Jefferson County, New York · 7,932 acres
Perch River Wildlife Management Area Hunting 2026: Species & Access
Perch River Wildlife Management Area covers 7,932 acres near Watertown (about 5 miles southeast) in Jefferson County. Wetland and open water habitat dominates, with woodland, early-successional, and grassland areas mixed in — DEC mows the grasslands periodically in late summer and manages impoundment water levels specifically to keep the marsh attractive to waterfowl.
01 — What you can hunt here
| Species | Notes |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl | The WMA's signature draw — managed marsh and open water habitat pulls in a wide range of ducks and geese during spring and fall migration. |
| White-tailed deer | Present across the woodland and early-successional habitat. |
| Upland small game | Woodcock, ruffed grouse, and turkey use the grassland and woodland edge; pheasants are stocked in the fall. |
| Furbearers | Well-known furbearer population alongside the waterfowl, trapping is a featured activity here. |
02 — Access rules specific to this WMA
- A standard New York hunting license covers hunting here — no separate WMA permit under the statewide system.
- Special Public Use Regulations apply specifically to Perch River's wetlands (beyond the general statewide WMA rules) — check DEC's Perch River WMA Wetlands Regulations before hunting the marsh itself.
- Standard statewide WMA rules apply: no permanent blinds or stands, tree stands must be labeled and removed by season's end, no camping without written permission, no target shooting unless posted as allowed.
04 — Facilities
Camping: Not permitted without written DEC permission. No shooting range on-site.
Multiple gravel-road parking areas off Vaadi, Allen, Dog Hill, and Buckminster Roads — the Buckminster Road access point to the refuge area is open only during hunting season.
05 — Where to go next
Perch River is one of the best-known waterfowl destinations in New York's North Country — DEC manages the marsh's water levels and mows its grasslands specifically to hold ducks and geese through both migrations, and the area doubles as a strong furbearer trapping ground. Deer and upland bird hunting (including stocked pheasant) round it out, but waterfowl is what the area is built around. Access is plain license-only under the statewide WMA system, though the wetlands themselves carry site-specific rules beyond the general regulations — worth checking before a hunt, not assuming they're identical to a typical upland WMA.
New York hunting license costs and permits →
Verified · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · Last verified 2026-08-13
Publisher's note. Read from NYSDEC, retrieved 2026-08-13. Review due 2027-08-01. WMA-specific rules and closures can change between seasons — confirm before you hunt.