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WMA · 2026-27
Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area hunting rules, seasons and access
WMA of 792 acres in Ontario County, hunted under WMU 8H dates, for ring-necked pheasant.
Photo: Marco Zanferrari (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 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 · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 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.
Honeoye Creek WMA at a glance
Hunters find Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area, a DEC wildlife management area, in Ontario County. DEC places it in the town of Richmond. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 8, which spans the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley. The acreage used here is 792, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 52 by size out of 119 WMAs. The written DEC description uses 717 acres. DEC plans it under the Northern Finger Lakes unit management plan.
Hunting section, quoted: Hunting is allowed within Honeoye Creek WMA.
From DEC honeoye 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 Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area
Honeoye Creek WMA: access and site rules
Honeoye Creek WMA is run under the wildlife management area rules in 6 NYCRR Part 51:
- No target practice on Honeoye Creek WMA except where DEC posts that it is allowed.
- No camping without a written OK from DEC.
- Off-road vehicles are allowed only by permit or posting.
- Vegetation stays uncut, and permanent blinds, stands or tree hardware are not allowed.
- Personal property, trail cameras among it, must leave with you; a marked stand can stay for the season.
- Stay out of any section posted "No Trespassing" unless DEC gives written approval.
- Keep fires small and for cooking or heat; boats leave at night.
Laws every Honeoye Creek WMA hunter carries in
- Gun hunters after deer or bear wear orange or pink: 250 square inches above the waist or a mostly orange or pink hat.
- The discharge setback is 500 feet for guns, 250 feet for crossbows and 150 feet for bows from homes, farm buildings, schools and churches.
- Hunting over bait is illegal; scents and lures are allowed.
- There is no Sunday ban in New York; some parks set their own.
From DEC honeoye creek wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Honeoye Creek WMA: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Honeoye Creek WMA (8H); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 8H | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 8H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 8H | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 8H | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 8H | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 8H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 8H | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 8H | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 8H | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 8H | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 8H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (cocks only) | WMU 8H | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8H | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8H | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8H | 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 | West Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | West Central goose area | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| 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 8H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 8H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 8H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 8H | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 8H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 8H | 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.
Honeoye Creek WMA and WMU 8H: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Honeoye Creek WMA is WMU 8H ground (Southern Zone, 574 sq. mi. across Livingston, Ontario and Monroe). DEC lists 8H as unlimited for DMPs this year. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8H | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 18.6% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 8H deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 8H 6,708 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,312 | 2,649 |
| 2017 | 6,386 | 2,460 |
| 2018 | 6,936 | 2,493 |
| 2019 | 6,552 | 2,742 |
| 2020 | 7,420 | 2,594 |
| 2021 | 6,582 | 2,721 |
| 2022 | 6,708 | 2,690 |
Recent bear numbers for 8H: 2022: 0, 2023: 0, 2024: 0, 2025: 0.
Objective for bears in 8H: maintain infrequent bear presence.
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.
Honeoye Creek WMA: species list
Hunters come to Honeoye Creek WMA for ring-necked pheasant above all.
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 17–Dec 31
Species from DEC honeoye creek wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Honeoye Creek WMA: DEC pheasant release site
Expect stocked birds: DEC plans 0 releases and 211 pheasants on Honeoye Creek WMA this fall.
| Site | Property type | Town | Fields (ac) | Type | Events | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeoye Creek WMA | Public – open access | – | Regular | – | 211 |
| Stocking week | Pheasants |
|---|---|
| 10/12 | 30 |
| 10/19 | 64 |
| 10/26 | 87 |
| 11/02 | 30 |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
Special rule: 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.
