WMU 8G, New York
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 8
- Area
- 696 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 6,957
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 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 8G sits in Monroe and Orleans counties west of Rochester, a low-lying mix of farmland, wetlands, and woodlots that produces strong deer numbers and solid turkey hunting. The unit benefits from proximity to the Oak Orchard/Tonawanda WMA complex and Iroquois NWR, offering nearly 30,000 acres of public land for deer, turkey, and bear. Antlerless tag availability is generous — 8G carries no DMP quota, meaning hunters can obtain unlimited bonus DMPs throughout the season.
Flat to gently rolling Lake Ontario plain; mix of agricultural fields (corn, soy, winter wheat), hedgerows, woodlots, and expansive wetland/swamp complexes particularly in the Oak Orchard Swamp area. Bottomland hardwoods and cattail marshes provide excellent deer and turkey habitat.
moderate
WMU 8G has no DMP quota — hunters receive unlimited/bonus DMPs. All applied-for DMPs are issued, and harvested/reported bonus DMPs are automatically replaced with additional bonus DMPs at no fee. Applications accepted throughout the season. Antlerless harvest is actively encouraged to manage the robust local deer population.
DEER: Southern Zone seasons apply — archery opens early October through mid-November and resumes post-firearms through December; regular firearms (Southern Zone) typically runs mid-November through early December; muzzleloader season follows. Early September antlerless-only season also available in WMU 8G. Earn-a-2nd-Buck system in effect statewide — first antlered tag is standard, second antlered tag requires harvesting and reporting an antlerless deer first. BEAR: WMU 8G is eligible for the Southern Zone early bear season (approximately September 13–21) with firearms, bow, and crossbow. Regular bear season concurrent with Southern Zone deer firearms season. One bear per license year. TURKEY: Spring season opens May 1, runs approximately 4 weeks, limited to morning hours, one bearded turkey per permit; no lottery draw required. Fall turkey season runs from mid-October through late November in the Southern Zone. Turkey permits required but over-the-counter. No Long Island firearm restrictions apply — all legal firearms, bow, and crossbow permitted.
Proximity to the massive Oak Orchard/Tonawanda/Iroquois wetland complex; strong deer density in farm-country ag fields; eligible for Southern Zone early bear season (mid-September); generous antlerless tag availability with no DMP cap; good spring turkey hunting across agricultural edges and woodlots; Rochester-area location means accessible hunting within an hour of a major metro.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU 8G— 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 8G.
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.