United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

I Forest Service 

Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station 

Research Paper NE-623 

State-Owned 

Wildlife Management. 

Areas in New England 

Ronald J. Glass 
Abstract 

1 State-owned wildlife management areas play an important role in enhancing 

1 wildlife populations and providing opportunities for wildlife-related recreational 

activities. In the six New England States there are 271 wildlife management 

areas with a total area exceeding 268,000 acres. A variety of wildlife species 

benefit from habitat improvement activities on these areas. 

The Author 

RONALD J. GLASS is a research economist with the Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station, Burlington, Vermont. He also has worked with the Economic 

Research Service of the US. Department of Agriculture and the Alaska 

Department of Fish and Game. He received MS. and Ph.D. degrees in 

economics from the University of Minnesota and the State University of New York 

at Syracuse. 

Manuscript received for publication 13 February 1989 

1 

I 

Northeastern Forest Experiment Station 

370 Reed Road, Broomall, PA 19008 I July 1989 

I 
Introduction 

With massive changes in land use and ownership, the role 

of public lands in providing wildlife habitat and related 

human-use opportunities is becoming more important. One 

form of public land ownership that has received only limited 

recognition is the state-owned wildlife management area 

(WMA). While state lands in this ownership category 

predated the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act 

(Pittman-Robertson Act) of 1937, much of the impetus to 

create WMA resulted from this legislation. Federal funding 

has assisted the states in acquiring and managing these 

lands, which are dedicated primarily to wildlife 

enhancement. 

In recent years throughout much of New England, the rapid 

development of traditionally rural areas has reduced wildlife 

habitat and made many areas unavailable for the public to 

pursue wildlife-related recreational activities. Both farm 

attrition and intensification of operations on remaining farms 

have resulted in changing habitat conditions since much 

crop and pasture land has been taken out of production 

and is reverting to forests. As these second-growth forests 

mature their value as habitat for some of the most desired 

wildlife species diminishes. 

Further, human population growth and increased use of 

rural areas for residential, recreational, and commercial 

development have resulted in additional losses of wildlife 

habitat and made much of the remaining habitat 

unavailable to a large segment of the general public. Other 

private lands that had been open to public use are being 

posted against trespass, severely restricting public use. As 

a result, the role of public lands has become more 

prominent with respect to maintaining diverse wildlife 

populations and providing wildlife-related recreational 

opportunities. 

This paper describes the state owned WMA in the six New 

England States, the wildlife species targeted to benefit from 

habitat enhancement in these areas, and the habitat 

improvement practices that have been implemented. 

Methods 

The information in this paper was obtained in 1985 through 

interviews with staff members of the wildlife management 

agencies in each of the New England States. Agency staff 

were asked to complete a set of worksheets for each WMA 

in that state. When necessary, additional information was 

obtained from regional offices within the respective states. 
Size and Distribution of Areas 

In 1985 there were 271 WMA in the New England States 1,275 acres in Massachusetts to fewer than 600 acres in 

totalling 268,192 acres (Table 1). Vermont had both the Connecticut and New Hampshire. Water accounted for 

most WMA and the largest total acreage. The average size about 8 percent of the total area of WMA in New England. 

per WMA for the region is 990 acres, ranging from nearly 

Table 1 - Number of New England wildlife management areas (WMA) and 

acreages by state, 1985 

State 

WMA in: Average 

Number size of 

of WMA Land Water Total WMA 

....................... Acres ....................... 

Connecticut 36 19,728 1,038 20,766 

Mainea 46 35,222 13,675 51,011 

Massachusettsb 44 50,961 632 56,055 

New Hampshire 43 20,614 4,259 24,873 

Rhode IslandC 27 28,163 700 28,863 

Vermontd 75 52,195 335 86,644 

Acres 

577 

1,109 

1,274 

578 

1,069 

1,155 

a Complete data on acreages of land and water not available. Total acreage data are complete but exceed total of land and water acreages. 

Total acreage for state includes Hockomock Wildlife Management Area (4,432 acres) for 

which there was no information on land and water acreages. 

Total acreage for state includes Prudence Island (1,284 acres) and Carolina (1,569 acres) 

Wildlife Management Areas for which there was no information on land and water acreages. 

