The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will start accepting trapping permit applications for three Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in DEC’s Region 8 on October 1, 2026. 

Permit applications for Oak Orchard, Tonawanda, and John White WMAs are available for pick-up in person Monday through Friday at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge office located at 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or by calling DEC at (585) 948-5182. Permit applications will be accepted from October 1 to November 30, 2026. 

Trapping seasons on these three WMAs are more restrictive than the overall seasons for Western New York:   

• Muskrat and mink trapping for these public lands runs from December 5, 2026, to February 15, 2027, and is limited to 25 traps at water sites. Beaver trapping dates follow the statewide seasons. 
• Upland trapping at the John White WMA begins November 1, 2026. Upland trapping at Oak Orchard and Tonawanda WMAs follows the statewide seasons. 

Permitted trappers are required to report harvest and trapping efforts on each WMA for all species. More information related to permits for these three WMAs can be found in the trapping letter included with the permit application. More information on trapping seasons, regulations, and the rights of trappers is available on the DEC's Trapping Regulations webpage and Hunting and Trapping Seasons webpage. 

Please be aware that there is ongoing National Grid Electric Line Construction at John White and Tonawanda WMAs. Please follow posted signs at access points and do not enter construction areas (including areas with wooden construction mats). National Grid can be contacted with any project related questions at (716) 466-2007 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..