Places to Hunt, Trap, Fish, or Watch Wildlife
On November 3, 2021, New York adopted new regulations governing the Public Use of the Wildlife Management Area system, which became effective January 1, 2022. View the full text of the new WMA regulations (PDF).
Visit any of the state's numerous Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and explore their forests, open fields, streams, ponds, wetlands, and scenic vistas. These are your lands-owned by New York State and operated by the DEC's Bureau of Wildlife.
While there is just one WMA on Long Island (Region 1) and none in New York City (Region 2), there are other public lands available for use in those regions.
- The Bureau of Wildlife manages nearly 150 areas to visit, including about 125 WMAs, several Unique Areas and Multiple Use Areas, and other lands. These properties (known as the WMA System) are scattered across the state for your use and enjoyment. Together, these areas contain around 250,000 acres-including 124,000 acres of forests and grasslands and 53,000 acres of wetlands-providing enough room for a lot of us to get outdoors, have fun, and not get in anyone's way.
- WMAs are organized by DEC region.
- Some activities may require permits and fees. We strongly advise you to call the appropriate DEC Regional wildlife telephone number prior to visiting any WMA. By doing so, you can quickly learn more about a specific area, its uses, and facilities.
Find a list of all WMAs on the Find Places to Go webpage, or search by region below:
- Region 3 WMAs (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Region 4 WMAs (Capital Region/Northern Catskills)
- Region 5 WMAs (Eastern Adirondacks/Lake Champlain)
- Region 6 WMAs (Western/Adirondacks/Eastern Lake Ontario)
- Region 7 WMAs (Central New York)
- Region 8 WMAs (Western Finger Lakes)
- Region 9 WMAs (Western New York)
WMA Regulations
Anyone using a WMA should be aware of the rules governing that particular area. Each WMA has its own webpage that lists featured activities, available facilities, any site-specific restrictions, and a map of the area. Please refer to the webpage or kiosk of each WMA for specific restrictions. For most areas, statewide hunting and fishing regulations as well as statewide WMA regulations (PDF) will apply. In general, prohibited activities include:
- any use of motorized vehicles including motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles (except on town, county or state highway rights-of-way);
- overnight mooring or boat storage; and
- fires except for cooking, warmth, or smudge.
Additional activities that are prohibited (with exceptions under certain conditions) include camping, swimming, and mechanized boating.
Note that in certain cases, however, additional special regulations are also in force. These special regulations can include:
- reductions in hunting hours;
- restrictions on the number of people using the area; and
- increased requirements for sportsmen and women to report on the results of their activities.