upland areas support small populations of ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer, red fox, and eastern coyote. Pheasants are stocked in this area. The Squannacook River is a cold water fisheries resource that receives several annual stockings of trout. It is about 30 feet wide in the section that runs through the management area. There are three dams within this stretch, one located just below Route 119 in Townsend Center, another at the junction of Harbor Road and Route 119 in Townsend, and the last one at Route 225 in Groton.
Wildlife viewing & other features
The Squanacook River offers excellent opportunities for kayaking. Wildlife viewing is especially good along the river and within the open sand plain off of Elm Circle in Townsend. Eastern whip-poor-wills, eastern towhee, scarlet tanager, and other scrubland birds are often seen here and moose have been occasionally reported.
Regulations
During the pheasant season, a “hunter orange” hat is required for all hunters except while night hunting raccoons or opossums 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 raccoons or opossums 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.