Home › New York › Public land › Three Mile Bay WMA
WMA · WMU 7F
Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area for hunters
Everything we could verify about this wma in Oswego County (3,966 acres).
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Oneida Shores Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat Launch ParkingParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Truck InspectionParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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.
Acres and location of Three Mile Bay WMA
Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area counts as a DEC wildlife management area; its ground is in Oswego County. It reaches into West Monroe and Constantia, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 7, the office for central New York. Recorded size: 3,966 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 21st among 119 WMAs. The The Cuse plan covers it.
DEC page text: White-tailed deer, waterfowl and variety of small game species offer ample hunting opportunities.
From DEC three mile bay wildlife management are; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area
Three Mile Bay WMA and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Three Mile Bay WMA, starting with Cicero Swamp WMA. Together they add 23,052 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero Swamp | WMA | 5,039 | 7F | 8.0 mi | south |
| Klondike | State forest | 868 | 6K | 8.3 mi | northeast |
| Stanley J. Hamlin Marsh | WMA | 1,668 | 7F | 8.8 mi | southwest |
| Oneida Lake Islands | WMA | – | 7F | 9.4 mi | southeast |
| Peter Scott Swamp | WMA | 403 | 7A | 11 mi | west |
| Stone Barn | State forest | 621 | 6K | 11 mi | east |
| Stone Hill | State forest | 1,032 | 6K | 12 mi | northeast |
| Oneida | Detached parcel | 852 | 6K | 12 mi | east |
| Happy Valley | WMA | 8,961 | 6K | 13 mi | north |
| Three Rivers | WMA | 3,608 | 7A, 7F | 14 mi | west |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Three Mile Bay WMA
The Part 51 rules for DEC wildlife management areas apply on Three Mile Bay WMA:
- Three Mile Bay WMA is not a target range: plinking is prohibited unless posted otherwise.
- You cannot camp on Three Mile Bay WMA without written DEC approval.
- Driving off the roads on Three Mile Bay WMA needs a permit or posted permission.
- Leave the brush standing and skip permanent stands, blinds or tree steps.
- A stand with your name and address or DEC ID may be left overnight; everything else, cameras included, goes home.
- Written permission is needed to enter parts posted "No Trespassing".
- Boats may not be moored overnight, and fires are only for cooking or warmth.
Beyond the site rules: state law on Three Mile Bay WMA
- The orange-or-pink rule covers firearm deer and bear hunters and their companions.
- Boundary houses matter: no gun discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling without consent.
- Bait piles and mineral blocks are not allowed for deer or bear.
- State law no longer limits Sunday hunting anywhere.
From DEC three mile bay wildlife management are, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Three Mile Bay WMA
Three Mile Bay WMA lies in WMU 7F, a Southern Zone unit of 687 square miles reaching Onondaga, Cayuga and Madison. 7F is an unlimited-DMP unit this year. 7F bear hunting: Southern Zone. 7F fall turkey: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7F | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 8.2% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer reported from 7F
DEC calculated 3,681 deer taken in 7F in 2022, against 3,970 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,970 | 1,552 |
| 2017 | 3,398 | 1,574 |
| 2018 | 3,959 | 1,711 |
| 2019 | 3,503 | 1,717 |
| 2020 | 3,790 | 1,593 |
| 2021 | 3,210 | 1,530 |
| 2022 | 3,681 | 1,625 |
Bear management goal in 7F: 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.
Three Mile Bay WMA season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 7F and the waterfowl zones over Three Mile Bay WMA are listed: 50 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 7F | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7F | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7F | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7F | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7F | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Northeastern Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Northeast goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Northeast goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Northeast goose area | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 19, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Feb 26, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7F | 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.
Pheasant hunting on Three Mile Bay WMA
Pheasant release site: 472 birds are scheduled for Three Mile Bay WMA across 2 stocking events.
| Site | Access | Town | Fields | Stocked for | Releases | Total birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Mile Bay WMA | Public – open access | West Monroe | 68 | Youth, regular | 2 | 472 |
| Release week | Birds |
|---|---|
| 10/05 | 74 |
| 10/12 | 74 |
| 10/19 | 74 |
| 10/26 | 74 |
| 11/02 | 176 |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
| NA | – |
Pheasant rule here: Do not block gates or driveways with vehicles
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
Hunting ducks and geese on Three Mile Bay WMA
Three Mile Bay WMA is one of the properties DEC maps for waterfowl hunting. It sits in the Northeastern duck zone. Goose area: Northeast.
| Listed as | Owner | Category | Special regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Mile Bay WMA | NYSDEC | WMA | No |
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026. Waterfowl zones.