Complete data on acreages in land and water not available. Total acreage data are complete. 

Due to missing data, row and column totals are not equal. 
Throughout the region, 73 percent of the WMA were fewer WMA. While there were only 11 WMA in the region that 

than 1,000 acres in size (Table 2). However, this size are 5,000 acres or more, they accounted for 29 percent of 

category accounted for only one-quarter of the total area in the total area. 

Table 2. - Size distribution of New England wildlife management areas (WMA), 

1985 

No. areas in 

Area Number I No. acres in size class as No. of acres Percent of 

(acres) of WMA size class percent of total per WMA total acreage 

I Total 271 268,192 1 00.1 990 100.0 

Habitat Improvement Activities 

The target species for which habitat manipulation practices 

are designed vary considerably among WMA and from 

state to state (Table 3). It should be noted that habitat 

enhancement designed for specific target species also 

benefit other wildlife with similar requirements. Geographic 

differences in climate and vegetative cover determine 

species' availability, so wildlife that receive, considerable 

attention in some states may be virtually nbnexistent in 

others. For example, much of the habitat i$provement in 

Massachusetts and Connecticut is aimed toward pheasant, 

but the three northern New England States are beyond the 

primary range of this species. 

Overall, deer, waterfowl, and ruffed grouse receive the 

greatest emphasis in habitat improvement activities on 

WMA in New England. In Vermont, deer was the target 

species for 30 of a statewide total of 75 WMA. For various 

reasons, many WMA were not actively involved in any 

habitat enhancement activities during the study year. 

Not all target species are game animals. Massachusetts 

managed for the enhancement of bluebird habitat on six 

WMA and Maine worked to improve conditions for the bald 

eagle on one WMA. 

Habitat management on WMA often is constrained by 

limited budgets. Nevertheless, there are opportunitites to 
improve habitat through income-producing activities such as 

timber sales and agricultural leases. Mowing to retain 

early-stage vegetative succession and provide habitat 

diversity is a relatively inexpensive and common practice 

on WMA throughout New England (Table 4). The same 

enhancement activities may be undertaken to benefit 

different wildlife species at different locations. For example, 

specific agricultural activities designed to benefit pheasant 

on Massachusetts WMA can be directed toward deer in 

Vermont. In all of the New England States, waterfowl 

benefit from the installation of water-control structures. 

Maintaining and replacing nest boxes for waterfowl, 

principally wood ducks, is one of the more common 

practices in New England. Others include apple tree 

releases, brush cutting, forest and shrub thinnings, clearing 

establishment, and vegetative plantings. 

Table 3. - Target species on New England wildlife management areas by state, 

1985 

Number of WMA 

specifying 

State Target species target species 

Connecticut Deer 3 

Pheasant 4 

Quail 1 

Ruffed grouse 2 

Waterfowl 3 

Maine 

Massachusetts 

Aquatic furbearers 

Bald eagle 

Deer 

Furbearers 

Nongame species 

Ruffed grouse 

Shore birds 

Snowshoe hare 

Upland wildlife 

Waterfowl 

Woodcock 

Other 

Aquatic mammals 

Bluebirds 

Cottontail rabbit 

Deer 

Pheasant 

Quail 

Ruffed grouse 

Snowshoe hare 

Upland wildlife 

Waterfowl 

Wild turkey 

Woodcock 

New Hampshire Upland wildlife 

Waterfowl 

Rhode Island Waterfowl 11 

Vermont Bear 2 

Beaver 2 

Deer 30 

Cottontail rabbit 1 

Grey squirrel 1 

Ruffed grouse 13 

Snowshoe hare 6 

Songbirds and nongame species 3 

Upland wildlife 3 

Waterfowl 7 5 

Wild turkey 2 
Table 4. - Habitat improvement activities undertaken in New England wildlife 

management areas (WMA) to benefit target species by state, 1985 

Improvement 

activity 

Number of WMA Principal 

participating benefiting species 

Field Management 

Agricultural co-op agreements 

Mowing 

Forest Management 

Bulldoze old growth 

Timber harvests 

Maintain and replace 

water-control structures 

Field Management 

Maintain goose pasture 

Mowing 

Forest Management 

Alder clearcuts 

Alder management 

Apple tree releases 

Commercial thinnings 

Prescribed burning 

Shelterwood harvest 

Strip clearcuts 

CONNECTICUT 

1 

MAINE 

Upland wildlife 

Pheasant (3) 

