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WMA · the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley
Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
Seasons and access for hunting in Steuben County: white-tailed deer, small game and ring-necked pheasant.
Photo: Mary Witzig (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area
Helmer Creek WMA: size, towns and manager
Listed as a DEC wildlife management area, Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area lies in Steuben County. On the ground it lies within Rathbone. The DEC region is Region 8 (the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley). It measures 126 acres, per DEC Lands layer ACRES. Size rank: 95th of 119 WMAs. DEC groups it in the Canisteo River Basin planning unit.
In DEC's words: White-tailed deer and a variety of small game species offer ample hunting opportunities.
From DEC helmer creek 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 Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area
Helmer Creek WMA hunting calendar
Season windows for Helmer Creek WMA, filtered from the 2026-27 guide by WMU 8T and the Western waterfowl zone.
| Species | Segment | Where | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
How you may hunt Helmer Creek WMA
Expect the standard WMA rules (6 NYCRR Part 51) on Helmer Creek WMA:
- Target shooting needs a posted exception on Helmer Creek WMA.
- Camping on Helmer Creek WMA is by written permission only.
- Off-road travel by vehicle requires a permit or a posted route.
- Hardware in trees, permanent blinds and cut vegetation are all prohibited.
- Take your belongings out each day (trail cameras too), except a stand marked with your name and address or DEC ID, which may stay until season end.
- Areas posted "No Trespassing" need written DEC permission to enter.
- Fires are limited to cooking and warmth, and boats cannot stay moored overnight.
New York rules that apply on Helmer Creek WMA too
- Firearm deer and bear hunters, and anyone with them, wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist, or a hat that is at least half orange or pink.
- Mind the 500-foot firearm setback from dwellings and farm buildings near the boundary.
- Bait, salt licks and mineral attractants are illegal for deer and bear, and feeding them is banned year-round.
- Sundays are open statewide; only a site rule can close them.
From DEC helmer creek wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Parking and maps for Helmer Creek WMA
Helmer Creek WMA has 2 listed parking spots on the DEC page.
| Lot or pull-off | Map |
|---|---|
| Canisteo River Road, grass area: 42.1752, -77.3497 | Directions |
| Route 24 / Cameron Mills Risingville Road, dirt road area: 42.1761, -77.3478 | Directions |
Boundary map file: Helmer Creek WMA Map
Parking points and maps from DEC helmer creek wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Helmer Creek WMA game species
3 game groups are named for Helmer Creek WMA; each card shows the main 2026-27 window for its WMU.
Species from DEC helmer creek wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Helmer Creek WMA pheasant releases for 2026
DEC stocks pheasants on Helmer Creek WMA: 0 releases in 2026 adding up to 228 birds.
| Site | Access rule | Town | Field acres | Stocking | Events | Birds released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helmer Creek WMA | Public – open access | Rathbone | – | Youth, regular | – | 228 |
| Week | Pheasants released |
|---|---|
| 10/05 | 31 |
| 10/12 | 38 |
| 10/19 | 52 |
| 10/26 | 45 |
| 01/05 | 31 |
| 01/12 | 31 |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
Note for bird hunters: Closed to pheasant hunting on Tuesdays and Fridays.
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
WMU 8T rules that reach Helmer Creek WMA
WMU 8T is the unit that counts for Helmer Creek WMA: Southern Zone, 385 square miles, in Steuben. 7,500 Deer Management Permits are the 2026 goal for 8T (average success 23.1%; resident first DMP: high). Bear rules in 8T follow the Southern Zone area. 8T fall turkey season: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 DMPs | Avg success | 1st DMP odds | 3-point rule | Deer | Bear area | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8T | Southern | 7,500 | 23.1% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
8T: deer by season
The 8T deer take moved from 2,428 (2016) to 3,957 (2022).
| Year | Deer taken | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
8T bear take by year: 2020 29; 2021 17; 2022 9; 2023 24; 2024 25; 2025 37.