Honeoye Creek WMA access points
The DEC directions name 3 places to leave a truck at Honeoye Creek WMA.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| County Road 36, behind buildings: 42.7914, -77.5162 | Navigate |
| County Route 15: 42.8269, -77.5283 | Navigate |
| County Route 37, parking area: 42.8064, -77.5326 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Honeoye Creek WMA Map
Open Honeoye Creek WMA in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC honeoye creek wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Honeoye Creek WMA pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Honeoye Creek WMA and 10 neighbors; Stid Hill WMA sits 8.1 mi off. The tracts listed total 21,907 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stid Hill | WMA | 1,035 | 8N | 8.1 mi | southeast |
| Hemlock-Canadice | State forest | 7,060 | 8N | 8.7 mi | southwest |
| Honeoye Inlet | WMA | 2,763 | 8N | 9.4 mi | south |
| Harriet Hollister Spencer Recreation | State park | 1,597 | 8N | 9.7 mi | south |
| Ganondagan | Historic site | 569 | 8H | 10 mi | northeast |
| Rush Oak Openings | Unique area | 240 | 8H | 12 mi | northwest |
| Conesus Inlet | WMA | 1,142 | 8M | 12 mi | southwest |
| Bare Hill | Unique area | 564 | 8N | 13 mi | southeast |
| Skenoh Island | WMA | – | 8N | 13 mi | east |
| High Tor | WMA | 6,937 | 8N | 16 mi | southeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Honeoye Creek WMA
The town of Richmond, where Honeoye Creek WMA lies, produced 673 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | Ontario | 753 | 737 | 637 | 851 | 673 | 283 |
DEC puts the 2025 Ontario County deer take at 6,138.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,991 | 2,572 | 2,663 |
| 2022 | 6,835 | 2,854 | 2,913 |
| 2023 | 5,891 | 2,496 | 2,452 |
| 2024 | 5,998 | 2,722 | 2,446 |
| 2025 | 6,138 | 2,881 | 2,642 |
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.
Honeoye Creek WMA: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Honeoye, about 2.8 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeoye | Ontario | 2.8 mi | – | 11,068 |
| Hemlock | Livingston | 4.6 mi | – | 10,833 |
| Canandaigua | Ontario | 13 mi | 10,476 | 332 |
| Geneseo | Livingston | 14 mi | 7,722 | 2,900 |
Season tables by county for Honeoye Creek WMA: Ontario County.
Honeoye Creek WMA: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 20 licensed guides in Ontario County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Honeoye 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.
Scheduled near Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area
1 upcoming event held on this property or within about 10 miles (veterans pheasant hunt). Checked October 27, 2026.
Next on the list
| Dates | What | Miles | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2026 | Dansville Fish and Game Veterans Pheasant Hunt · veterans pheasant hunt | 9 | Reserve a spot | Source |
Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
Hunters on Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Hol-Field Rod & Gun Club (8 miles), the nearest listing; public ranges are all more than 60 miles off.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Honeoye Creek WMA shooting hours by key date
East and west matter: sunrise in Buffalo comes about 20 minutes after sunrise in Albany, so use local times for Honeoye Creek WMA.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:00 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 6:30 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. | 6:15 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:08 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:32 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:40 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:04 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 5:34 a.m. to 8:38 p.m. | 5:34 a.m. to 8:08 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.
Honeoye Creek WMA in pictures
Answers on Honeoye Creek WMA access and seasons
When are pheasants stocked at Honeoye Creek WMA?
DEC plans 211 birds here in 2026.
When is bear season at Honeoye Creek WMA?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 8H).
Can I use screw-in steps on Honeoye Creek WMA?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is Honeoye Creek WMA from a town?
Honeoye, about 2.8 mi away.
How does access work on Honeoye Creek WMA?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Do I need orange or pink on Honeoye Creek WMA?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Which WMU rules apply on Honeoye Creek WMA?
Southern Zone, WMU 8H.
Is Honeoye Creek WMA a large property?
792 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Honeoye Creek WMA?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Honeoye Creek WMA?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
When is spring turkey season at Honeoye Creek WMA?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
What game does the source list for Honeoye Creek WMA?
Ring-necked pheasant.
Honeoye Creek WMA: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Honeoye Creek WMA can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC honeoye 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); marcn (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).