Towns: Great Barrington, Sheffield
Acreage: 1,142
Wildlife Management Zone: 3
Description
This property contains a variety of habitats at the center of which is the 165-acre Three Mile Pond. North of the pond is an extensive beaver impounded marsh. The portions north and west of Brush Hill Road are completely forested and primarily comprised of northern hardwoods and dominated by mature red oak and sugar maple. South of the pond are mixed-age northern hardwoods and old-field white pines. Along Cross Road and Brush Hill Road are remnant agricultural fields which are now a mix of shrubland and grassland habitats.
Location, access, & parking
The WMA is located in the northeast corner of Sheffield. Primary access is from three small grass parking lots located on the south side of Cross Road, the east side of Home Road, and on the west side of Brush Hill Road. Off of Brush Hill Road, across from the parking lot, there is an informal car-top boat access to Three Mile Pond. See WMA map.
Note: WMAs are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
Habitat management
Two fields adjacent to Cross Road are currently managed as late, single-cut operation hay fields to maintain open field habitat for nesting birds and other wildlife. Other small open areas around the WMA are mowed periodically to maintain grassland and shrubland habitats. The open areas near the northwest corner of the pond are annually strip mowed for ring-necked pheasant cover.
Learn more about MassWildlife's habitat management activities.
Hunting opportunities
This WMA contains a variety of good hunting opportunities. The wetland complex at the northern end of the pond is good for waterfowl hunting. Ring-necked pheasants are stocked in the areas accessed from Brush Hill Road. Wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bear can be found throughout the WMA.
Fishing opportunities
Aquatic vegetation and submerged stumps and trees are prevalent in Three Mile Pond, providing warmwater fishing opportunities for chain pickerel, yellow perch, sunfish, brown bullhead, and largemouth bass. Three Mile Pond is known for its bass fishing. Ironworks Brook, the outflow of Three Mile Pond, is a coldwater fishery resource which provides limited fishing opportunities for reproducing brown trout.
Wildlife viewing & other features
Threemile Pond is an uncommon type of pond for Massachusetts, because it has mineral-rich, calcareous bedrock.
Regulations
During the open pheasant season, a “hunter orange” hat is required for all hunters and hunting hours are sunrise to sunset unless night hunting for raccoons or opossums.
Read Wildlife Management Area 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.