Thin trees in a forest
Wildlife Management Area

Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area

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View the draft Canadaway Creek Access and Public Use Plan (PDF). Comments were accepted through March 2, 2022.

The primary purposes of Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. This is a 2,180-acre broad and deeply dissected upland plateau, characteristic of the county. The landscape of steep slopes is covered primarily with deciduous forest mixed with conifer plantations. Canadaway Creek runs through the property.

The federal government became interested in the area in the mid-1930s. Under the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture acquired the area by the late 1930s. The land remained under federal government control until 1961 when title to this property was deeded to the State of New York. By 1964, an additional 165 acres was acquired under the Park and Recreation Land Acquisition Act.

Featured Activities

Wildlife Management Unit: 9K

General information on hunting include how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules, and regulations.

Hunting is allowed within Canadaway Creek WMA. There are hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, bear, and turkey, or trapping for beaver, muskrat, mink, raccoon, or fox. Please be sure to abide by all game laws (view hunting seasons).

Wildlife Management Unit: 9K

General information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Trapping is allowed within Canadaway Creek WMA. Opportunities for trapping include beaver, muskrat, mink, raccoon, or fox. Please be sure to abide by all game laws (view trapping seasons).

General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules, and regulations.

Fish for brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout in Canadaway Creek during the spring. The section of the creek within the WMA is stocked with 2,050 yearling brook trout and 50 two-year old brown trout each spring.

General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.

Deer, turkeys, black bears, squirrels, and a host of songbirds frequent the area. Use the Wildlife Management Area Vertebrate Checklist (PDF) and the Wildlife Management Area Bird Checklist (PDF) as wildlife viewing guides.

Directions

From Interstate 86 take Route 60 north to Cassadaga then head east on County Route 72 for approximately 5 miles.

All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.

Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety

Practice Leave No Trace Principles when recreating on state land to enjoy the outdoors responsibly; minimize impact on the natural resources and avoid conflicts with other users.

All users of Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area must follow all Wildlife Management Area Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.

Activity Rules and Regulations

Outdoor Safety Tips

NOTE: Ticks are active whenever temperatures are above freezing, but especially so in the late spring and early fall. Deer ticks can transmit Lyme and several other diseases. More information on deer ticks and Lyme disease can be obtained from the NYS Department of Health.

How We Manage Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area

Like most of the state's Wildlife Management Areas, Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area is managed by DEC's Division of Fish and Wildlife for wildlife conservation and wildlife-associated recreation (hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, and photography). Funding to maintain and manage this site is provided by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration or "Pittman-Robertson" Act, which is acquired through excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, and archery equipment.

From the early 1940s through the mid-1950s, numerous conifer plantations were established. Since then, some of these plantations have been cut and thinned. Other activities such as hardwood cutting and thinning; mowing abandoned pasture and cultivated fields; planting grain and legumes; planting food-producing shrubs and conifer seedlings for wildlife cover; development of marshes, potholes, and ponds; and construction of roads for management and public access has taken place.

Some of the principal management objectives and techniques for the Canadaway Creek WMA are to:

  • maintain high quality habitat for ruffed grouse through a regulated timber management plan,
  • provide wildlife related recreation use opportunities and to protect, and
  • maintain special wildlife habitats that exist on the area.

View the Habitat Management Plan for Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area (PDF), approved in March 2017, which identifies the WMA-specific target species and habitat goals for the WMA.

Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities and Other Information

Web links below can provide information about other recreation, attractions, and amenities in this area.

State Lands and Facilities

Numerous guide books and maps are available with information on the lands, waters, trails, and other recreational facilities in this area. These can be purchased at most outdoor equipment retailers, bookstores, and on-line booksellers.

Additional information, outdoor equipment, trip suggestions, and guided or self-guided tours may be obtained from outdoor guide and outfitting businesses. Check area chambers of commerce, telephone directories, or search the internet for listings.

Consider hiring an outdoor guide if you have little experience or woodland skills. See the NYS Outdoor Guides Association for information on outdoor guides.

Important Links

Watchable Wildlife
Chautauqua County Tourism
Contact for this Page

NYS DEC Region 9 Wildlife Manager
182 E Union St Suite 3
Allegany, NY 14706

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Region 9 Western New York
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