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WMA · WMU 8T
Erwin Wildlife Management Area for hunters
Everything we could verify about this wma in Steuben County (2,770 acres).
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Erwin Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Erwin Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Acres and location of Erwin WMA
Erwin Wildlife Management Area counts as a DEC wildlife management area; its ground is in Steuben County. It reaches into Erwin, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 8, the office for the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley. Recorded size: 2,770 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 27th among 119 WMAs. The DEC page text gives 2,507 acres instead. The Great Divide plan covers it.
DEC page text: For hunters, there is a variety of game available. White-tailed deer , wild turkey , grey squirrels, raccoons, and ruffed grouse are the primary species. Small marsh pond units provide limited hunting for waterfowl.
From DEC erwin wildlife management area; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Erwin Wildlife Management Area
Erwin WMA and the public land around it
Big pin: Erwin WMA. Nearest other public ground: Erwin Mountain State Forest at 2.3 mi. Together they add 10,475 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin Mountain | State forest | 503 | 8T | 2.3 mi | south |
| Erwin Hollow | State forest | 529 | 8W | 3.5 mi | east |
| McCarthy Hill | State forest | 1,516 | 8X | 5.0 mi | southwest |
| West Hill | State forest | 895 | 8W | 5.7 mi | northeast |
| Meads Creek | State forest | 1,418 | 8W | 6.8 mi | north |
| Dry Run | State forest | 1,330 | 8W | 8.2 mi | northeast |
| Tracy Creek State Forest, | State forest | 568 | 8T | 8.9 mi | west |
| South Bradford | State forest | 1,818 | 8W | 9.4 mi | north |
| Helmer Creek | WMA | 126 | 8T | 9.8 mi | west |
| Cinnamon Lake | State forest | 1,772 | 8W | 10 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Erwin WMA
The Part 51 rules for DEC wildlife management areas apply on Erwin WMA:
- Erwin WMA is not a target range: plinking is prohibited unless posted otherwise.
- You cannot camp on Erwin WMA without written DEC approval.
- Driving off the roads on Erwin WMA needs a permit or posted permission.
- Leave the brush standing and skip permanent stands, blinds or tree steps.
- A stand with your name and address or DEC ID may be left overnight; everything else, cameras included, goes home.
- Written permission is needed to enter parts posted "No Trespassing".
- Boats may not be moored overnight, and fires are only for cooking or warmth.
Beyond the site rules: state law on Erwin WMA
- The orange-or-pink rule covers firearm deer and bear hunters and their companions.
- Boundary houses matter: no gun discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling without consent.
- Bait piles and mineral blocks are not allowed for deer or bear.
- State law no longer limits Sunday hunting anywhere.
From DEC erwin wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Erwin WMA
Erwin WMA lies in WMU 8T, a Southern Zone unit of 385 square miles reaching Steuben. Antlerless permits: 7,500 DMPs targeted for 8T in 2026, 23.1% average success, resident first-permit chance high. 8T bear hunting: Southern Zone. 8T fall turkey: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8T | Southern | 7,500 | 23.1% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer reported from 8T
DEC calculated 3,957 deer taken in 8T in 2022, against 2,428 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,428 | 1,389 |
| 2017 | 2,865 | 1,720 |
| 2018 | 3,254 | 1,730 |
| 2019 | 3,719 | 2,284 |
| 2020 | 4,576 | 1,977 |
| 2021 | 3,636 | 1,891 |
| 2022 | 3,957 | 1,983 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 8T with 24 (2023), 25 (2024), 37 (2025).
Bear management goal in 8T: maintain moderate bear density.
WMU facts from the 2026 DMP table, the 2026-27 DEC guide, DEC deer take reports and the DEC bear harvest dashboard; WMU from the DEC WMU layer; checked October 27, 2026.
Erwin WMA season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 8T and the waterfowl zones over Erwin WMA are listed: 47 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8T | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 8T | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 8T | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8T | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8T | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 8T | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 8T | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8T | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 8T | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 8T | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8T | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8T | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 8T | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 8T | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 8T | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 8T | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 8T | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 8T | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8T | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8T | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8T | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Western Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Western Zone | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | South goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | South goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 11, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Western Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Western Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 8T | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 8T | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 8T | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 8T | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 8T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Mink | Hunting (Southern Zone only) | Southern Zone | Nov 10, 2026 | Apr 7, 2027 | |
| Snapping turtle | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
Season rows from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, matched to the DEC WMU, duck zone and goose area layers; checked October 27, 2026. All New York seasons.
