Big Flats Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Big Flats Wildlife Management Area is 136 acres (DEC) managed by DEC in the town of Big Flats, Chemung County, in WMU 8Y (Southern Zone). DEC lists 1 parking area with coordinates.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Big Flats WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landBig Flats WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 136 acres (DEC) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Town of Big Flats, Chemung County |
| WMU | WMU 8Y |
| Zone | Southern Zone |
| DEC region | Region 8 |
| Open | Year-round |
| Fee | None |
| Parking areas (DEC) | 1 |
| Activities DEC lists | Hunting, Trapping, Freshwater Fishing and Watchable Wildlife |
| Nearest towns | Big Flats (3 mi), West Elmira (3 mi) and Elmira Heights (4 mi) |
Where do you park at Big Flats WMA?
DEC lists 1 parking area for Big Flats WMA:
| DEC's description | Latitude, longitude |
|---|---|
| Route 352 parking area | 42.11270, -76.92193 |
From DEC's page for Big Flats WMA.
What can you hunt on Big Flats WMA, and when?
DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks the area open to hunting. DEC lists these activities for the area: hunting, trapping, freshwater fishing and watchable wildlife. Hunting on a WMA follows the seasons of the WMU the ground is in. In WMU 8Y, the 2026 regular firearms deer season runs November 21 to December 13.
| WMU | WMA acres in it | Deer harvested (whole WMU) | Adult bucks | Bears (whole WMU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 8Y | 459 | 2,810 (2025) | 1,415 | 29 (2025) |
Harvest: DEC 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; DEC 2025 Bear Harvest Summary. Seasons: DEC, 2026 big game hunting seasons in October.
What DEC says about each activity here
- Trapping. "For trappers, the primary furbearers are fox, coyote, raccoon, and mink."
- Freshwater Fishing. "Fishermen can find bass, muskellunge, and panfish in the Chemung River."
- Watchable Wildlife. "Extensive shrub/grassland habitat attract a wide variety of songbirds."
From DEC's page for Big Flats WMA.
How do you get to Big Flats WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-86, NY 17, NY 352, NY 225, NY 328 and NY 14. Nearest towns: Big Flats (3 miles), West Elmira (3 miles), Elmira Heights (4 miles) and Southport (5 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Boat launch sites in Chemung County, Catlin State Forest, Maple Hill State Forest and Mark Twain State Park.
Which other WMAs are near Big Flats?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin WMA | 13 | 8T | 2,507 |
| Catharine Creek WMA | 19 | 8S | 1,000 |
| Connecticut Hill WMA | 21 | 7R | 11,237 |
| Helmer Creek WMA | 23 | 8T | 126 |
| Waneta-Lamoka WMA | 24 | 8W | 165 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Big Flats WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Big Flats WMA lies in WMU 8Y, and seasons follow the WMU's: in 2026 the regular firearms deer season there runs November 21 to December 13.
Where do you park at Big Flats WMA?
DEC lists 1 parking area: Route 352 parking area (42.1127, -76.9219).
What WMU is Big Flats WMA in?
All of Big Flats WMA is in WMU 8Y. DEC estimates 2,810 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Big Flats WMA?
Big Flats, about 3 miles away, by the Census map of places. West Elmira is 3 miles away.
How big is Big Flats WMA?
DEC gives 136 acres.
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Where these facts come from
- Area facts, habitat, parking and plans: DEC, Big Flats WMA.
- Boundary: DEC Wildlife Management Areas. Public land around it: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
- WMU harvest: DEC 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; DEC 2025 Bear Harvest Summary. Seasons: DEC, 2026-27 early big game hunting seasons in September; DEC, 2026 big game hunting seasons in October.
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