Galen Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Galen Wildlife Management Area is 771 acres (measured from DEC's map) managed by DEC in the town of Galen, Wayne County, in WMU 8J (Southern Zone). DEC lists 2 parking areas with coordinates.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Galen WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landNational wildlife refugeOther state landGalen WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 771 acres (measured from DEC's map) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Town of Galen, Wayne County |
| WMU | WMU 8J |
| Zone | Southern Zone |
| DEC region | Region 8 |
| Open | Year-round |
| Fee | Free |
| Parking areas (DEC) | 2 |
| Activities DEC lists | Hiking, Hunting, Trapping, Freshwater Fishing and Watchable Wildlife |
| Nearest towns | Clyde (next to it), Lyons (3 mi) and Savannah (7 mi) |
Where do you park at Galen WMA?
DEC lists 2 parking areas for Galen WMA:
| DEC's description | Latitude, longitude |
|---|---|
| River Road, small gravel area | 43.07360, -76.90890 |
| River Road | 43.07270, -76.89750 |
From DEC's page for Galen WMA.
What can you hunt on Galen 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: hiking, 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 | 771 | 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.
DEC's plans for the area: a Habitat Management Plan approved April 2023.
What DEC says about each activity here
- Hunting. "The area, because of its rich wildlife resources, has always been a popular hunting area, providing recreation, food, and fur to local residents and contributing to the local economy."
- Trapping. "The area, because of its rich wildlife resources, has always been a trapping area, providing recreation, food, and fur to local residents and contributing to the local economy."
From DEC's page for Galen WMA.
How do you get to Galen WMA?
Highways within five miles: NY 31, NY 414 and NY 14. Nearest towns: Clyde (next to it), Lyons (3 miles), Savannah (7 miles) and North Rose (8 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Cayuga Lake Unit of Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area.
Which other WMAs are near Galen?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Montezuma WMA | 11 | 8F | 50,000 |
| Canoga Marsh WMA | 16 | 8J | 104 |
| Lake Shore Marshes WMA | 17 | 8F | 6,179 |
| Willard WMA | 28 | 8S | 154 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Galen WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Galen 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.
Where do you park at Galen WMA?
DEC lists 2 parking areas: River Road, small gravel area (43.0736, -76.9089) and River Road (43.0727, -76.8975).
What WMU is Galen WMA in?
All of Galen WMA is in WMU 8J. DEC estimates 4,910 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Galen WMA?
Clyde, next to the area, by the Census map of places. Lyons is 3 miles away.
How big is Galen WMA?
771 acres, measured from DEC's boundary.
Get a New York hunt plan when they open
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Where these facts come from
- Area facts, habitat, parking and plans: DEC, Galen 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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