LeCompte Wildlife Management Area and Kraft Neck Road

LeCompte Wildlife Management Area and Kraft Neck Road

4250 Steele Neck Road
Vienna, Maryland 21869
GPS Coordinates: 38.456502, -75.891599
(410) 376-3236

LeCompte Wildlife Management Area is one of the less popular state hunting areas among birders, despite the fact that it has excellent habitat and biodiversity, and is almost next-door to the enormously popular Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Maybe it’s because LeCompte seems remote, but in truth, LeCompte is only 3 miles south of US Route 50 as the crow flies, and by road, it’s easy to reach via a quick drive of 8 minute/4.8 miles from Vienna, MD, just off Route 50. So why not check it out?

For a double-header, you can also bird along Kraft Neck Road, a dirt-and-sand quiet rural road that forms part of the boundary of LeCompte, and that merits an eBird hotspot of its own, or make it a triple-header and bird all the way through the eastern half of Fishing Bay WMA to the end of Elliott Island Road.

LeCompte WMA is known as prime habitat for the previously endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel; in fact, LeCompte has hosted research on the squirrel and provided the seed population for re-introducing Delmarva Fox Squirrels to parts of their range from which they had disappeared. Provision of habitat for the squirrels is the primary management goal of LeCompte, and this is lucky for birds and birders, because what’s good for the squirrels is good for birds.

LeCompte was chosen as the first site for re-introduction of Wild Turkeys on the Eastern Shore — turkeys disappeared from the entire Eastern Shore over 200 years ago. Other highly visible species at LeCompte include both white-tailed and sika deer.

LeCompte consists of 747 acres, mostly wooded, with mature Loblolly Pines and mixed hardwoods. The wooded areas support Forest Interior Dwelling Species. A forested section of 353 acres is enrolled in the Old Growth Forest Network, which notes that, although the forest is not yet truly old-growth, it does have some very large and impressive trees, including Willow Oak, Loblolly Pine, Swamp White Oak, Sweet Gum, Black Gum, Red Maple, Beech, and Holly.

There are foot-trails that provide access to the woods, from a trailhead at the northernmost parking area on Steele Neck Road. Wear boots, as palustrine (wooded) wetlands cover almost the entire forest, and the trails can be very wet.

There are a few fields planted in wildlife food crops on the east side of Steele Neck Road, behind the cluster of buildings that form the WMA headquarters. The 35-acre field in the southeast corner of this section has been converted to a flooded impoundment for waterfowl. There are trails/dirt roads ringing the fields and impoundment and there is a designated hunting area for disabled individuals (special permit necessary).

On the west side of Steel Neck Road, there is a section of the WMA that borders the Chicamacomico River, and in addition to the natural wetlands in that section, there are some small manmade ponds that provide additional habitat for waterfowl.

Just south of the WMA headquarters, Kraft Neck Road goes east-west between Steele Neck Road and Elliott Island Road at Hollands Crossroads. This quiet, unpaved (dirt and sand) road runs for 3 miles through forests and past fields, and provides excellent birding from or near the car. Parts of the road may be wet or muddy or downright flooded, and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. A good plan is to bird LeCompte WMA first and then bird Kraft Neck Road on your way out.

LeCompte and Kraft Neck Road can be easily combined with birding the eastern half of Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area, aka Elliott Island Road. After birding Kraft Neck Road, simply turn right at Hollands Crossroads to go south on Elliott Island Road.

1. Field Sparrow
2. Wood Duck
3. Winter Wren
4. Eastern Towhee
5. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
6. Swamp Sparrow
7. Eastern Phoebe
8. Red-headed Woodpecker
9. Fox Sparrow
10. Savannah Sparrow

1. Prothonotary Warbler
2. Yellow-throated Warbler
3. Barred Owl
4. Acadian Flycatcher
5. Ovenbird
6. White-eyed Vireo
7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
8. Worm-eating Warbler
9. Prairie Warbler
10. Scarlet Tanager

• Eastern Towhee – found in winter at LeCompte but in breeding season along Kraft Neck Road.
• Horned Lark – breeding in fields along Kraft Neck Rd; wintering at LeCompte.
• Eastern Phoebe – sporadic throughout the year at LeCompte; seen along Kraft Neck Rd but only during breeding season.
• Barred Owl – found in warm months along Kraft Neck Rd but wintering at LeCompte.