Erwin WMA: species list
6 species groups lead the list for Erwin WMA, each linked to its species page.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Nov 1
Ruffed grouse
Oct 1–Feb 28
Squirrel
Sep 1–Feb 28
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC erwin wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Erwin WMA: lots, pull-offs and map files
11 parking locations serve Erwin WMA, each with coordinates.
| Parking area, lat and lon | Link |
|---|---|
| Smith Road, very large, stone: 42.1762, -77.1735 | Map it |
| Smith Road, next to dirt road: 42.1715, -77.1828 | Map it |
| Weaver Creek Road, dirt area: 42.1589, -77.1548 | Map it |
| Weaver Creek Road, grass area: 42.1581, -77.1570 | Map it |
| Weaver Creek Road, grass area: 42.1501, -77.1570 | Map it |
| Weaver Creek Road, grass / dirt here to pond: 42.1597, -77.1713 | Map it |
| Weaver Creek Road, grass / dirt area: 42.1572, -77.1645 | Map it |
| Weaver Creek Road, dirt area: 42.1630, -77.1508 | Map it |
| Weaver Creek Road, pull off at main gate: 42.1466, -77.1506 | Map it |
| Weaver Creek Road: 42.1473, -77.1565 | Map it |
| Beartown Road, grassy area: 42.1425, -77.1586 | Map it |
Map on file: Erwin Wildlife Management Area Map
Parking points and maps from DEC erwin wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Erwin WMA
Town-level numbers for Erwin WMA: Erwin gave up 233 deer in 2019 (165 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin | Steuben | 153 | 185 | 211 | 221 | 233 | 165 |
County-wide, Steuben produced 15,913 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,001 | 6,380 | 5,245 |
| 2022 | 13,587 | 7,036 | 4,813 |
| 2023 | 14,295 | 6,949 | 4,762 |
| 2024 | 15,595 | 7,787 | 5,922 |
| 2025 | 15,913 | 7,730 | 6,609 |
DEC deer take by town and county (towns 2007-2019), county deer take 2021-2025 and DEC bear take by town; checked October 27, 2026.
Erwin WMA: first and last legal light
Deer and bear may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese close at sunset, and small game runs sunrise to sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:05 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:32 a.m. | 6:16 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 6:16 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:07 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:30 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:38 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:06 a.m. | 8:07 p.m. | 5:36 a.m. to 8:37 p.m. | 5:36 a.m. to 8:07 p.m. |
Hours rule from the DEC guide sunrise and sunset page; sun times calculated for the county centre (NOAA method), checked against the guide’s Albany table; checked October 27, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Erwin WMA trip planning
The quickest town stop is Gang Mills (1.8 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gang Mills | Steuben | 1.8 mi | – | 11,892 |
| Savona | Steuben | 8.9 mi | 671 | 20,040 |
| Bath | Steuben | 14 mi | 5,512 | 11,490 |
| Hammondsport | Steuben | 17 mi | 571 | 13,065 |
Read Erwin WMA alongside its county page: Steuben County.
Erwin WMA: businesses close by
DEC lists 4 licensed guides with an address in Steuben County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Erwin WMA: the nearest DEC offices
Towns and populations from Census 2024 estimates; businesses from store locators and listings; DEC offices and licensed guide counts from DEC. Checked October 27, 2026.
What is planned around Erwin Wildlife Management Area
Checked October 27, 2026: 1 upcoming event at or close to the property (novice pheasant hunt).
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | How far | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Corning Fish and Game Novice Pheasant Hunt · novice pheasant hunt | 5 | Addison | Reserve a spot | Source |
Erwin Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
The three listed ranges closest to Erwin Wildlife Management Area follow; Painted Post Field and Stream leads at 2 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Photos for Erwin WMA
Erwin WMA questions, answered from the record
When does archery open near Erwin WMA?
WMU 8T: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Erwin WMA?
Regular Season: Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 8T).
Which animals are named for Erwin WMA?
Listed: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse, squirrel and furbearers.
How likely is a DMP for Erwin WMA?
Resident first DMP odds in 8T: high; average success 23.1%.
What bear season covers Erwin WMA?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 8T.
What are the spring turkey dates for Erwin WMA?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
How far is Erwin WMA from a town?
Gang Mills, 1.8 mi straight-line.
Can I hunt ducks on Erwin WMA?
The Western Zone opens Oct 10, 2026.
Who may hunt Erwin WMA?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
How do stands work on Erwin WMA?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
What zone and WMU is Erwin WMA?
It is 8T ground, Southern Zone.
What does Erwin WMA measure?
2,770 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
Erwin WMA: confirm these before you go
Print the Erwin WMA map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC erwin wildlife management area · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Mary Witzig (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).