DEC Announces Trapping Permits Now Available for Oak Orchard, Tonawanda, and John White Wildlife Management Areas

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will start accepting trapping permit applications on Oct. 3 for three DEC Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in DEC's Region 8.

Permit applications for Oak Orchard, Tonawanda, and John White WMAs, can be picked up in person Monday through Friday at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Office located at 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by calling DEC at (585) 948-5182. Permit applications will be accepted from Oct. 3 to Nov. 30.

Trapping seasons on these three WMAs are more restrictive than the overall seasons for Western New York:

1. Muskrat and mink trapping for these public lands will run from Dec. 3, 2022, to Feb. 15, 2023, and is limited to 25 traps at water sites. Beaver trapping dates follow the statewide seasons; and
2. Upland trapping at the John White WMA does not begin until Nov. 1. Upland trapping at Oak Orchard and Tonawanda WMAs follows the statewide seasons.

Trappers who obtain a permit will be required to report their harvest and trapping efforts on each area, for all species. More information related to permits for these three WMAs can be found in the trapping letter that is included with the permit application, and more information on trapping seasons, regulations, and the rights of trappers can be found on the DEC website at the Trapping Regulations and Trapping Seasons webpages.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html