Quail (1) 

Waterfowl (1) 

Pheasant (2) 

Quail (1) 

Ruffed grouse (1) 

Deer (1) 

Deer (2) 

Ruffed grouse (1) 

Waterfowl (1) 

Waterfowl 

Canada goose 

Aquatic furbearers (2) 

Bald eagle (1) 

Canada goose (1) 

Deer (3) 

General wildlife 

diversity (1) 

Non-game wildlife (1) 

Ruffed grouse (4) 

Shore birds (1) 

Upland wildlife (1) 

Waterfowl (2) 

1 Woodcock 

1 Upland game 

Nongame wildlife 

4 Deer (1) 

Nongarne wildlife (1) 

Ruffed grouse (3) 

Snowshoe hare (1) 

Upland furbearers (1 ) 

Waterfowl (1) 

2 Snowshoe hare (1) 

Ruffed grouse (2) 

1 Waterfowl 

1 Deer 

3 Deer (2) 

General wildlife 

diversity (1 ) 

Continued 5 
Table 4. (Continued) 

Improvement Number of WMA Principal 

activity participating benefiting species 

Timber harvests 

Timber management 

Lease land for crops 

before mowing 

Water Management 

Nest box maintenance, 

replacement 

Pothole repair and ditch 

maintenance 

Maintain and replace 

water-control 

structures 

Manipulate water level 

Field Management 

Agricultural co-op agreements 

Brush cutting 

Herbicide treatment 

Field Management 

Liming and fertilizing 

Mowing, liming, and fertilizing 

Planting annuals 

Planting grain 

Shrub and Perennial planting 

MAINE 

1 

6 

MASSACHUSETTS 

Deer (1) 

Forest wildlife (1) 

Nongame wildlife (1) 

Ruffed grouse (2) 

Upland game (3) 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Aquatic furbearers (4) 

Waterfowl (1 4) 

Canada goose (2) 

Cottontail rabbit (3) 

Deer (2) 

Pheasants (1 2) 

Ruffed grouse (3) 

Upland wildlife (5) 

Deer (2) 

Pheasant (1 ) 

Quail (1) 

Ruffed grouse (1) 

Upland wildlife (6) 

Woodcock (3) 

Upland wildlife 

Woodcock 

Pheasant (1 ) 

Quail (2) 

Deer (2) 

Upland wildlife (5) 

Upland game 

Deer (1) 

Pheasant (1) 

Waterfowl (1) 

Deer (1) 

Pheasant (1 ) 

Quail (3) 

Ruffed grouse (1) 

Upland wildlife (2) 

Woodcock (1) 

I Continued 

6 
Table 4. (Continued) 

Improvement 

activity 

Number of WMA Principal 

participating benefiting species 

Forest Management 

Removing white pine 

Water management 

Nest box maintenance 

and replacment I 

Maintain and replace 

water-control 

structures 

Manipulate water level 

Field Management 

Field improvement 

Prescribed burning 

Forest Management 

Aspen and alder clearcuts 

Strip clearcuts 

Thinnings 

Water Management 

Nest box maintenance 

and replacement 

Maintain and replace 

water-control 

structures 

Field Management 

Herbacious plantings 

Vegetation control 

Forest Management 

Apple tree release 

Clearings 

Timber management 

Tree and shrub plantings 

Water Management 

Next box maintenance 

and replacement 

Pothole repair 

4 

1 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

24 

RHODE ISLAND 

Maintain and replace water-control 

structures 8 

Snowshoe hare 

Upland wildlife 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Upland wildlife 

Waterfowl 

Upland wildlife 

Deer 

Upland wildlife 

Upland wildlife 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Upland wildlife 

Waterfowl 

Upland wildlife 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Continued I 
Table 4. (Continued) 

Improvement 

activity 

Number of WMA Principal 

participating benefiting species 

VERMONT 

8 

Field Management 

Agricultural leases Canada goose (1) 

Cottontail rabbit (1) 

Deer (5) 

Nongame wildlife (2) 

Ruffed grouse (1) 

Upland wildlife (1) 

