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Macomb State Forest for hunters
Everything we could verify about this state forest in Clinton County (1,057 acres).
Photo: cm195902 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Macomb State Forest
Acres and location of Macomb State Forest
Macomb State Forest counts as a DEC state forest; its ground is in Clinton County. It reaches into Schuyler Falls and Schuyler, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 5, the office for the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. Recorded size: 1,057 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 230th among 409 state forests. The Northern Clinton plan covers it.
DEC page text: Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species hunted found on the property include whitetail deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, snowshoe hare, coyote, and waterfowl. The main furbearers found on the property include fisher, beaver, mink, muskrat, raccoon, and otter.
From DEC macomb state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Macomb State Forest
Macomb State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Macomb State Forest, starting with Burnt Hill State Forest. Together they add 64,725 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnt Hill | State forest | 1,578 | 5C | 3.5 mi | west |
| Terry Mountain | State forest | 4,814 | 5C | 4.2 mi | southwest |
| Cadyville | State forest | 371 | 5C | 6.5 mi | north |
| Imperial Mills Dam | WMA | 7 | 5A | 9.3 mi | northeast |
| Dunkin's Reserve | State forest | 2,434 | 5C | 10 mi | north |
| Chazy Highlands | State forest | 5,540 | 5C | 11 mi | northwest |
| Ausable Marsh | WMA | 730 | 5G | 11 mi | east |
| Valcour Island | Primitive area | 946 | 5A | 11 mi | east |
| Chazy Highlands | Wild forest | 47,589 | 5C | 12 mi | west |
| Wickham Marsh | WMA | 716 | 5G | 12 mi | southeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Macomb State Forest
Macomb State Forest follows the rules DEC sets for state forest land:
- Leave every tree on Macomb State Forest as you found it: hardware, trimmed lanes and built blinds are not allowed.
- Seasonal stands on Macomb State Forest need an ID tag (name and address or license number) and must be pulled when the season closes.
- Storing personal items on Macomb State Forest is not allowed; trail cameras count.
- Off-road driving is not allowed on Macomb State Forest unless a route is designated, and that covers ATVs.
- Overnight camps follow the state land permit rules.
Beyond the site rules: state law on Macomb State Forest
- The orange-or-pink rule covers firearm deer and bear hunters and their companions.
- Boundary houses matter: no gun discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling without consent.
- Bait piles and mineral blocks are not allowed for deer or bear.
- State law no longer limits Sunday hunting anywhere.
From DEC macomb state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Macomb State Forest
Macomb State Forest lies in WMU 5C, a Northern Zone unit of 1,126 square miles reaching Clinton, Franklin and Essex. There are no DMPs for 5C under state law. 5C bear hunting: Adirondacks. 5C fall turkey: Oct. 1-14.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5C | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
Deer reported from 5C
DEC calculated 1,210 deer taken in 5C in 2022, against 583 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 583 | 480 |
| 2017 | 616 | 528 |
| 2018 | 847 | 691 |
| 2019 | 1,003 | 808 |
| 2020 | 939 | 703 |
| 2021 | 955 | 794 |
| 2022 | 1,210 | 955 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 5C with 47 (2023), 58 (2024), 46 (2025).
Bear management goal in 5C: maintain moderate bear density.
WMU facts from the 2026 DMP table, the 2026-27 DEC guide, DEC deer take reports and the DEC bear harvest dashboard; WMU from the DEC WMU layer; checked October 27, 2026.
Macomb State Forest season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 5C and the waterfowl zones over Macomb State Forest are listed: 43 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5C | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5C | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 5C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5C | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 5C | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5C | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5C | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5C | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5C | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Northeastern Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Northeast goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Northeast goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Northeast goose area | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 19, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Feb 26, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Snapping turtle | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
Season rows from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, matched to the DEC WMU, duck zone and goose area layers; checked October 27, 2026. All New York seasons.
Macomb State Forest: species list
8 species groups lead the list for Macomb State Forest, each linked to its species page.
