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What hunters need to know about Rome Wildlife Management Area
Rules, WMU 6P season dates, maps and neighbors for a wma in Oneida County.
Photo: andrusdevelopment (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Rome Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Rome Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 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.
What Rome WMA is
Rome Wildlife Management Area is a DEC wildlife management area in Oneida County. Location on the DEC page: Town of Rome, Oneida County. It is a Region 6 property, in the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley. Size: 1,286 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES). 37 others of the 119 WMAs are larger. DEC's own page says 130 acres. Management direction comes from the Rome HMP unit plan.
From the DEC page for Rome WMA: The WMA is one of three stocking sites for pheasant hunting in Oneida county. Please be sure to abide by all game laws (view hunting season ).
Check note: Acreage conflict: DEC page text says 130 acres; DEC Lands layer 1,286 acres (layer value used; the page may describe a larger complex or an older boundary).
From DEC rome 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 Rome Wildlife Management Area
Rome WMA hunting rules for 2026-27
As a DEC wildlife area, Rome WMA carries the Part 51 restrictions:
- Unless signs say otherwise, target shooting is off limits on Rome WMA.
- Overnight camping requires a written DEC permit.
- No off-road motor vehicles unless DEC permits or posts it.
- DEC prohibits cutting vegetation and building permanent stands or blinds here.
- Gear left on Rome WMA at day end, trail cameras included, breaks the rules; a stand labeled with your name and address or DEC ID may stay overnight until the season closes.
- Respect "No Trespassing" postings; entry needs DEC approval in writing.
- No overnight boat mooring; fires only to cook or keep warm.
Statewide rules that follow you onto Rome WMA
- In firearm deer and bear seasons, wear the required orange or pink above the waist.
- Setbacks from occupied buildings: firearm 500 feet, crossbow 250 feet, bow 150 feet.
- Do not hunt over bait; New York bans it for big game, turkey, upland birds and waterfowl.
- Sunday hunting is legal everywhere in New York unless a property rule says otherwise.
From DEC rome wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Rome WMA, and when
This calendar is cut down to Rome WMA: its WMU (6P), duck zone and goose area decide which of the 2026-27 rows appear.
| Game | Hunt | Unit or zone | From | To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 6P | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 6P | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 6P | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 6P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 6P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 6P | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 6P | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 6P | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 6P | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 6P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 6P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 6P | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 6P | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 6P | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 6P | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 6P | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 6P | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6P | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6P | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6P | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Southeastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Southeastern Zone | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | East Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 6P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 6P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 6P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 6P | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 6P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 6P | 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.
Rome WMA: WMU 6P numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 6P, 203 square miles in the Southern Zone covering parts of Oneida and Madison. There is no cap on DMPs in 6P in 2026. The bear area for 6P is Southern Zone. Fall turkey in 6P: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6P | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 7.9% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Calculated deer take, 6P
In 2022, 6P produced 1,264 deer by DEC's estimate (957 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 957 | 469 |
| 2017 | 816 | 405 |
| 2018 | 1,092 | 483 |
| 2019 | 1,042 | 533 |
| 2020 | 1,202 | 495 |
| 2021 | 1,028 | 510 |
| 2022 | 1,264 | 529 |
The bear objective DEC lists for 6P is to 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.
Rome WMA game species
Expect ring-necked pheasant on Rome WMA.
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from DEC rome wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Pheasant stocking on Rome WMA
429 pheasants, 3 releases: that is the 2026 plan for Rome WMA.
| Release site | Type | Town | Acres of fields | Program | Stocking days | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome WMA | Public – open access | Rome | 78 | Regular | 3 | 429 |
| Week beginning | Birds |
|---|---|
| 09/28 | 111 |
| 10/05 | 82 |
| 10/12 | 74 |
| 10/19 | 59 |
| 11/02 | 52 |
| 11/16 | 51 |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
Maps and parking around Rome WMA
DEC lists 2 parking or access points for Rome WMA.
| Where to park | Link |
|---|---|
| Hoag Road, large, dirt, at check station: 43.1850, -75.5044 | Get there |
| Hoag Road: 43.1823, -75.5193 | Get there |
Map in print form: Rome Wildlife Management Area Map
Parking points and maps from DEC rome wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Rome WMA and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Rome WMA, starting with Rome Sand Plains Unique Area. Combined: 10,783 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome Sand Plains | Unique area | 2,361 | 6K | 4.4 mi | northwest |
| Oriskany Flats | WMA | 784 | 6P | 8.4 mi | east |
| Canada Creek | State forest | 627 | 6K | 9.8 mi | north |
| Verona Beach | State park | 1,684 | 6P | 10 mi | west |
| South Hill | State forest | 528 | 6K, 6S | 12 mi | northeast |
| Fish Creek | State forest | 679 | 6K | 12 mi | northwest |
| West Branch | State forest | 527 | 6K | 12 mi | north |
| Point Rock | State forest | 1,206 | 6K | 13 mi | north |
| Cobb Brook | State forest | 689 | 6K | 13 mi | northwest |
| Buck Hill | State forest | 1,698 | 6K | 15 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Rome WMA
The 2025 deer take for Oneida County was 4,651.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,865 | 2,842 | 1,637 |
| 2022 | 5,588 | 2,713 | 2,144 |
| 2023 | 4,768 | 2,662 | 1,655 |
| 2024 | 5,148 | 2,973 | 1,730 |
| 2025 | 4,651 | 2,512 | 1,725 |
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.
Rome WMA: nearby towns and services
Rome sits 2.3 mi from Rome WMA, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | Oneida | 2.3 mi | 31,990 | 5,916 |
| Westernville | Oneida | 9.8 mi | – | 15,960 |
| Wampsville | Madison | 13 mi | 556 | – |
| Camden | Oneida | 15 mi | 2,149 | 21,494 |
Open the county guide for Rome WMA: Oneida County.
Rome WMA: businesses close by
Oneida County is home to 20 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Rome 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.
Rome Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
Greenway-Verona Mills Fish and Game Club, 3 miles away, is the nearest range to Rome Wildlife Management Area; check its access rule before going.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Rome WMA: first and last legal light
The DEC guide prints sunrise and sunset for Albany only. The times here are worked out for the centre of Rome WMA and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:57 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:25 a.m. | 6:07 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:07 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:02 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:26 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:34 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:56 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 8:31 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 8:01 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.
Around Rome WMA: photos
Rome WMA questions, answered from the record
Can I leave a tree stand on Rome WMA?
Yes, a portable one that harms no tree, labeled with your name and address or license or DEC ID, removed at season end.
Does the orange law apply on Rome WMA?
During firearm deer and bear hunting, for you and anyone with you.
Is Rome WMA open to public hunting?
It is public DEC land: carry your hunting license and follow the season dates.
What does Rome WMA measure?
The record lists 1,286 acres.
What zone and WMU is Rome WMA?
The DEC WMU layer gives 6P (Southern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Rome WMA?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 6P.
What is the bowhunting window on Rome WMA?
Archery runs Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 to start.
What species go with Rome WMA?
You will find ring-necked pheasant on the list.
When does turkey season open on Rome WMA?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Rome WMA?
WMU 6P is open for bears Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
Is Rome WMA a pheasant release site?
Yes. The 2026 plan is 429 pheasants.
How far is Rome WMA from a town?
Rome is 2.3 mi away.
Rome WMA: what to double-check
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Rome WMA.
Sources: DEC rome 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); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); z2amiller (CC BY-SA 2.0).