Hanging Bog 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
- 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 New Hudson, Allegany County
Wildlife Management Unit: 9W
Map: Hanging Bog WMA Map (PDF) || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator

View the draft Access and Public Use Plan for Hanging Bog WMA (PDF). Comments were accepted through March 2, 2022.

The primary purposes of Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. This is a 4,560-acre area made up of rolling hills, extensive forests lands, small fields, and marshes. The area is named for the large man-made bog on the property, which was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the late 1930s.

The federal government became interested in the area in the 1930s. Under the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture acquired the area and managed it as a CCC camp. After 1940, the federal government leased the land to the state as a game management area. The land remained under federal government control until 1962 when title to this property was deeded to the State of New York. Additional acreage was acquired under the Park and Recreation Land Acquisition Act. The majority of the property was for game management; the remainder went to the Division of Lands and Forests.

Featured Activities

Hunting and Trapping

Wildlife Management Unit: 9W

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 allowed within Hanging Bog WMA. Please be sure to abide by all game laws (view hunting seasons and trapping seasons).

Fishing

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

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.

Accessible Features

General information on accessible recreation includes links to other locations with accessible recreation opportunities and information on permits for motorized access.

Individuals with disabilities can apply for a permit through the Motorized Access Program for People With Disabilities (MAPPWD) to use a motor vehicle on designated roads. One trail is available for ATV use by people with disabilities located off the Briggs Road parking area. Contact the regional office at the number listed above to obtain a permit.

There is a hard base/gravel parking lot and a crushed stone trail leading to a viewing platform, designed to promote accessibility, on New Hudson Road.

Directions

From Interstate 86: Take Exit 28 and head north on Route 305 to New Hudson Road.

All Google links leave DEC website.

Briggs Road parking lot (42.305355°N, 78.260260°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
Rush Creek Road parking lot (42.345957°N, 78.232041°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
Punky Road parking lot (42.325566°N, 78.249727°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
New Hudson Road east side parking lot at the bog pond (42.308449°N, 78.249803°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
New Hudson Road west side parking lot at campsite (42.287173°N, 78.248719°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
Habgood Road parking lot (42.305034°N, 78.221533°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 Hanging Bog 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 (PDF) - regulations updated in 2022

Large meadow at Hanging Bog WMA in summer

Large meadow in Hanging Bog WMA

The following activities are not permitted in Hanging Bog WMA:

Using motorized vehicles, including:
- all-terrain vehicles
- snowmobiles
- motorboats
Swimming (no lifeguard on premises) or bathing
Camping (except at designated primitive sites with a permit only - contact DEC Region 9 office at phone number at top of page)
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 Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area

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

Since 1948, management practices have included conifer plantation establishment, thinning of plantations, selective cutting and clear-cutting of hardwoods, leasing of croplands, planting wildlife shrubs and developing small marshes, ponds and potholes. All of these practices provide nesting, feeding and cover habitat for wildlife. Also, in 1951 a conservation camp was built, later becoming the Rushford Conservation Education Camp. Hanging Bog is a man made impoundment built by the CCC in the late 1930s. The 'Bog' is located on portions of the Hanging Bog WMA and the Crab Hollow State Forest. It is characterized by a floating mat of vegetation in the middle of the impoundment.

A principal management objective and technique for the Hanging Bog is to maintain high quality habitat for ruffed grouse through a regulated timber management plan. View the Habitat Management Plan for Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area (PDF), approved in September 2016, 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.

Allegany 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.

Department of Environmental Conservation