Wheelchair Access:

The foot-trails at LeCompte WMA are not wheel-chair accessible. There may be moderately good birding from the four WMA parking areas. The best bet for mobility-impaired individuals is to bird along Kraft Neck Road. There are no restrooms.

Pet Policy:

Non-hunting dogs are allowed on leash; pick up after your pet. Do not allow pets to disturb wildlife by entering the wetlands or other sensitive habitats. Do not allow dogs to chase squirrels.

Special Designations:

LeCompte WMA and the Kraft Neck Road area carry multiple special designations characterizing the importance of the habitats there.

Le Compte WMA and Kraft Neck Road lie within the Southern Dorchester County Important Bird Area (IBA), as designated by the National Audubon Society.  The following description is adapted from the Audubon IBA data: One of the largest Important Bird Areas in Maryland, Southern Dorchester County IBA occupies approximately the southern half of Dorchester County. Called the “Everglades of Maryland,” this IBA is notable for having one of the largest contiguous areas of tidal marsh in the northeastern United States, with vast expanses of both brackish marsh and saltmarsh. Other habitats include loblolly pine, deciduous and mixed forest, which are becoming increasingly subject to tidal influence in southern parts of the IBA, which is arguably one of the most important sites for bird conservation in Maryland.

Part of LeCompte WMA has been designated by the State of Maryland as the Steels Neck Woods Irreplaceable Natural Area (INA), based on the presence of the Delmarva Fox Squirrel and two state-rare species, the Plain-bellied Watersnake and Hoperius planatus (an aquatic diving beetle), in addition to the many acres of habitat for Forest Interior Dwelling Species. Read the INA Description here and see the INA map here.

Most of LeCompte WMA is classified by MD DNR as Tier 2 – Extremely Significant for Biodiversity Conservation on the scale of the Biodiversity Conservation Network, a habitat management tool that provides numerical scores on various habitat and ecosystem measures.

Parts of LeCompte lie within the state-designated Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, and as such are under strong protections from development. Almost the entirety of LeCompte is considered a Sensitive Species Project Review Area, which requires biological surveys before any changes are made that will disrupt the habitat.

LeCompte WMA is within the state-designated Nanticoke Rural Legacy Area, which is located in the heart of the highly acclaimed Nanticoke watershed in Dorchester County. This Nanticoke watershed contains over one-third of all the State’s wetlands and is one of the most pristine and ecologically significant watershed basins in the mid-Atlantic. A greenbelt of exemplary plant and wildlife habitat, prime farmland, and large blocks of working forests is protected along 16 miles of shoreline of the Nanticoke River and Marshyhope Creek. The RLA designation creates growth boundaries around the rural village of Vienna. The Nanticoke RLA links the Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area, the Blackwater Nati0nal Wildlife Refuge, the State of Delaware’s Nanticoke Wildlife Area, and the existing Agriculture Security Corridor – Marshyhope RLA.

The forested part of LeCompte is enrolled in the Old Growth Forest Network.

Special Features:

If you wish to paddle or boat on the Chicamacomico River, a free county-owned public boat ramp is located at New Bridge, where New Bridge Road crosses the river a short distance north of LeCompte. See details and photos, see the Paddle the Nanticoke website.

Local MOS Chapter:

There is no MOS chapter in Dorchester County, but many birders are members of the Talbot Bird Club or the Tri-County Bird Club. Both chapters offer field trips and meetings with informative programs, all free and open to the public. Consult the online calendar on the MOS website for details on meetings, field trips, and other events.

Multimedia:

A few scenes of LeCompte WMA, including its Delmarva Fox Squirrels, are included in a short YouTube video from the MD Department of Natural Resources that takes you on a tour of Eastern Region Wildlife Management Areas.

Parking:

Four parking areas along Steele Neck Road; a street number is only available for the headquarters area. The parking areas are listed below from north to south:

• Parking Area #1 – trailhead for forested area – east side of Steele Neck Road; GPS coordinates: 38.4646361, -75.8864167
• Parking Area #2 – 4420 Steele Neck Road, Vienna, MD 21869, adjacent to the DNR Headquarters buildings on east side of road; GPS Coordinates: 38.456502, -75.891599
• Parking Area #3 – west side of Steele Neck Road; GPS Coordinates 38.452671, -75.892863  There may also be a parking area on the opposite side of the road at this location.
• Parking area #4 – west side of Steele Neck Road; just a small pull-off, room for one or two cars near the Chicamacomico River; a dirt lane leads to the river edge. GPS Coordinates 38.444670, -75.896250