White-tailed deer
Oct 24–Dec 6
Black bear
Sep 19–Dec 6
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Nov 29
Ruffed grouse
Sep 20–Feb 28
Rabbit and hare
Oct 1–Mar 21
Coyote
Oct 1–Mar 28
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC macomb state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Macomb State Forest: lots, pull-offs and map files
2 parking locations serve Macomb State Forest, each with coordinates.
| Parking area, lat and lon | Link |
|---|---|
| The Squire Pond Parking Area fits 8 cars and is located on the east side of the forest off of Austin Road: 44.6299, -73.5862 | Map it |
| The Ridge Road Parking Area is located off Burnt Hill Road on the west side of the forest: 44.6198, -73.6586 | Map it |
Map on file: Macomb State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC macomb state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Macomb State Forest
Town-level numbers for Macomb State Forest: Schuyler Falls gave up 53 deer in 2019 (39 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schuyler Falls | Clinton | 34 | – | 38 | 58 | 53 | 39 |
| Schuyler | Clinton | – | 40 | – | – | – | – |
By town, bears taken: 3 in Schuyler Falls in 2020; 5 in Schuyler Falls in 2021; 4 in Schuyler Falls in 2022.
County-wide, Clinton produced 1,614 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,313 | 1,056 | 236 |
| 2022 | 1,527 | 1,108 | 332 |
| 2023 | 1,372 | 1,153 | 181 |
| 2024 | 1,439 | 1,137 | 270 |
| 2025 | 1,614 | 1,241 | 278 |
DEC deer take by town and county (towns 2007-2019), county deer take 2021-2025 and DEC bear take by town; checked October 27, 2026.
Macomb State Forest: first and last legal light
Deer and bear may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese close at sunset, and small game runs sunrise to sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:46 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:21 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:27 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:59 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:24 a.m. | 4:15 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:32 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:46 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:16 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:16 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. |
Hours rule from the DEC guide sunrise and sunset page; sun times calculated for the county centre (NOAA method), checked against the guide’s Albany table; checked October 27, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Macomb State Forest trip planning
The quickest town stop is Peru (6.1 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peru | Clinton | 6.1 mi | – | 11,302 |
| Dannemora | Clinton | 7.7 mi | 2,384 | 33,658 |
| Redford | Clinton | 8.3 mi | – | 55,286 |
| Plattsburgh | Clinton | 10 mi | 19,758 | 3,083 |
Read Macomb State Forest alongside its county page: Clinton County.
Macomb State Forest: businesses close by
DEC lists 22 licensed guides with an address in Clinton County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Macomb State Forest: the nearest DEC offices
Towns and populations from Census 2024 estimates; businesses from store locators and listings; DEC offices and licensed guide counts from DEC. Checked October 27, 2026.
Macomb State Forest: nearest firing lines
The three listed ranges closest to Macomb State Forest follow; Peru Rod & Gun Club, Inc. leads at 6 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Macomb State Forest in pictures
Macomb State Forest questions, answered from the record
When does archery open near Macomb State Forest?
WMU 5C: Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Macomb State Forest?
Regular Season: Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 (WMU 5C).
Which animals are named for Macomb State Forest?
Listed: white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and rabbit and hare.
Is there a DMP for the WMU over Macomb State Forest?
5C gets no DMPs by law.
What bear season covers Macomb State Forest?
Bear season runs Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026 in WMU 5C.
What are the spring turkey dates for Macomb State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
How far is Macomb State Forest from a town?
Peru, 6.1 mi straight-line.
Can I hunt ducks on Macomb State Forest?
The Northeastern Zone opens Oct 10, 2026.
Who may hunt Macomb State Forest?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
How do stands work on Macomb State Forest?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
What zone and WMU is Macomb State Forest?
It is 5C ground, Northern Zone.
What does Macomb State Forest measure?
1,057 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
Macomb State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Macomb State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC macomb state forest · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0); bobistraveling (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).