WMU 9M, New York
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 9
- Area
- 329 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 3
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
- 2,522
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 9M covers the western Chautauqua County plateau in far southwestern New York, where rolling glaciated hills, dairy farms, vineyards, hardwood forests, and abundant edge habitat combine to produce strong whitetail deer numbers and top-tier spring turkey harvests. The unit sits in the Southern Zone and is open to all legal implements during regular firearms season, with a healthy and growing black bear population drawing increasing attention from bear hunters across Region 9.
Rolling glaciated hills and valleys ranging 1,000-2,100 ft elevation on the Lake Erie plateau; patchwork of dairy farms, grape vineyards, hardwood forest (oak, beech, hemlock), and shrub swamp lowlands; Chautauqua Lake bisects southern portions of the region; gentle ridges with dense forest-to-field edges create ideal whitetail travel corridors
moderate
Southern Zone DMP system applies; WMU 9M holds a limited DMP quota requiring application by October 1 annually; up to four DMPs allowed per hunter (two quota, two no-quota units); Earn-a-2nd-Buck system in effect statewide for 2026 - harvest an antlerless deer to unlock a second antlered tag; DMP hotline 1-866-472-4332
DEER - Southern Zone seasons: Archery Oct 1 - Nov 20, Dec 14-22, Dec 26-Jan 1; Youth Firearms Oct 10-12; Regular Firearms Nov 21 - Dec 13; Muzzleloader Dec 14-22 and Dec 26-Jan 1; all legal implements permitted. BEAR - Southern Zone: Archery Oct 1 - Nov 20 and Dec 14-22; Youth Firearms Oct 10-12; Regular Season Nov 21 - Dec 13; Muzzleloader Dec 14-22; expanding population in Chautauqua County. TURKEY - Spring season May 1-31 (Youth weekend late April); Fall season Southern Zone Oct 17-30 (one bird either sex); harvest reporting required within 48 hours via DECALS or 1-866-426-3778
Chautauqua County consistently ranks among top NY counties for both deer and spring turkey harvest; 8,461 whitetails harvested county-wide in recent seasons including 3,978 adult bucks; county ranks top-3 statewide for spring turkey harvest; bear population expanding rapidly - Region 9 yielded 196 bears in 2025 season; food-rich habitat with oak/beech mast, standing corn, and vineyard edges drives excellent deer movement in October-November
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU 9M— 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 9M.
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.