WMU 8H, New York
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 8
- Area
- 569 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 5,892
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 8H covers the Lake Ontario shoreline corridor in Wayne and Monroe counties, a zone dominated by apple orchards, agricultural fields, and lakeside marshes that produce exceptional whitetail deer numbers. The unit has no DMP quota — antlerless tags are effectively unlimited — and was added in 2026 to the September antlerless-only season, making it one of New York's most antlerless-liberal WMUs. Bear hunting is open here under the same seasons as adjacent southern-tier bear range units, and both spring and fall turkey hunting are available throughout.
Flat to gently rolling Lake Ontario plain; mix of apple orchards, row-crop fields, hedgerows, woodlots, and extensive lakeshore marshes. Elevation runs roughly 250–500 ft. Soils are fertile glacial lake-bed deposits that support high agricultural productivity and dense deer populations. Wetland complexes along the shoreline — particularly around Sodus Bay and Blind Sodus Bay — provide critical edge habitat.
Moderate. The unit draws hunters from the Rochester metro area and surrounding communities, particularly on opening weekend of regular firearm season. Agricultural and orchard edges receive consistent pressure, but the lakeshore marshes and mid-week periods remain lower pressure.
WMU 8H carries no DMP quota — antlerless DMPs are unlimited. Hunters may apply for up to 2 no-quota DMPs (in addition to 2 quota-WMU DMPs) and receive automatic replacement DMPs upon harvest reporting. The unit was added to the mid-September nine-day antlerless-only season starting in 2026, extending the antlerless opportunity well before archery opener.
DEER: Archery season runs early October through the end of November and resumes in December (check current DEC dates); regular firearms (Southern Zone) typically opens late November for about 3 weeks; muzzleloader season follows. Antlerless tags are unlimited via DMP — no quota. September antlerless season added for 2026. All legal implements allowed (rifles where legal in Southern Zone). BEAR: WMU 8H is open to black bear hunting for archery, regular, and muzzleloader seasons on the same dates as adjacent Allegany-range bear units. Bears are not abundant but present. TURKEY: Spring season open statewide upstate, shooting hours one-half hour before sunrise to noon. Fall season open in the unit; fall hours sunrise to sunset. Good populations in the unit's woodlot and orchard mosaic.
High deer density fueled by apple orchards and agricultural fields; Lake Shore Marshes WMA offers 6,000+ acres of public access along Lake Ontario; unlimited antlerless tags with no DMP quota; September antlerless season added 2026; bear hunting open under southern-tier archery/regular/muzzleloader seasons; productive spring and fall turkey hunting in agricultural woodlots and orchard edges.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU 8H— 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.
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Boundaries: NYSDEC official Wildlife Management Units. Community info last updated 23d ago.