Wickham Marsh Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Wickham Marsh Wildlife Management Area is 862 acres (DEC) managed by DEC in the town of Chesterfield, Essex County, in WMU 5G (Northern Zone). DEC lists 4 parking areas with coordinates.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Wickham Marsh WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landWickham Marsh WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 862 acres (DEC) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Town of Chesterfield, Essex County |
| WMU | WMU 5G |
| Zone | Northern Zone |
| DEC region | Region 5 |
| Open | Year-round |
| Fee | Free |
| Parking areas (DEC) | 4 |
| Activities DEC lists | Hiking, Hunting, Trapping, Freshwater Fishing and Watchable Wildlife |
| Nearest towns | Keeseville (2 mi), Peru (6 mi) and Willsboro Point (7 mi) |
Where do you park at Wickham Marsh WMA?
DEC lists 4 parking areas for Wickham Marsh WMA:
| DEC's description | Latitude, longitude |
|---|---|
| Take Giddings Road east 1 mile to a small pull-off/parking area and trail head on the left. | 44.53770, -73.43280 |
| Take Giddings Road east 1.5 mile to a large parking area on the left. | 44.54100, -73.42440 |
| Take Giddings Road east 1.8 miles. Giddings Road turns sharply to the south and runs along the shore of Lake Champlain. Several pull-off parking areas, a small car-top boat launch, and a larger parking area and trail head are located along this half mile stretch of road between the marsh and Lake. Access to Lake Champlain is impeded by the rail road bed that runs parallel to the road. | 44.54040, -73.41930 |
| To access the south side of the WMA and the interior hiking trails: Take State Route 9 south to State Route 373. Turn left onto State Route 373. Take State Route 373 east 1.3 miles. A large parking area with its entrance marked by a large DEC sign is on the left | 44.51949, -73.43581 |
From DEC's page for Wickham Marsh WMA.
What can you hunt on Wickham 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: hiking, hunting, trapping, freshwater fishing and watchable wildlife. Hunting on a WMA follows the seasons of the WMU the ground is in. In WMU 5G, 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 5G | 726 | 1,604 (2025) | 1,194 | 43 (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
- Hunting. "Deer and waterfowl entice hunters to Wickham Marsh in October and November."
- Trapping. "Deer and waterfowl entice hunters to Wickham Marsh in October and November."
- Freshwater Fishing. "Warm water fish, including largemouth bass, sunfish, bullhead, bowfin, northern pike, and chain pickerel can be found in the marsh."
- Watchable Wildlife. "A series of foot trails have been constructed so visitors can access the management area."
From DEC's page for Wickham Marsh WMA.
How do you get to Wickham Marsh WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-87, NY 22, US 9, NY 442 and NY 373. Nearest towns: Keeseville (2 miles), Peru (6 miles), Willsboro Point (7 miles) and Parc (9 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Peru Dock Boat Launch, Port Douglas Boat Launch, Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area and Ausable Point Campground & Day Use Area.
Which other WMAs are near Wickham Marsh?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ausable Marsh WMA | 2 | 5G | 660 |
| Montys Bay WMA | 19 | 5A | 318 |
| Lake Alice WMA | 24 | 5A | 1,468 |
| Lewis Preserve WMA | 25 | 5C | 1,356 |
| Kings Bay WMA | 29 | 5A | 683 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Wickham Marsh WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Wickham Marsh WMA lies in WMU 5G, 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 Wickham Marsh WMA?
DEC lists 4 parking areas: Take Giddings Road east 1 mile to a small pull-off/parking area and trail head on the left. (44.5377, -73.4328), Take Giddings Road east 1.5 mile to a large parking area on the left. (44.5410, -73.4244) and Take Giddings Road east 1.8 miles. Giddings Road turns sharply to the south and runs along the shore of Lake Champlain. Several pull-off parking areas, a small car-top boat launch, and a larger parking area and trail head are located along this half mile stretch of road between the marsh and Lake. Access to Lake Champlain is impeded by the rail road bed that runs parallel to the road. (44.5404, -73.4193), and more in the table on this page.
What WMU is Wickham Marsh WMA in?
All of Wickham Marsh WMA is in WMU 5G. DEC estimates 1,604 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Wickham Marsh WMA?
Keeseville, about 2 miles away, by the Census map of places. Peru is 6 miles away.
How big is Wickham Marsh WMA?
DEC gives 862 acres.
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Where these facts come from
- Area facts, habitat, parking and plans: DEC, Wickham 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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