WMU 5G, New York

Rolling hills and ridges with a mix of hardwood forest, old-growth hemlock gorges, brushlands, and active agricultural fields. Cattaraugus Creek and its tributaries cut through the landscape, creating riparian corridors and edge habitat. Elevations range from valley floors around 1,000 ft to forested ridgetops near 2,000 ft. The farm-forest mosaic is highly productive for whitetails and turkeys.

Moderate. WMU 5G sees steady local pressure during regular firearms season, particularly on public WMAs and state forests. Archery season draws a dedicated crowd but pressure is light compared to more populous WMUs. Midweek hunting on public land offers good solitude. Wyoming County private farmland receives heavier pressure from permission hunters.

WMU 5G is in New York's Southern Zone. Hunters receive one Antlered Deer Tag valid during any season (archery, regular firearms, or muzzleloader). Antlerless harvest requires a Deer Management Permit (DMP); WMU 5G has a limited DMP quota (it is not among the 23 unlimited-quota WMUs listed for 2026). Hunters may apply for up to 2 DMPs in quota WMUs. Under the new 2026 Earn-a-2nd-Buck system, harvesting and reporting an antlerless deer via DMP makes a hunter eligible for a second Antlered Deer Tag. DMPs are transferable between hunters.

DEER: Southern Zone seasons — Archery: Oct 1–Nov 14, Dec 8–Dec 16, Dec 26–Jan 1; Regular Firearms: Nov 15–Dec 7; Muzzleloader: Dec 8–Dec 16, Dec 26–Jan 1. Antlered buck limit is 1 (with Earn-a-2nd-Buck system allowing a second antlered tag after antlerless harvest). Crossbows legal during all archery seasons. Harvest reporting required within 48 hours. BEAR: Black bear hunting is open in WMU 5G as part of the expanded Allegany bear range in the southern zone. Season runs concurrently with the regular deer firearms season (Nov 15–Dec 7) and early bear season (archery/muzzleloader). One bear per license year. TURKEY: Spring season typically opens early May and runs through late May; shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to noon; limit 2 bearded birds (1 per day). Fall turkey season runs mid-October through late November in the Southern Zone; any turkey may be taken. No firearm restrictions — WMU 5G is not a Long Island shotgun-only unit; rifles and shotguns are both legal during regular firearms seasons.

Productive farm-forest whitetail habitat with good public land access across multiple DEC properties; Zoar Valley offers dramatic gorge terrain with year-round hunting access; strong wild turkey numbers in both spring and fall; black bear season is open in this part of the southern tier as DEC has expanded bear hunting to WMUs in the Cattaraugus/Wyoming area; Region 9 public land is among the most diverse in western NY; archery hunters can find excellent ridge-and-hollow setups along agricultural edges.