8T bear objective: 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.
Helmer Creek WMA pinned with nearby tracts
Around Helmer Creek WMA lie 10 more public tracts; Cameron Mills State Forest is the closest (1.7 mi). Combined: 11,835 acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | WMU | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Mills | State forest | 544 | 8T | 1.7 mi | northwest |
| Tracy Creek State Forest, | State forest | 568 | 8T | 2.3 mi | south |
| Cameron | State forest | 1,966 | 8T | 4.9 mi | northwest |
| West Cameron | WMA | 165 | 8T | 5.0 mi | northwest |
| McCarthy Hill | State forest | 1,516 | 8X | 9.6 mi | southeast |
| Erwin | WMA | 2,770 | 8T | 9.8 mi | east |
| Erwin Mountain | State forest | 503 | 8T | 10 mi | east |
| Moss Hill | State forest | 1,856 | 8W | 11 mi | northeast |
| Meads Creek | State forest | 1,418 | 8W | 13 mi | northeast |
| Erwin Hollow | State forest | 529 | 8W | 13 mi | east |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Helmer Creek WMA: nearby towns and services
Head to Savona, 9.7 mi off, for supplies.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savona | Steuben | 9.7 mi | 671 | 20,040 |
| Bath | Steuben | 11 mi | 5,512 | 11,490 |
| Gang Mills | Steuben | 12 mi | – | 11,892 |
| Hammondsport | Steuben | 17 mi | 571 | 13,065 |
County pages that list Helmer Creek WMA: Steuben County.
Helmer Creek WMA: businesses close by
The DEC licensed guide list counts 4 in Steuben County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Helmer Creek WMA
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.
Helmer Creek WMA: town and county harvest
Deer take for the town of Rathbone reached 375 in 2019, per DEC.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rathbone | Steuben | 206 | 214 | 245 | 286 | 375 | 239 |
Black bears by town: Rathbone, 2020, 2; Rathbone, 2022, 1.
Across Steuben County, DEC counted 15,913 deer taken in 2025.
| Season | Total | 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.
Events on or near Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area
1 upcoming event here or close by as of October 27, 2026.
Dated ahead
| On | Listing | Mi | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Corning Fish and Game Novice Pheasant Hunt · novice pheasant hunt | 10 | Addison | Reserve a spot | Source |
Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
Addison Fish & Game Club is the closest listed range to Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area, about 9 miles away; no public range lies within 60 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Helmer Creek WMA: first and last legal light
Spring turkey hunting ends at noon, fall turkey and upland birds run sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the half hour on each end.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Helmer Creek WMA in pictures
Helmer Creek WMA: short answers
What species go with Helmer Creek WMA?
Named game: white-tailed deer, small game and ring-necked pheasant.
How many DMPs are there for the WMU around Helmer Creek WMA?
7,500 DMPs are targeted for 8T, with 23.1% average success.
Is Helmer Creek WMA in a bear hunting area?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Is there a spring gobbler season at Helmer Creek WMA?
It opens May 1, 2027 and ends May 31, 2027.
How far is Helmer Creek WMA from a town?
Savona is 9.7 mi away.
Can I hunt stocked pheasants on Helmer Creek WMA?
228 birds are scheduled for 2026.
What do I need to hunt Helmer Creek WMA?
Open in season to anyone with a New York hunting license.
Are tree stands allowed on Helmer Creek WMA?
Only portable stands: no hardware in trees, label it, take it out when the season closes.
Which unit sets deer dates for Helmer Creek WMA?
8T, a Southern Zone unit.
What does Helmer Creek WMA measure?
126 acres on file.
When does bow season start on Helmer Creek WMA?
Early Bowhunting: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the main deer season run on Helmer Creek WMA?
The regular Season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
Helmer Creek WMA: what to double-check
Confirm access and permits for Helmer Creek WMA before the drive.
Sources: DEC helmer creek wildlife management area · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); z2amiller (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).