Conewango Swamp Wildlife Management Area
- Open for Recreation: Year-round
- Fee: Free
- Contact Information:
- DEC Region 9 Allegany Office (M-F, 8:00AM - 4:00PM), (716) 372-0645; region9@dec.ny.gov
- Enforcement Matters: (518) 408-5850 (24/7)
- Location: Town of Conewango, Cattaraugus County
- Wildlife Management Unit: 9K
- Map: Conewango Swamp WMA Map (PDF) || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator
The primary purposes of Conewango Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. This is a 996-acre wetland habitat made up of three separate parcels. It consists of nearly 830 acres of shrub swamp, emergent marsh, and wetland open water as well as approximately 75 acres of brush and grassland.
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.
Hunting and trapping are permitted on the property in accordance with all game regulations (view hunting seasons and trapping seasons).
Fishing
General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules, and regulations.
Conewango Swamp WMA is open to fishing. There are 8 miles of public fishing rights easements on Little Conewango Creek, which runs between two of the parcels of the WMA. The nearby Randolph Fish Hatchery stocks the creek with 2,650 yearling brown trout and 200 two-year-old brown trout each spring. The stream also has a small population of wild brown trout.
For Public Fishing Rights (PFR) on the Little Conewango Creek, visit DECinfo Locator- Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map (DECinfo Locator is best viewed on a desktop computer. Users are encouraged to visit the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide first for "how to" instructions on using the fishing map).
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, 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 exit 16 toward Randolph, turn right onto Main Street and then left onto Route 241. Swamp Road and Brown Road, which turn off this route on the left, lead to the WMA parcels.
All Google directions leave DEC website.
- Northern Swamp Road Unpaved Parking Lot (42.19324°N, 78.990968°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
- Southern Swamp Road Unpaved Parking Lot (42.174755°N, 78.986161°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
- Route 241 Unpaved Parking Lot (42.174761°N, 78.973306°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
- Goodwin Landing Road Unpaved Parking Lot and Hand Launch (42.186635°N, 79.036822°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.
Rules, Regulations & 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 Conewango Swamp Wildlife Management Area must follow all State Land Use Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.
Activity Rules & Regulations
- Hunting Regulations
- Trapping Regulations
- Fishing Regulations
- Public Use of Wildlife Management Areas Regulations (leaves DEC website)
The following activities are not permitted in Conewango Swamp WMA:
- Using motorized vehicles, including:
- all-terrain vehicles
- snowmobiles
- motorboats
- Swimming (no lifeguard on premises) or bathing
- 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
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 (leaves DEC website).
How We Manage Conewango Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Like most of the state's Wildlife Management Areas, Conewango Swamp 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.
Some of the principal management objectives and techniques for this WMA are to provide habitat for a variety of resident and migratory species and to permit compatible wildlife related recreational use, which include: creating a shallow water impoundment to attract waterfowl and conducting annual grassland mowing to keep open fields from reverting to brush and trees.
View the Habitat Management Plan for Conewango Swamp Wildlife Management Area (PDF), approved in June 2020, 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.
- Cattaraugus County Tourism (leaves DEC website)
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 (leaves DEC website) for information on outdoor guides.
