Canoga Marsh Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Canoga Marsh Wildlife Management Area is 104 acres (DEC) managed by DEC in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, in WMU 8J (Southern Zone).
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Canoga Marsh WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landOther state landCanoga Marsh WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 104 acres (DEC) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Town of Fayette, Seneca County |
| WMU | WMU 8J |
| Zone | Southern Zone |
| DEC region | Region 8 |
| Open | Year-round |
| Fee | Free |
| Activities DEC lists | Hunting, Trapping, Freshwater Fishing and Watchable Wildlife |
| Nearest towns | Union Springs (3 mi), Cayuga (4 mi) and Seneca Falls (4 mi) |
What can you hunt on Canoga Marsh 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 8J, the 2026 regular firearms deer season runs November 21 to December 13. WMU 8J also has the early antlerless season, September 12 to 20.
| WMU | WMA acres in it | Deer harvested (whole WMU) | Adult bucks | Bears (whole WMU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 8J | 103 | 4,910 (2025) | 2,269 | 1 (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
- Freshwater Fishing. "Cayuga Lake is stocked annually with lake trout, brown trout and Atlantic salmon."
- Watchable Wildlife. "On a visit to Canoga Marsh, look for wetland-related wildlife including muskrat, mink, waterfowl, and other water birds."
From DEC's page for Canoga Marsh WMA.
How do you get to Canoga Marsh WMA?
Highways within five miles: NY 90, NY 89, NY 414, NY 5, US 20 and NY 326. Nearest towns: Union Springs (3 miles), Cayuga (4 miles), Seneca Falls (4 miles) and Waterloo (6 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Cayuga Lake Unit of Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area and Cayuga Lake State Park.
Which other WMAs are near Canoga Marsh?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willard WMA | 15 | 8S | 154 |
| Northern Montezuma WMA | 15 | 8F | 50,000 |
| Galen WMA | 16 | 8J | 771 |
| Cayuga Shores WMA | 18 | 7H | 287 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Canoga Marsh WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Canoga Marsh WMA lies in WMU 8J, and seasons follow the WMU's: in 2026 the regular firearms deer season there runs November 21 to December 13.
What WMU is Canoga Marsh WMA in?
All of Canoga Marsh WMA is in WMU 8J. DEC estimates 4,910 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Canoga Marsh WMA?
Union Springs, about 3 miles away, by the Census map of places. Cayuga is 4 miles away.
How big is Canoga Marsh WMA?
DEC gives 104 acres.
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Where these facts come from
- Area facts, habitat, parking and plans: DEC, Canoga Marsh 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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