Myrtle Grove WMA

Area Regulations  View Map of WMA  Directions  Special Areas  Non-hunting Users  Site Management Goals  Guide to Hunting and Trapping

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Located in western-central Charles County, Myrtle Grove WMA contains hardwood forests, wildlife plantings, natural and man-made wetlands and early succession habitats. This 1,723-acre tract is located in the forested bottomlands of Mattawoman Creek and was once home to the Piscataway Indians.  Myrtle Grove WMA is dominated by mature upland and bottomland forests consisting of oaks, hickories, maples, sycamores, poplars, beech, and several other tree species.

What To See
The mature riparian forest along the Mattawoman is home to the barred owl, a species particularly fond of this type of habitat. The barred owl's call, which sounds like "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all!" can be heard in the early evenings as the birds call back and forth to each other. Mature hardwoods, green-tree reservoirs, lakes, ponds, streams, and early succession habitats surround many of the trails and support a rich variety of wildlife species.

What To Do
Visitors will find a 23-acre lake, a 10-acre pond, two green-tree reservoirs, and numerous streams on Myrtle Grove WMA. The 23-acre Myrtle Grove Lake and the greentree reservoirs yield a bountiful harvest of large-mouth bass, bluegills, pickerel and catfish. Here, anglers will find year-round fishing and easy access. Sportsmen can pursue white-tailed deer, squirrels, woodcock, rabbits, quail, waterfowl, mourning doves, wild turkeys and other game species. Check out a map of the area.

Area Regulations

• Use of Myrtle Grove WMA is generally permitted seven days a week throughout the year.
• Hunting is allowed in accordance with open seasons, shooting hours, and bag limits.
• Trapping is by permit only.
• Motorized vehicles are prohibited.

Non-hunting Uses

• Non-hunting visitors are welcome.
• Be aware of open hunting seasons and visit accordingly.
• Fishing for large-mouth bass, bluegills, pickerel, catfish is available in the 23-acre lake and the 10-acre pond. 
• Trout are stocked in the 23-acre lake on a seasonal basis.
• There is a series of roads and trails that receive varying degrees of maintenance.

Special Areas

• An eight-station firearm shooting range, trap range, and three-station archery range are open for public use by permit.  Rifle, shotgun and pistol target shooting are permitted. The range is closed during deer firearms season.

• Range permits vary in cost and can be obtained from Myrtle Grove WMA, Hallowing Point Regional Service Center in Prince Frederick, or the Tawes State Office Building in Annapolis.

• Wood ducks and other waterfowl flock to the flooded-forest areas, called "greentree" reservoirs. These are deliberately flooded in the fall and winter while the trees are dormant. The nuts and seeds dropped by the trees are used by migrating and wintering waterfowl.

Site Management Practices

• Myrtle Grove provides critical habitat for all types of wildlife from the ever-popular white-tailed deer and the majestic barred owl, to fish, turtles, upland game, forest game, waterfowl and migratory birds.
• Approximately 15 of acres are kept in wildlife plantings and early succession vegetation to provide habitat and food for upland wildlife.
• White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, mourning doves, bobwhite quail, cottontail rabbits, songbirds and waterfowl routinely use these managed areas.
• Two green-tree reservoirs were built to provide food and wintering habitat for waterfowl.
• More than 100 wood duck and bluebird nest boxes are present.  
• The fields and forested areas are burned in rotation to perpetuate native vegetation and provide excellent turkey brood habitat.
  

Directions
Myrtle Grove WMA is located in Charles County about 5 miles west of LaPlata on MD 225. Take U.S. Rt. 301 south to MD 225, about 5 miles south of Waldorf. Go west on MD 225 to Myrtle Grove WMA. For additional information contact the Myrtle Grove Work Center at (301) 743-5161

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This area is a part of Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources public land system and is managed by the Wildlife and Heritage Service. The primary mission of the WMA system is to conserve and enhance wildlife populations and their respective habitats as well as to provide public recreational use of the State’s wildlife resources.

Eighty-five percent of the funding for Maryland's state wildlife programs comes from hunting license fees and a federal excise tax on sport hunting devices and ammunition. The federal aid funds are derived from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (or Pittman-Robertson) Fund, which sportsmen and women have been contributing to since 1937. Each state receives a share of the funds, which is administered by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; these funds are used for wildlife conservation and hunter education programs, including the management of the WMA system.

Other sources of funds for land acquisition include Program Open Space Funding for Maryland's State and local parks and conservation areas, provided through The Department of Natural Resources' Program Open Space. Established in 1969, Program Open Space symbolizes Maryland's long-term commitment to conserving natural resources while providing exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities.

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Last Updated November 1, 2007