WMU 6C, New York
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 6
- Area
- 967 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 141
Draw odds for Black Beararen't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 3,601
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for Black Bear, White-tailed Deer so far. Deer, Turkey, Bear also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedWMU 6C covers the Cortland/Tompkins county area in central New York, situated east of the Finger Lakes with a mix of agricultural fields, hardwood ridges, and forested drainages that support healthy whitetail and wild turkey populations. Hunters have access to substantial public land including Connecticut Hill WMA — the largest WMA in New York at over 11,000 acres — along with scattered DEC state forests. Antlerless DMP tags are available for this unit, and the area sits in the Southern Zone with full archery, regular firearms, and muzzleloader seasons.
Mixed agricultural and forested terrain in the central New York plateau east of Cayuga Lake and the Finger Lakes. Rolling hills and hardwood ridges interspersed with creek bottoms, old farm fields, and second-growth forest provide excellent deer and turkey habitat. Elevation ranges moderately across Cortland and Tompkins counties.
Moderate. Connecticut Hill draws significant hunter attention as a well-known destination, but its size disperses pressure effectively. Private farm land in the agricultural valleys competes for hunter effort; public-land hunting remains available but competition for prime spots on Connecticut Hill is high during regular firearms season.
WMU 6C retains a DMP (Deer Management Permit) quota for 2026 — it is not among the 23 no-quota WMUs. Hunters may apply for up to 4 DMPs (2 in quota WMUs, 2 in no-quota WMUs). Under the 2026 regulation changes, the bow/muzzleloader tag is now an antlerless opportunity; an Antlered Deer Tag is issued first and a second Antlered Deer Tag is earned by harvesting and reporting an antlerless deer with a DMP. DMPs are transferable between hunters.
Deer (Southern Zone): Archery Oct 1 to Nov 14 and Dec 8-16 plus Dec 26 to Jan 1; Regular Firearms Nov 15 to Dec 7; Muzzleloader Dec 8-16 and Dec 26 to Jan 1. Bear: WMU 6C is in the Southern Zone bear range; early bear season runs Dec 8-14 concurrent with late deer seasons — check current DEC bear zone maps to confirm open status for 6C. Turkey: Spring season May 1-31 (Southern Zone, shooting hours dawn to noon); Fall season Southern Zone approximately Oct 17-30. No firearm restrictions — standard centerfire rifles and shotguns are legal in this non-Long Island WMU.
Connecticut Hill WMA is one of New York's most storied public hunting destinations. The Finger Lakes-east terrain produces solid whitetails with agricultural food sources nearby. Spring turkey on rolling hardwood ridges is excellent. The area is accessible from Ithaca and Cortland with multiple trailheads and road access points into state land.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU 6C— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about WMU 6C.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: NYSDEC official Wildlife Management Units. Community info last updated 23d ago.