One of the Department's most diverse wildlife management areas, Ellis R. Hatch Jr. WMA is comprised of upland forest, with mixed stands and various age classes of hardwoods, hemlock and white pine. It has important deer wintering areas, several ponds and streams, and a network of wetlands for waterfowl. The topography is hilly and steep in places. Three mountains -- Moose, Perkins and Rand -- are located within the WMA. Although there are no clearly marked trails, climbers willing to bushwhack will enjoy nice views from parts of the mountains' ridges.
The ridgeline of the mountains separates the two main water bodies on the property, Jones Pond and Mountain Pond. The 12-acre Mountain Pond is man-made, and Jones Pond was enlarged from a small water body into 20 acres when a prior owner created an earthen dam on Jones Brook. The local name for the original pond is Pocomoonshine, and it is called that on some maps. Jones Pond, stocked with brook trout, is a popular hike-in angling destination and has fly-fishing-only regulations. Mountain Pond is also stocked with brook trout and has single-hook artificial lure and fly-only regulations. Mountain Pond also has a 12-16 inch slot limit on brook trout.
