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WMA · Region 9
Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Area: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wma in Cattaraugus County, 971 acres.
Photo: seabamirum (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Area
Where Poverty Hill WMA is and who runs it
Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Area sits in Cattaraugus County, filed as a DEC wildlife management area. Its towns are Ellicottville and Mansfield. Region 9 of DEC covers it, along with the rest of western New York. 971 acres are on record from DEC Lands layer ACRES. Sorted by acreage, the 119 WMAs put it 49th.
The property page says: Hunting is allowed on Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Area.
From DEC poverty hill 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 Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Area
Poverty Hill WMA pinned with nearby tracts
The nearest public land to Poverty Hill WMA is Dobbins State Forest, 4.6 mi away to the southwest. Combined: 17,896 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dobbins | State forest | 1,104 | 9M | 4.6 mi | southwest |
| Rock City And McCarty | State forest | 6,298 | 9M, 9R | 5.7 mi | south |
| Cattaraugus | State forest | 1,061 | 9M | 6.0 mi | west |
| Bryant Hill | State forest | 511 | 9M | 6.7 mi | east |
| Elkdale | State forest | 432 | 9R | 7.4 mi | southwest |
| Boyce Hill | State forest | 979 | 9M | 8.5 mi | east |
| Raecher Hill | State forest | 842 | 9T | 8.7 mi | southeast |
| East Otto | State forest | 2,082 | 9H, 9M | 9.6 mi | northwest |
| Golden Hill | State forest | 2,306 | 9T | 9.9 mi | southeast |
| Bucktooth | State forest | 2,281 | 9R | 11 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Poverty Hill WMA regulations, plainly
Part 51 of 6 NYCRR lays out what is allowed on Poverty Hill WMA:
- Target shooting on Poverty Hill WMA is banned unless a posted range allows it.
- Written permission from DEC comes before any camp.
- Vehicles leave the roads only where a permit or posting allows.
- No cutting vegetation and no permanent structures, blinds, stands or hardware in trees.
- Only labeled stands (name and address or DEC ID) may stay on Poverty Hill WMA overnight, and they come out at season end; other gear leaves with you.
- Signs reading "No Trespassing" close those parts without written permission.
- Overnight mooring is banned and fires serve only cooking or warmth.
State law reminders for Poverty Hill WMA
- Fluorescent orange or pink (250 square inches above the waist, or a hat at least half orange or pink) is required for anyone hunting deer or bear with a gun.
- Firearms may not be discharged within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, farm building, school, playground or church without permission; bows 150 feet, crossbows 250 feet.
- No baiting for big game, upland birds, turkey or waterfowl, and no salt or mineral licks for deer or bear.
- New York allows hunting on Sundays in every county.
From DEC poverty hill wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 9M facts for Poverty Hill WMA
The WMU map puts Poverty Hill WMA in 9M; 9M spans 330 square miles of Cattaraugus. DEC set a 2026 target of 6,300 Deer Management Permits for 9M; average DMP success there runs 16.5%, and a resident's first DMP chance is rated high. Southern Zone bear rules cover 9M. The fall turkey window for 9M is Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Deer zone | DMP goal | Success rate | Odds (resident) | APR | Implements | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9M | Southern | 6,300 | 16.5% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer take in WMU 9M
9M yielded 2,701 deer in 2022; the WMU tables stop at 2022.
| Year | Total | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,063 | 1,466 |
| 2017 | 2,768 | 1,427 |
| 2018 | 3,099 | 1,502 |
| 2019 | 3,115 | 1,562 |
| 2020 | 3,453 | 1,256 |
| 2021 | 2,539 | 1,319 |
| 2022 | 2,701 | 1,206 |
The 2025 bear harvest in 9M came to 15.
DEC's bear plan for 9M reads "Maintain low 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.
