Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area is 126 acres (DEC) managed by DEC in the town of Rathbone, Steuben County, in WMU 8T (Southern Zone). DEC lists 2 parking areas with coordinates.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Helmer Creek WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landState parkHelmer Creek WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 126 acres (DEC) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Town of Rathbone, Steuben County |
| WMU | WMU 8T |
| 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 | Addison (8 mi), Campbell (9 mi) and Savona (9 mi) |
Where do you park at Helmer Creek WMA?
DEC lists 2 parking areas for Helmer Creek WMA:
| DEC's description | Latitude, longitude |
|---|---|
| Canisteo River Road, grass area | 42.17520, -77.34970 |
| Route 24 / Cameron Mills Risingville Road, dirt road area | 42.17610, -77.34780 |
From DEC's page for Helmer Creek WMA.
What can you hunt on Helmer Creek 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 8T, 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 8T | 126 | 4,401 (2025) | 2,148 | 37 (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 November 2016.
How do you get to Helmer Creek WMA?
Nearest towns: Addison (8 miles), Campbell (9 miles), Savona (9 miles) and Bath (11 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Cameron Mills State Forest, Cameron State Forest, Erwin Mountain State Forest and Erwin WMA.
Which other WMAs are near Helmer Creek?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Cameron WMA | 5 | 8T | 165 |
| Erwin WMA | 10 | 8T | 2,507 |
| Cold Brook WMA | 16 | 8P | 116 |
| Waneta-Lamoka WMA | 21 | 8W | 165 |
| Big Flats WMA | 23 | 8Y | 136 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Helmer Creek WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Helmer Creek WMA lies in WMU 8T, 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 Helmer Creek WMA?
DEC lists 2 parking areas: Canisteo River Road, grass area (42.1752, -77.3497) and Route 24 / Cameron Mills Risingville Road, dirt road area (42.1761, -77.3478).
What WMU is Helmer Creek WMA in?
All of Helmer Creek WMA is in WMU 8T. DEC estimates 4,401 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Helmer Creek WMA?
Addison, about 8 miles away, by the Census map of places. Campbell is 9 miles away.
How big is Helmer Creek WMA?
DEC gives 126 acres.
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Where these facts come from
- Area facts, habitat, parking and plans: DEC, Helmer Creek 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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