Perch River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Perch River Wildlife Management Area is 7,932 acres (DEC) managed by DEC in the towns of Orleans, Pamelia, and Brownville, Jefferson County, in WMU 6G (Northern Zone). DEC lists 16 parking areas with coordinates.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Perch River WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landPerch River WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 7,932 acres (DEC) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Towns of Orleans, Pamelia, and Brownville, Jefferson County |
| WMU | WMU 6G |
| Zone | Northern Zone |
| DEC region | Region 6 |
| Open | Year-round (see restrictions below) |
| Fee | Free |
| Parking areas (DEC) | 16 |
| Activities DEC lists | Hunting, Trapping, Freshwater Fishing and Watchable Wildlife |
| Nearest towns | La Fargeville (4 mi), Pamelia Center (4 mi) and Depauville (4 mi) |
Where do you park at Perch River WMA?
DEC lists 16 parking areas for Perch River WMA:
| DEC's description | Latitude, longitude |
|---|---|
| Route 12, large, gravel | 44.08260, -75.97440 |
| Allen Road, look out to lake | 44.08190, -75.98440 |
| Allen Road, gravel, to Wildlife Refuge | 44.07620, -76.00500 |
| Vaadi Road | 44.08740, -75.97340 |
| Vaadi Road, large, gravel | 44.09110, -75.96300 |
| Vaadi Road | 44.09420, -75.95840 |
| Vaadi Road, at Stones Mills | 44.10080, -75.95150 |
| Vaadi Road, gravel area | 44.10520, -75.95500 |
| Perch Lake Road, large gravel, to Perch Lake Refuge | 44.12250, -75.88810 |
| Cook Road | 44.08900, -75.95490 |
| Buckminster Road, at end, open only during hunting season, to Perch River near refuge | 44.07030, -75.99340 |
| Vaadi Road, at look out on loop | 44.09140, -75.96360 |
| Allen Road, overlook on Perch Lake | 44.07980, -75.99200 |
| Dog Hill Road, possible bird watching site | 44.13830, -75.92180 |
| Dog Hill Road | 44.12390, -75.93610 |
| Dog Hill Road, access to field for possible bird watching | 44.12890, -75.93110 |
From DEC's page for Perch River WMA.
What can you hunt on Perch River 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 6G, the 2026 regular firearms deer season runs October 24 to December 6.
| WMU | WMA acres in it | Deer harvested (whole WMU) | Adult bucks | Bears (whole WMU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 6G | 8,055 | 5,715 (2025) | 2,737 | 5 (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 September 2021.
What DEC says about each activity here
- Hunting. "Special entry and permit restrictions are in place at this WMA to protect key habitats and provide high-quality hunting opportunities."
- Trapping. "Special entry and permit restrictions are in place at this WMA to protect key habitats and provide high-quality hunting opportunities."
- Watchable Wildlife. "Perch River WMA is recognized for its observation opportunities."
From DEC's page for Perch River WMA.
How do you get to Perch River WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-81, NY 180, NY 37, NY 12, NY 12E and I-781. Nearest towns: La Fargeville (4 miles), Pamelia Center (4 miles), Depauville (4 miles) and Brownville (4 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Coyote Flats State Forest and Dexter Marsh Wildlife Management Area.
Which other WMAs are near Perch River?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownville WMA | 8 | 6G | 241 |
| Dexter Marsh WMA | 12 | 6G | 1,241 |
| French Creek WMA | 12 | 6G | 2,300 |
| Ashland Flats WMA | 14 | 6G | 2,028 |
| Indian River WMA | 16 | 6A | 968 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Perch River WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Perch River WMA lies in WMU 6G, and seasons follow the WMU's: in 2026 the regular firearms deer season there runs October 24 to December 6.
Where do you park at Perch River WMA?
DEC lists 16 parking areas: Route 12, large, gravel (44.0826, -75.9744), Allen Road, look out to lake (44.0819, -75.9844) and Allen Road, gravel, to Wildlife Refuge (44.0762, -76.0050), and more in the table on this page.
What WMU is Perch River WMA in?
All of Perch River WMA is in WMU 6G. DEC estimates 5,715 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Perch River WMA?
La Fargeville, about 4 miles away, by the Census map of places. Pamelia Center is 4 miles away.
How big is Perch River WMA?
DEC gives 7,932 acres.
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Where these facts come from
- Area facts, habitat, parking and plans: DEC, Perch River 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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