Every season window on Poverty Hill WMA
32 species have open dates on Poverty Hill WMA this license year; the table holds 47 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 9M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 9M | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 9M | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 9M | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 9M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 9M | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 9M | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 9M | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 9M | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 9M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 9M | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 9M | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9M | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9M | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9M | 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 9M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 9M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 9M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 9M | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 9M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 9M | 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.
Getting into Poverty Hill WMA: parking and maps
Map download: Poverty Hill WMA Map
Parking points and maps from DEC poverty hill wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Poverty Hill WMA: town and county harvest
DEC's last take-by-town table (2019) credits the town of Ellicottville with 267 deer, 162 of them adult bucks.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellicottville | Cattaraugus | 475 | 541 | 458 | 262 | 267 | 162 |
| Mansfield | Cattaraugus | 331 | 314 | 295 | 347 | 401 | 194 |
Bears reported by town: Ellicottville 1 in 2020; Ellicottville 1 in 2021; Ellicottville 2 in 2022; Mansfield 1 in 2021.
Cattaraugus County deer, 2025: 9,661.
| Year | County deer | Adult bucks | Adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,728 | 4,112 | 2,907 |
| 2022 | 8,844 | 3,994 | 3,609 |
| 2023 | 7,729 | 3,871 | 2,680 |
| 2024 | 8,337 | 4,672 | 2,822 |
| 2025 | 9,661 | 5,225 | 3,586 |
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.
Poverty Hill WMA hunting-hour table
Sun times below are calculated for Poverty Hill WMA; the game column adds the big game half hour and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and bear | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:10 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:37 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:12 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:35 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:43 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:11 a.m. | 8:12 p.m. | 5:41 a.m. to 8:42 p.m. | 5:41 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.
Poverty Hill WMA: nearby towns and services
Ellicottville is the nearest town with its own page, 3.1 mi from Poverty Hill WMA.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellicottville | Cattaraugus | 3.1 mi | 282 | 17,011 |
| Little Valley | Cattaraugus | 6.8 mi | 1,073 | 12,080 |
| Salamanca | Cattaraugus | 11 mi | 5,757 | 14,819 |
| Franklinville | Cattaraugus | 13 mi | 1,644 | 9,456 |
Poverty Hill WMA falls inside these county guides: Cattaraugus County.
Poverty Hill WMA: businesses close by
4 licensed guides are registered in Cattaraugus County, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Poverty Hill 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.
Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
Nearest range to Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Area: Auge's Archery, roughly 9 miles. DEC has no firearm range, and no local public range is close.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Poverty Hill WMA in pictures
Poverty Hill WMA: short answers
How long is spring turkey on Poverty Hill WMA?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, with shooting until noon.
When does bear hunting open near Poverty Hill WMA?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Which town page is closest to Poverty Hill WMA?
Ellicottville, about 3.1 mi away.
What are the stand rules on Poverty Hill WMA?
No permanent stands or screw-in steps; a labeled portable stand may stay during the season.
What colors are required at Poverty Hill WMA in gun season?
Orange or pink, 250 square inches, when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
What time does hunting end at Poverty Hill WMA?
Big game ends 30 minutes after sunset; upland birds at sunset.
How does access work on Poverty Hill WMA?
No special permit is listed; a valid license and the open seasons are what count.
What does Poverty Hill WMA measure?
About 971 acres by the source used here.
Which WMU rules apply on Poverty Hill WMA?
WMU 9M, in the Southern Zone.
When does the main deer season run on Poverty Hill WMA?
WMU 9M: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
When can I bowhunt deer on Poverty Hill WMA?
Bowhunting opens Oct 1, 2026 (WMU 9M).
What are the DMP odds near Poverty Hill WMA?
Resident first-permit odds in 9M are high; the target is 6,300.
Poverty Hill WMA: what to double-check
After a deer, bear or turkey on Poverty Hill WMA, report it: paper tags within 48 hours, e-tags right away in HuntFishNY.
Sources: DEC poverty hill 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: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); Wildreturn (CC BY 2.0).