Directions:

LeCompte WMA is located near Vienna in Dorchester County.
Street address: 4250 Steele Neck Road, Vienna, Maryland 21869
GPS Coordinates: 38.456502, -75.891599

From the Western Shore: Use your favorite route to reach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. After crossing the bridge, continue east on US Route 301/US Route 50, then use the right two lanes to take the exit for US Route 50/Ocean Gateway east toward Salisbury and Ocean City. Continue driving east and south on US Route 50/Ocean Gateway, crossing the bridge over the Choptank River to enter the town of Cambridge. About 10 miles after crossing the bridge at Cambridge, turn right (east) onto Salem Road and go just 0.6 miles, then turn right again to go south on Ravenwood Road. In 1.9 miles, turn left to go east on New Bridge Road. (This left turn comes immediately after a woodlot on the left and so may be difficult to see.) Follow New Bridge Road east for 2.4 miles, crossing the Chicamacomico River, and make a sharp right to go south on Steele Neck Road. Parking area #1 for the LeCompte WMA will be on your left (east side of the road) in 1.1 miles, a short distance after the farm driveway on the right. Parking Area #1 is at the trailhead for the foot-trail into the forested section of LeCompte. From Parking Area #1, continue driving south on Steele Neck Road to reach the other parking areas for LeCompte. Kraft Neck Road will be on your left about 0.6 miles past the LeCompte headquarters area.

From points north on the Eastern Shore: Use US Route 301 or MD Route 213 southbound to reach US Route 50 Ocean Gateway, and then follow directions as above from the Western Shore, picking up the directions at the bridge at Cambridge.

From Salisbury or Ocean City: Use your favorite route to reach US Route 50/Ocean Gateway heading west. At Salisbury, use US Route 50/Ocean Gateway/US Route 13 North around the north side of Salisbury. Then continue driving west and north on US Route 50 toward Vienna. After crossing the bridge over the Nanticoke River, follow signs and take the exit for MD Route 331/Rhodesdale-Vienna Road south toward Vienna. In 0.6 miles, turn left onto eastbound Race Street. In one block, turn right onto southbound Market Street. Market Street becomes Elliott Island Road as you leave the town of Vienna. Drive south on Elliott Island Road for just 0.8 miles, then at a fork in the road [landmark: Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church on the left], bear right onto Steele Neck Road. In 1.9 miles, Steel Neck Road comes to another fork, this time with New Bridge Road. Bear left to follow Steele Neck Road; Parking Area #1 for LeCompte WMA will be on your left (east side of road) in 1.1 miles, a short distance after the farm driveway on the right. Parking Area #1 is at the trailhead for the foot-trail into the forested section of LeCompte. From Parking Area #1, continue driving south on Steele Neck Road to reach the other parking areas for LeCompte. Kraft Neck Road will be on your left about 0.6 miles past the LeCompte headquarters area.

From points north in Delaware: Use US Route 113 southbound or US 13 southbound to cross into Maryland and continue south to the interchange with US Route 50. At Route 50, follow signs to get on Route 50/Ocean Gateway heading west toward Salisbury. Approaching Salisbury, stay to the right to take US Route 50/Ocean Gateway/US Route 13 North around the north side of Salisbury. Then follow directions as above from Salisbury.

From points south on Delmarva, such as Pocomoke City or the Eastern Shore of Virginia: Use US Route 13/113 northbound to reach Pocomoke City. At the Route 13/113 split, bear left to continue north on US Route 13. Approaching Salisbury, follow signs to stay on US Route 13 North – DO NOT TAKE US Route 13 Business. As you travel around the east side of Salisbury, US Route 13 Northbound will merge with US Route 50/Ocean Gateway Westbound. Continue traveling west on UR Route 50 and follow directions as above from Salisbury.

Nearby Sites:

Dorchester County: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge ■ Cambridge – Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park (Dorchester County Side) ■ Cambridge – Great Marsh Park ■ Cambridge – Oakley Street ■Cambridge – Sailwinds Park & Visitor Center ■ Chesapeake Forest – North Tara Road ■ Elliott Island Road / Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area (Eastern Section) ■ Hooper’s Island ■ Taylor’s Island

Habitats:

Bottomland Deciduous ForestsConifersHedgerows Agricultural Crop Fields or Fallow FieldsOld Fields, Shrubby Meadows Forested SwampFreshwater Pond, Lake, or ReservoirRivers & StreamsSalt or Brackish Marsh

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