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Wildlife Management Area
Deer Management & Biological Check-in Stations
Every November during Vermont’s youth deer hunting season, check stations across the state are filled with smiling kids and proud parents. Deer are reported, stories shared, and photos taken. But at a handful of check stations, a lot more goes on. Since 1963 the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has annually operated special biological check stations to gather the data needed to monitor the health of the deer herd. This information and other data help state biologists determine science-driven management strategies.
Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area
The centerpiece of the nearly 5,000-acre Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area is Victory Bog. This shrubby, peat-moss wetland is fed by small streams that drain the mountains that ring the basin, which eventually flow into the Moose River. Victory Bog is home to several unusual plants, including the insect-eating pitcher plant. With its diversity of rare bird species and network of maintained trails, Victory Basin attracts bird watchers from across the region. But it also hosts a variety of other outdoor activities.
Pomainville Wildlife Management Area
The Pomainville Wildlife Management Area in Pittsford, VT covers 360 acres of former farmland along the east bank of the Otter Creek. Thanks to partnerships with the Pomainville family, Ducks Unlimited and other conservation groups, this unique property was acquired by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department in 2005, and its diverse habitats are now being managed and restored for the benefit of both fish and wildlife.
West Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Maquam Wildlife Management Area
Plymsbury Wildlife Management Area
Located in the towns of Plymouth and Shrewsbury, the Plymsbury WMA is also nestled within the Coolidge State Forest. These two tracks of state land combined provide a critical link between the southern and northern portions of the Green Mountain National Forest.
Eagle Point Wildlife Management Area
In 2007, a stunning 458-acre parcel on Lake Memphremagog was donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the estate of Michael Dunn. Although it is technically part of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, the property is managed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department as a wildlife management area. Located only 5 miles north of the City of Newport, the undeveloped shoreline is a welcome contrast to the southern end of the lake. In addition to the forested lakeshore habitat, the WMA includes two wetlands and several large meadows.
Sand Bar Wildlife Management Area
The Sandbar Wildlife Management Area was the very first WMA in Vermont. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department purchased this unique piece of property back in 1920. The Sandbar WMA encompasses over 1500 acres and is located in the town of Milton, where the Lamoille River flows into Lake Champlain.
Mud Creek Wildlife Management Area
Mud Creek is a small, sluggish stream that flows from the Canadian border south to Lake Champlain. The WMA consists primarily of a mix of emergent marsh and forested swamp, which provide habitat for a variety of waterfowl, including black ducks, wood ducks, mallards and teal, as well as other wetland birds. Below the marsh, from the dam downstream to the lake, Mud Creek also offers great paddling opportunities as well as fishing. In the fall Mud Creek offers good duck hunting, especially on its main marsh, which is regulated as a controlled hunting area. From September 1st to December 31st it is open only to waterfowl hunters with a valid permit.
Dead Creak Wetlands Management
Vermont has more than 80 state wildlife management areas covering well over 100,000 acres. Management activities on these areas vary by habitat type, but perhaps none are more intensively managed than wetland wildlife management ares. Although wetland areas like the Dead Creek WMA in Addison look often like they do not need any improving, behind the scenes state biologists and volunteers work year-round to make them as attractive and beneficial to wildlife as possible.