The Newfield Management area was renamed the Vernon S. Walker Wildlife Management Area (VWWMA) in August of 1985 in memory of Vernon S. Walker, a former local game warden.
In October of 1947, fire went thru the area. After the fire, inexpensive land was readily available. The deeds for the initial acquisition of land totaling 2,247 acres according to a survey done by R.Parks and D.Holms in 1951 were signed in the fall of 1951 from various owners. Roland Cobb, Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Game at that time, accepted the land for IFG,"having found that the public need requires the taking of land for the purpose of establishing, erecting and operation of a game management area." Records state that the initial land acquisition was acquired with federal funds.
Between 1975 and 1980 an additional 1,707 acres were acquired with money from a State Bonds. The primary purchase in this last acreage acquired was 1100 acres from a retired game warden Vernon Walker who felt the land should remain in its natural state without influence of development. This brought the total acreage that sits in the towns of Newfield and Shapleigh up to 3,954 acres. In recent years, some additional acreage has been purchased in Newfield and currently totals aprox. 4,070 acres.
In a 1975 report, wildlife biologist Philip Bozenhard states that the main objectives for Newfield Wildlife Management Area are to provide for increased wildlife utilization through forest management while maintaining the area's natural integrity. In addition, Newfield will serve as a demonstration area for various wildlife management practices and will provide recreational opportunities for sportsmen and nonsportsmen.
According to an IFW report, in 1989 Mirror Lake in Newfield and Spicer Pond in Shapleigh were added to the Register of Critical Areas. These portions of the Wildlife management area would become known as the Shapleigh Barrens. The Shapleigh Barrens at the time was one of the two largest pitch pine/scrub oaks barrens in Maine. According to the report a single extensive aquifer underlies all sections of the Shapleigh Barrens. Various plants and animals can be found in the Wildlife management area. There are furbearing small game, migratory game and big game. According to the critical areas report 18 species of rare moths and butterflies have been found in portions of the area.