Huntington Gap Wildlife Management Area

General Description Shrub species include hobblebush, striped and mountain Huntington Gap Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is maples, red-berried elderberry and mountain ash. Over 50 a 1,568-acre parcel located in the towns of Huntington, kinds of herbaceous species – including blue cohosh, wild Buels Gore and Fayston. It is adjacent to Camel’s Hump sarsaparilla, mountain aster, Canada-violet, sweet cicely, State Park. It lies mainly on the west side of the main range dogberry, red trillium wood-nettle, foam flower, twisted- of the between Burnt Rock Mountain and stalk, wild lily-of-the-valley and wood-sorrel occur here. Molly , including a low saddle known as Some of the ferns on the WMA are spinulose wood-fern and Huntington Gap. The Long , Catamount Trail and a rattlesnake, Christmas, Braun’s holly and hay-scented ferns. VAST snowmobile trail cross portions of the WMA. The WMA is owned by the State of and managed by Common Fish and Wildlife the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Timber rights on Mammals Huntington Gap WMA is part of a much larger most of the WMA are owned by A. Johnson Lumber forested tract; therefore, there is the opportunity for Company. backcountry experience. There is hunting for large game – moose, white-tailed deer and black bear. There are good History stands of beech that support a healthy bear population. The lower elevations of the WMA once were farmed, Furbearers include coyote, fisher, bobcat, raccoon and mink. but mainly this area was used for logging after European Snowshoe hare, masked shrew, deer and white-footed mice, settlement. There was a road through Huntington Gap which woodland jumping mouse, chipmunk and red squirrel are connected Huntington with Fayston and Waitsfield. This some of the smaller mammals that can be found. road is still used and maintained by snowmobilers, but is closed to wheeled traffic. The State of Vermont acquired most of the land from Frances Dutton in 1964. State funds generated from the sale of hunting licenses financed the earlier purchases. The Phillips parcel was added in 2000, which connects Huntington Gap WMA with Lewis Creek WMA, forming a large contiguous tract of public land. Federal Pittman- Robertson funds, which are generated from a tax on firearms and ammunition, were used for this parcel.

Habitat Features The WMA is completely forested. Elevations vary from 1,800 to 2,800 feet. Baker’s Brook flows through the southwest section of the property. The WMA supports a mix of northern hardwood forest and transitional yellow birch–red spruce forest. Red and sugar maple, yellow birch, Bears climb beech trees to get to beech, hemlock, red spruce, balsam fir and mountain paper the beechnuts. VFWD photo. birch are common tree species. Birds Ruffed grouse and turkey may be hunted in season. Expect to find forest-interior bird species of both hardwood and mixed hardwood and softwood habitats. Several warblers are present, including black-throated blue warblers, Blackburnian warblers, Canada warblers, and black and white warblers. Woodpeckers of several varieties may be found. Raptors include Cooper’s hawks and barred owls. Many other raptor species pass through during migration.

Reptiles and Amphibians Amphibians that may be found on the WMA are eastern newts, red-backed, spotted, northern dusky and spring salamanders, wood frogs, American toads and gray treefrogs. Garter and red-bellied snakes are two Beechnuts are a major food source for bear reptiles occurring here. and other species. VFWD photo. Fish There are brook trout in Baker’s Brook.

Huntington Gap WMA is open to regulated hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Huntington Gap Wildlife Management Area

463000 " 464000 465000 466000 467000

MOODY RD CHARLIE SMITH RD " " Camels Hump " " 196000 State Park 196000 "

1250 " 1500 " 2750 MAIN RD " " 1000 " "

"

" " " "" " " 2000

" Catamount Trail

" 2750

" " " " 2500 195000 " 195000 " Long Trail " "

" " " " " " CARSE RD " " Jones Brook Cowles Cove " " " Shelter !7 " " " " " " " " " " ![i 2250 " " " " " " 1250 " Huntington " " " " " " " " 1500 " " "" " " " " 1000 " " " " " " " " " " " " 1750 "

194000 2500 194000 " " " " " " " " " "

" " " " "

" "

" WEAVER" RD " " " " " 2250 " " " Long Trail Birch Glen !7 " Camp " 193000 " 193000 " "

" " " " "

" " " " " " " Lewis Creek 2500 Fayston 2750

HuntingtonWMA River

GORERD

2750

Camels Hump 192000 " State Park 192000

" " " "

" 1500 Molly Stark Mtn " " 2967 X 2000 " Buels Gore " "

" 1500 "

Starksboro 17 " " ¬ " « 191000 191000 " Long Trail 1750 2750

" " " 463000 464000 465000 466000 467000

Huntington Gap WMA: 1,568 acres Wildlife Management Area Other Public Land î 0 0.25 0.5 1 Æ Boat Ramp

Private w/ Public Access % $) Gate Miles ![ Wildlife Viewing Areas !9 Designated Camp Site This map is for illustrative purposes only. The accuracy of the data During Big Game layers shown on this map are limited by the accuracy of the source !| Car-top Access materials. No warranty as to the accuracy or the usefullness of the Seasons Only data is expressed or implied. / !i Parking