Wildlife Management Area

Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Management Area

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Map of Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Management Area

The primary purposes of Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. This complex is composed of seven separate units bounded on the north by Lake Ontario and contains approximately 6,179 acres of wetlands and adjacent uplands. All of the area is available for public use.

Lake Shore Marshes WMA provides wildlife habitat and access for recreation across the Lake Ontario shoreline, including several embayments, marshes, and bluffs. Adjacent upland areas provide buffers and habitat for forest, shrubland, and grassland species. Many hand launches are available for paddling along creeks and marshes, and trailered boat ramps along Port Bay provide access to the bay and Lake Ontario for larger boats.

Starting with the 2025 pheasant season (October 18-December 31), Lake Shore Marshes WMA and Northern Montezuma WMA will be closed to pheasant hunting and dog training on pheasants on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please see the associated press release for additional information on this change and links to pheasant hunting resources.

Featured Activities

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules, and regulations. The WMA includes dedicated foot trails at the Shaker Tract Unit, Beaver Creek Unit (Whistlewood Trail), and Black Creek Unit.
 

Please stay on the designated trails to protect the diversity and richness of the plant communities found within this area.

Wildlife Management Unit: 8F

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

Hunting is popular across Lake Shore Marshes WMA due to its variety of habitats and availability of access points. All units of Lake Shore Marshes WMA are open to hunting, but hunters should be aware of firearm discharge setbacks since several units are adjacent to residential areas or rural homes. Boundary markings near Chimney Bluffs State Park should also be noted, as rules for hunting on that property differ from those on the WMA.

During the hunting season, ring-necked pheasants, rabbits, woodcock, squirrels, white-tailed deer, and waterfowl are taken in good numbers. Please be sure to abide by all game laws (view hunting seasons).

Wildlife Management Unit: 8F

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

The coastal wetlands of Lake Shore Marshes WMA provide ample trapping opportunity in the fall and winter months. Muskrat, beaver, and mink can be found in many of the units near the lakeshore. Upland species include fox and coyote.

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

Year-round fishing opportunities are plentiful across Lake Shore Marshes WMA, from trout in woodland streams, to bullhead off of bridges in cattail marsh channels, and access for ice fishing opportunities on the embayments. Wayne County and DEC maintain parking areas on or adjacent to WMA property on Shaker Tract Road throughout winter to provide safe access for ice fishermen on Sodus Bay.

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

The area offers a unique combination of lake and bay marshes providing varied habitats for many species of fish, mammals, songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Black ducks, mallards, wood ducks, and teal are the principal waterfowl species along with a variety of diving ducks on the open water areas.

Because of its important bird habitat Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Management Area was designated as a Bird Conservation Area. Other species of interest include: black tern (Endangered), pied-billed grebe (Threatened), least bittern (Threatened), northern harrier (Threatened), American bittern (Special Concern), osprey (Special Concern), common loon (Special Concern), sharp-shinned hawk, bobolink, eastern meadowlark, marsh wren, Virginia rail, sora, Wilson's snipe, magnolia warbler, golden-winged warbler, brown thrasher, and ring-necked duck.

Use both the Wildlife Management Area Vertebrate Checklist (PDF) and Wildlife Management Area Bird Checklist (PDF) as wildlife viewing guides.

Accessible Features

From the West Port Bay Road Parking Area at inlet to Lake Ontario, wheelchair accessible features include the:

  • Hand boat launch with dock and kayak slide; and
  • Portable toilet (seasonal)

See Maps, Directions, and Featured Activities sections on this page for more details on these features. Visit the DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations web page for additional accessible recreation opportunities.

Directions

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 Lake Shore Marshes 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 & 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 Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Management Area

Like most of the state's Wildlife Management Areas, Lake Shore Marshes WMA 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.

Development has included the construction of small water impoundments and parking areas at scenic locations overlooking areas used by migrating waterfowl. Other developments consist of boat access sites and trails available to fishermen, hunters, hikers, and naturalists. Management objectives emphasize waterfowl utilization of this area.

View the Habitat Management Plan for Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Management Area (PDF, 5.07 MB), approved in August 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 & 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

Wayne County Tourism
Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance
NYS Department of Health
Leave No Trace
Contact for this Page

DEC Region 8
6274 E. Avon-Lima Rd
Avon, NY 14414

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Region 8 Western Finger Lakes
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