Plantation Island Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Plantation Island Wildlife Management Area is 200 acres (DEC) managed by DEC in the town of German Flatts, Herkimer County, in WMU 6S (Southern Zone). DEC lists 1 parking area with coordinates.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Plantation Island WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landOther state landPlantation Island WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 200 acres (DEC) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Town of German Flatts, Herkimer County |
| WMU | WMU 6S |
| Zone | Southern Zone |
| DEC region | Region 6 |
| Open | Year-round |
| Fee | Free |
| Parking areas (DEC) | 1 |
| Activities DEC lists | Hunting, Trapping, Freshwater Fishing and Watchable Wildlife |
| Nearest towns | East Herkimer (next to it), Herkimer (2 mi) and Mohawk (2 mi) |
Where do you park at Plantation Island WMA?
DEC lists 1 parking area for Plantation Island WMA:
| DEC's description | Latitude, longitude |
|---|---|
| Located east of Mohawk, along state Route 5S in Herkimer County. Travel 3.75 miles on 5S and take a left onto Lock Road. Access is across lock gates at the end of road. Access to the island is limited, with only one dry access across the locks at Barge Canal Lock 18. The island may also be accessed by boat from either the Barge Canal or the Mohawk River | 43.01568, -74.91633 |
From DEC's page for Plantation Island WMA.
What can you hunt on Plantation Island 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 6S, 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 6S | 215 | 2,239 (2025) | 1,215 | 0 (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 2017 and an Access and Public Use Plan approved May 2024.
What DEC says about each activity here
- Hunting. "The island is used for big game hunting and limited small game hunting."
- Trapping. "The island is used for big game hunting and limited small game hunting."
- Freshwater Fishing. "Opportunities exist in both the Mohawk River and the Barge Canal."
- Watchable Wildlife. "The area is available for nature observation and bird watching year round."
From DEC's page for Plantation Island WMA.
How do you get to Plantation Island WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-90, NY 5, NY 167, NY 28, NY 169 and NY 168. Nearest towns: East Herkimer (next to it), Herkimer (2 miles), Mohawk (2 miles) and Ilion (4 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Ohisa State Forest and Steuben Hill State Forest.
Which other WMAs are near Plantation Island?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utica Marsh WMA | 16 | 6P | 198 |
| Oriskany Flats WMA | 22 | 6P | 806 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Plantation Island WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Plantation Island WMA lies in WMU 6S, 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 Plantation Island WMA?
DEC lists 1 parking area: Located east of Mohawk, along state Route 5S in Herkimer County. Travel 3.75 miles on 5S and take a left onto Lock Road. Access is across lock gates at the end of road. Access to the island is limited, with only one dry access across the locks at Barge Canal Lock 18. The island may also be accessed by boat from either the Barge Canal or the Mohawk River (43.0157, -74.9163).
What WMU is Plantation Island WMA in?
All of Plantation Island WMA is in WMU 6S. DEC estimates 2,239 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Plantation Island WMA?
East Herkimer, next to the area, by the Census map of places. Herkimer is 2 miles away.
How big is Plantation Island WMA?
DEC gives 200 acres.
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, Plantation Island 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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