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John White Wildlife Management Area for hunters
Public hunting ground in Genesee County: access rules, WMU 8G seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to John White Wildlife Management Area
John White WMA at a glance
The records class John White Wildlife Management Area as a DEC wildlife management area in Genesee County. Regional staff for the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley (Region 8) look after it. Its 329 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 76th of the 119 WMAs on our New York list.
What DEC writes about hunting here: Hunting is allowed throughout the property. John White WMA is closed to pheasant hunting and dog training on Tuesdays and Fridays during the pheasant hunting season, which opens October 19 and closes December 31. Hunting on the portion of the WMA west of Alleghany Road/Route 77 is restricted to seniors and people with disabilities. A permit through the Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities (MAPPWD) is required for motor vehicle access and a permit is required from the local office for hunting.
From DEC john white 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 John White Wildlife Management Area
Open seasons on John White WMA this year
46 dated seasons for 30 species reach John White WMA, matched to WMU 8G, the Western duck zone and the West Central goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 8G | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8G | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 8G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 8G | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8G | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8G | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 8G | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 8G | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8G | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 8G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 8G | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8G | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8G | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 8G | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 8G | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 8G | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 8G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (cocks only) | WMU 8G | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8G | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8G | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8G | 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 8G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 8G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 8G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 8G | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 8G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 8G | 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.
John White WMA: access and site rules
WMA regulations (6 NYCRR Part 51) govern John White WMA:
- Shooting at targets is not permitted on John White WMA unless posted.
- Camping needs written permission from DEC.
- Motor vehicles stay off the fields and woods unless a permit or sign allows them.
- Permanent structures and anything screwed into a tree are banned, as is cutting plants.
- Nothing stays behind on John White WMA except a stand labeled with your name and address or DEC ID, removed at season end.
- Posted "No Trespassing" units are closed without written DEC permission.
- Moor no boat overnight and light a fire only to cook or warm up.
Rules from the state guide, on John White WMA
- Pink counts the same as orange; firearm deer and bear hunters need 250 square inches or a qualifying hat.
- Keep 500 feet from occupied houses and farm buildings with a gun (250 feet with a crossbow, 150 feet with a bow) unless the owner consents.
- Feeding deer or bear is prohibited at any time, and baited areas are off limits.
- Sunday is a hunting day under state law.
From DEC john white wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at John White WMA
Access to John White WMA starts at 4 DEC parking points.
| Access point, GPS | Link |
|---|---|
| Judge Road parking area #1: 43.0744, -78.3770 | Route |
| Judge Road parking area #2: 43.0747, -78.3937 | Route |
| Alleghany Road parking area #1 with spaces available behind the house: 43.0796, -78.3907 | Route |
| Alleghany Road parking area #2: 43.0789, -78.3920 | Route |
Paper map to print: John White WMA Map
Parking points and maps from DEC john white wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
John White WMA: species list
Game listed for John White WMA: ducks and geese and ring-necked pheasant.
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Nov 1
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 17–Dec 31
Species from DEC john white wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Release days and birds on John White WMA
The 2026 stocking table gives John White WMA 342 pheasants in 4 drops.
| Site name | Access type | Town | Field acres | Hunts stocked | Stockings | Pheasants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John White WMA | Public – open access | Alabama | 212 | Youth, regular | 4 | 342 |
| Week | Birds stocked |
|---|---|
| 10/05 | 42 |
| 10/12 | 66 |
| 10/19 | 84 |
| 10/26 | 84 |
| 11/02 | 66 |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
On release days: 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.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over John White WMA
8G is the Wildlife Management Unit over John White WMA; it covers 686 square miles in Genesee, Monroe and Orleans. DMPs are unlimited in 8G for 2026. For bears, 8G falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 8G: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8G | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 14.1% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
8G deer numbers
Deer take in 8G: 7,649 in 2016, 7,802 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,649 | 2,899 |
| 2017 | 7,032 | 2,907 |
| 2018 | 7,675 | 2,929 |
| 2019 | 7,675 | 3,210 |
| 2020 | 7,448 | 2,676 |
| 2021 | 6,613 | 2,668 |
| 2022 | 7,802 | 2,971 |
DEC's bear objective for 8G: 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.
John White WMA and the public land around it
John White WMA gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Iroquois NWR, 3.6 mi north. The listed neighbors hold 25,706 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois | Wildlife refuge | 10,810 | 8G | 3.6 mi | north |
| Oak Orchard And Tonawanda | WMA | 8,350 | 8G | 4.7 mi | northwest |
| Oak Orchard | WMA | 20 | 8G | 5.6 mi | east |
| Darien Lakes | State park | 1,844 | 8G | 11 mi | south |
| Hartland Swamp | WMA | 402 | 9A | 18 mi | northwest |
| Golden Hill | State park | 372 | 9A | 21 mi | north |
| Carlton Hill | Multiple use area | 2,501 | 9H | 21 mi | southeast |
| Lakeside | State park | 706 | 8A | 21 mi | north |
| Knox Farm | State park | 667 | 9F | 25 mi | southwest |
| Spicer Creek | WMA | 34 | 9A | 26 mi | west |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
John White WMA trip planning
From John White WMA, Oakfield is 5.8 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakfield | Genesee | 5.8 mi | 1,790 | 15,307 |
| Akron | Erie | 7.1 mi | 2,886 | 12,653 |
| Medina | Orleans | 9.8 mi | 5,912 | 19,170 |
| Batavia | Genesee | 12 mi | 15,071 | 1,201 |
The county guide covering John White WMA: Genesee County.
John White WMA: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Genesee County: 2, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for John White 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.
Local deer numbers for John White WMA
Genesee County as a whole recorded 5,191 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,021 | 2,065 | 2,288 |
| 2022 | 5,769 | 2,237 | 2,570 |
| 2023 | 4,806 | 2,072 | 1,964 |
| 2024 | 5,179 | 2,385 | 2,094 |
| 2025 | 5,191 | 2,373 | 2,283 |
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.
Close to John White Wildlife Management Area on the calendar
On the ground itself or nearby: 1 upcoming event, covering NWTF chapter banquet.
On the way
| Held on | Event | Distance | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2027 | Genesee Local Chapter NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 10 | Elba | Event details | Source |
John White Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
It is about 4 miles from John White Wildlife Management Area to Sportsters Rod & Gun Club, the closest range on the list.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
John White WMA shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at John White WMA brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:08 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:36 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 6:18 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:12 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:36 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:44 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:08 a.m. | 8:12 p.m. | 5:38 a.m. to 8:42 p.m. | 5:38 a.m. to 8:12 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.
John White WMA in pictures
John White WMA FAQ for 2026-27
Which WMU rules apply on John White WMA?
WMU 8G; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers John White WMA?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at John White WMA?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
Which animals are named for John White WMA?
The list names ducks and geese and ring-necked pheasant.
What are the spring turkey dates for John White WMA?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at John White WMA?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 8G.
When is duck season at John White WMA?
Western Zone: first split Oct 10 to Nov 1, 2026.
Are there release birds on John White WMA?
Yes: 342 pheasants in 2026.
How far is John White WMA from a town?
Oakfield (5.8 mi).
May I hang a stand for the season on John White WMA?
Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.
Can I hunt John White WMA with just a hunting license?
Yes. It is open to licensed hunters in season.
What size do the sources give John White WMA?
Its size is 329 acres.
John White WMA: confirm these before you go
Print the John White WMA map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC john white 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: MSVG (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).