Three Mile Bay WMA: species list
4 species groups lead the list for Three Mile Bay WMA, each linked to its species page.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Nov 29
Small game
Oct 1–Feb 28
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 17–Feb 28
Species from DEC three mile bay wildlife management are; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Three Mile Bay WMA: lots, pull-offs and map files
6 parking locations serve Three Mile Bay WMA, each with coordinates.
| Parking area, lat and lon | Link |
|---|---|
| McCloud Road: 43.2396, -76.0514 | Map it |
| McCloud Road, pull off: 43.2438, -76.0574 | Map it |
| Toad Harbor Road: 43.2528, -76.0806 | Map it |
| W Road / Wheeler Road: 43.2646, -76.0567 | Map it |
| Shaw Road: 43.2415, -76.0873 | Map it |
| Toad Harbor Road: 43.2737, -76.0855 | Map it |
Map on file: Three Mile Bay WMA Map
Parking points and maps from DEC three mile bay wildlife management are; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Three Mile Bay WMA
Town-level numbers for Three Mile Bay WMA: West Monroe gave up 187 deer in 2019 (118 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Monroe | Oswego | 162 | 190 | 135 | 176 | 187 | 118 |
| Constantia | Oswego | 231 | 216 | 222 | 206 | 266 | 179 |
County-wide, Oswego produced 4,250 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,285 | 2,265 | 1,643 |
| 2022 | 4,776 | 2,571 | 1,655 |
| 2023 | 4,261 | 2,453 | 1,422 |
| 2024 | 4,497 | 2,592 | 1,519 |
| 2025 | 4,250 | 2,316 | 1,546 |
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.
Three Mile Bay WMA hunting-hour table
Deer and bear may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese close at sunset, and small game runs sunrise to sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:01 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:09 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:05 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:30 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:37 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:59 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. | 5:29 a.m. to 8:35 p.m. | 5:29 a.m. to 8:05 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.
Three Mile Bay WMA trip planning
The quickest town stop is Constantia (2.6 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constantia | Oswego | 2.6 mi | – | 10,847 |
| Bridgeport | Madison | 8.3 mi | – | 9,863 |
| North Syracuse | Onondaga | 9.2 mi | 6,761 | 11,110 |
| Radisson | Onondaga | 13 mi | – | 5,705 |
Read Three Mile Bay WMA alongside its county page: Oswego County.
Three Mile Bay WMA: businesses close by
DEC lists 42 licensed guides with an address in Oswego County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Three Mile Bay 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.
Ranges near Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area
The three listed ranges closest to Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area follow; Syracuse Pistol Club leads at 8 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Three Mile Bay WMA in pictures
Three Mile Bay WMA questions, answered from the record
How far is Three Mile Bay WMA from a town?
Constantia, 2.6 mi straight-line.
Does DEC stock pheasants on Three Mile Bay WMA?
Yes, 472 birds in 2026.
Who may hunt Three Mile Bay WMA?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
How do stands work on Three Mile Bay WMA?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
What zone and WMU is Three Mile Bay WMA?
It is 7F ground, Southern Zone.
What does Three Mile Bay WMA measure?
3,966 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
When does archery open near Three Mile Bay WMA?
WMU 7F: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Three Mile Bay WMA?
Regular Season: Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 7F).
What are the spring turkey dates for Three Mile Bay WMA?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
Which animals are named for Three Mile Bay WMA?
Listed: white-tailed deer, ducks and geese, small game and ring-necked pheasant.
Can I hunt ducks on Three Mile Bay WMA?
The Northeastern Zone opens Oct 10, 2026.
What bear season covers Three Mile Bay WMA?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 7F.
Three Mile Bay WMA: confirm these before you go
Print the Three Mile Bay WMA map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC three mile bay wildlife management are · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); z2amiller (CC BY-SA 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0).