Charles Flood Wildlife Management Area at the Empire Brickyard
- Open for Recreation: Year-round
- Fee: Free
- Contact Information:
- DEC Region 4 Schenectady Office (M-F, 8:30AM - 4:30PM), (518) 357-2158; Wildlife.r4@dec.ny.gov
- Search, rescue, wildfire, and enforcement matters: 911- or - 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264)
A local Forest Ranger is a valuable source of information for the state land you would like to visit.
- Location: Town of Stockport, Columbia County
- Wildlife Management Unit: 4T
- Map: CFWMA Brickyard Map (PDF) || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator
The primary purposes of the Charles Flood Wildlife Management Area (CFWMA) at the Empire Brickyard are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. The CFWMA Brickyard is a 591-acre parcel acquired in 2018 from Scenic Hudson primarily to expand and improve wildlife dependent recreation opportunities such as hunting, trapping, and wildlife viewing; for the preservation of spawning and nursery habitat for coastal, migratory, and resident fish; and the protection of rare plant species. This WMA is made up of fields, forested uplands, shrublands, and tidal marsh. A portion of the property is part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research and Reserve, specifically the Stockport Flats Research and Reserve site, and is also recognized as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.
The property is also an archeological site of sensitivity and is identified as part of the Columbia-Green North Scenic Area of Statewide Importance. It is the former site of the Empire Brickyard Company, which went out of business before 1940 due to the depletion of clay resources in the Stockport area.
Featured Activities
Hunting and Trapping
General information on hunting and general information on trapping include how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules, and regulations.
White-tailed deer and a variety of small game species offer ample hunting and trapping opportunities. Please be sure to abide by all game laws (view hunting seasons and trapping seasons).
Wildlife
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, squirrels, and a host of songbirds frequent the area, so bring your binoculars and camera and enjoy the native wildlife. Wildlife on the area are typical of forests and forest edge habitats. Use the Wildlife Management Area Vertebrate Checklist (PDF) and the Wildlife Management Area Bird Checklist (PDF) as wildlife viewing guides.
Directions
Oyster mushrooms growing on a tree in
CFWMA Brickyard.
The CFWMA Brickyard is located in the Town of Stockport. There are two parking areas, one located on State Route 9J and one is on Alvords Dock Road. From both the north and south it can be accessed from State Route 9J. Alvords Dock Road is located off 9J at the intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 9J.
All Google links leave DEC website.
- Route 9J, Stockport (42.335396°N, 73.758719°W) - Google Maps Driving Directions
- Parking for Alvords Dock Road, Stockport (42.326217°N, 73.763513°W) - Google Maps Driving Directions
All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.
Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety
Practice Leave No Trace Principles (leaves DEC website) 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 this WMA 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
- Wildlife Management Area Regulations (PDF) - updated in 2022
- Hunting Regulations
- Trapping Regulations
The following activities are not permitted in CFWMA Brickyard:
- Using motorized vehicles, including:
- all-terrain vehicles
- motorboats
- Swimming
- Camping
- Using metal detectors, searching for or removing historic or cultural artifacts without a permit
- Damaging or removing gates, fences, signs, or other property
- Overnight storage of boats
- Cutting, removing, or damaging living vegetation
- Construction of permanent blinds or other structures such as tree stands
- Littering
- Storage of personal property
- The use of snowmobiles is prohibited
Outdoor Safety Tips
NOTE: Ticks are active whenever temperatures are above freezing, but especially so in the late spring and early fall. Deer (black-legged) 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 (leaves DEC website).
How We Manage Charles Flood Wildlife Management Area at the Empire Brickyard
Like most of the state's Wildlife Management Areas, CFWMA Brickyard 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.
Habitat management is accomplished primarily through commercial timber harvests that are used to increase habitat diversity by creating various kinds of forest canopy openings. Planned timber harvests will be used to create a patchwork of different stages of early successional habitat that will benefit a variety of species. The WMA is managed for non-intensive recreation consistent with its wildlife management function. The area has open grasslands, uplands, and tidal wetlands, as well as some trails.
View the Habitat Management Plan for Charles Flood Wildlife Management Area (PDF, 5.1 MB), approved in October 2021, which identifies the WMA-specific target species and habitat goals for the WMA.
Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities & Other Information
Web links below can provide information about other recreation, attractions, and amenities in this area. The following links leave the DEC website:
State Lands and Facilities
- Stockport Wildlife Management Area
- Rogers Island Wildlife Management Area
- Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve - Stockport Flats
- Hudson River Islands State Park (leaves DEC website)
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 (leaves DEC website) for information on outdoor guides.