Wildlife Management Area

Willard Wildlife Management Area

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  • Open for Recreation: Year-round

The primary purposes of Willard Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. Willard WMA land was originally a part of the Willard State Hospital and was managed as farmland. Farm operations were discontinued in 1963 and the land was transferred to DEC for hunting, fishing, and recreational use. Additional, smaller acquisitions have been made since that time, bringing the total property size to 154 acres. 
More than half of Willard WMA is made up of large fields, providing habitat for a variety of upland species, including grassland-dependent birds like Bobolink and Northern Harrier. A small shrubland is maintained around an old apple orchard, and the western portion of the property is an oak-hickory forest. Willard WMA borders Seneca Lake, but shoreline access is limited due to the high shale bluffs..

 

Featured Activities

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Please stay on the designated trails to protect the diversity and richness of the plant communities found within this area. A gravel walking trail extends from the western parking area through the woodlot and an area overlooking Seneca Lake. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on this trail.

Wildlife Management Unit: 8S.

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

Deer, cottontail rabbit, and squirrel are the main wildlife game species on the WMA. American woodcock, wild turkey, and furbearers like coyote and fox can also be found here. Please be sure to abide by all game laws (view hunting seasons).

Wildlife Management Unit: 8S.

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

Deer, cottontail rabbit, and squirrel are the main wildlife game species on the WMA. American woodcock, wild turkey, and furbearers like coyote and fox can also be found here. 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. . Willard WMA has a couple of small ponds that may support a limited fishery for panfish. Seneca Lake has an extensive fishery for both warm and cold water species, however accessing the shoreline water at Willard WMA is challenging due to steep high banks.

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

Willard WMA supports grassland-dependent birds, including breeding songbirds and wintering raptors such as Northern Harrier and Short-eared Owl. Migrating songbirds and breeding forest and shrubland birds can also be found in other parts of the WMA depending on the season. Use both the Wildlife Management Area Vertebrate Checklist (PDF) and Wildlife Management Area Bird Checklist (PDF) as wildlife viewing guides.

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 Willard 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 Willard Wildlife Management Area

Like most of the state's Wildlife Management Areas, Willard 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.

Because of its past agricultural history, the crop land is rented to local farmers and income from rentals has been used to develop roads, trails, and parking areas. Other improvements to make this area more productive for fish and wildlife resources are planned for the future. Multiple use of the Willard area for agriculture and recreation has been very successful and will be continued.

DEC manages these lands in accordance with the management activities described in the Northern Finger Lakes Draft Unit Management Plan (PDF). In addition to management objectives, the UMP contains detailed information on natural features, recreational infrastructure, geology, natural and human history, habitats, wildlife, fisheries and much more. If you have questions and/or comments about this UMP, please email us.

View the Habitat Management Plan for Willard Wildlife Management Area (PDF), approved in December 2020, 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

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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