Waterfowl (3) 

Wild turkey (1) 

Canada goose 

Cottontail rabbit (1) 

Deer (2) 

Nongame wildlife (1 ) 

Ruffed grouse (1) 

Snowshoe hare (1) 

Waterfowl (1) 

Wild turkey (1) 

Canada goose 

Deer (5) 

Ruffed grouse (2) 

Snowshoe hare (1) 

Agricultural co-op agreements 

Brush hogging 

Planting annuals 

Mowing 

Forest Management 

Apple tree releases 

Aspen management 

Beech ridge management 

Ruffed grouse 

Ruffed grouse 

Bear 

Deer 

Deer 

Ruffed grouse 

Songbirds 

Deer 

Deer (4) 

Ruffed grouse (3) 

Snowshoe hare (1) 

Nongame wildlife 

Beaver 

Deer (1) 

Snowshoe hare (1) 

Deer (4) 

Ruffed grouse (4) 

Snowshoe hare (1) 

Deer (8) 

Ruffed grouse (3) 

Snowshoe hare (1) 

Upland wildlife (1 ) 

Clearings 

Deer yard maintenance 

Patch clearcuts 

Retain snags and den trees 

Strip clearcuts 

Softwood release 

Thinnings 

Timber harvests 

Water Management 

Nest box maintenance 

and replacement 

Maintain and replace 

water-control 

structures 

Manipulate water level 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 

Waterfowl 
Discussion 

With ever increasing developmental pressures on private 

lands drastically altering the New England countryside, 

public ownership is one means of retaining some of the 

environmental attributes that have been at the center of this 

region's appeal. WMA are one form of public ownership 

designed to maintain and enhance wildlife populations 

through habitat management. While habitat enhancement is 

practiced on other public land ownerships, the widely 

scattered, usually smaller WMA are especially important 

because of their geographic distribution. 

Habitat management on WMA provides benefits beyond the 

reaches of their boundaries. Increased wildlife populations 

resulting from enhancement activities on WMA can also 

increase wildlife populations on adjacent lands. For 

example, improving winter habitat for deer can benefit deer 

populations over a much wider area than the winter deer 

yards where they concentrate seasonally. And, adjacent 

lands may benefit from the overlap of ranges of many 

wildlife species where population increases are attributable 

to habitat enchancement. It is obvious that enhancing 

nesting and rearing habitat for migratory birds at one 

location can benefit these species at distant locations. 

WMA also provide a variety of recreational opportunities 

including hunting and wildlife observation in areas where 

wildlands are disappearing or becoming inaccessible to the 

general public. Demonstrations of habitat improvement 

activities on WMA are an excellent means of educating 

landowners, land-use consultants, and managers of other 

public lands. 
Glass, Ronald J. 1989. State-owned wildlife management areas in New 

England. Res. Pap. NE-623. Broomall, PA: US. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Northeastern Experiment Station. 9 p. 

State-owned wildlife management areas play an important role in enhancing 

wildlife populations and providing opportunities for wildlife-related recreational 

activities. In the six New England States there are 271 wildlife management 

areas with a total area exceeding 268,000 acres. A variety of wildlife species 

benefit from habitat improvement activities on these areas. 

ODC 156.2 

Keywords: Wildlife habitat; state-owned areas 
Headquarters of the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station is in Broomall, Pa. 

Field laboratories are maintained at: 

Amherst, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts 

Berea, Kentucky, In cooperation with Berea College 

Burlington, Vermont, in cooperation with the University of Vermont 

Delaware, Ohio 

Durham, New Hampshire, in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire 

Hamden, Connecticut, in cooperation with Yale University 

Morgantown, West Virginia, in cooperation with West Virginia University 

Orono, Maine, in cooperation with the University of Maine 

Parsons, West Virginia 

Princeton, West Virginia. 

Syracuse, New York, in cooperation with the State University of New York, 

College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry at Syracuse University 

University Park, Pennsylvania, in cooperation with The Pennsylvania State Unlversity 

Warren, Pennsylvania 

Persons of any race color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or with any handicapping 

condition are welcome to use and enjoy all facilities, programs, and services of the 

USDA. Discrimination in any form is strictly against agency policy, and should be 

reported to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.