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Region 5 · 3 WMUs
Fulton County Hunting
DEC rules and numbers for Fulton County: 3 WMUs with their 2026-27 dates, 2026 DMP odds, bear and fall turkey areas, duck zones, 90,255 acres of DEC land and deer take since 2007.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Fulton County is 495 square miles of the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain, and Johnstown houses the county government. Census staff put the 2024 head count at 52,073, after a 2.4% fall since 2020. For DEC purposes it belongs to Region 5, headquartered in Ray Brook. The county is carved into 3 WMUs for big game: 5J, 5H and 6R. GIS puts DEC holdings in the county at around 90,255 acres.
Land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates, DEC region and offices from the DEC office list, WMUs from the DEC WMU season layer, DEC acres from the NYS DEC Lands layer (GIS measure). Checked October 27, 2026.
Fulton County: WMU seasons and antlerless permits
By area, 5J leads with 39%, ahead of 5H and 6R. Northern Zone timing holds for most of the county: early bow Sept. 27 to Oct. 23, regular Oct. 24 to Dec. 6. The Northern and Southern Zone line crosses the county, so check which side of it you are on. Deer Management Permits this year: limited DMPs in 6R and no DMPs at all in 5J and 5H. Missed the Oct 1, 2026 deadline? Leftover DMPs are sold in person from around Nov. 1. The youth deer weekend, Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026, is open with a firearm for hunters 12 to 15. Earn-a-2nd-Buck starts this season: an antlerless report unlocks another Antlered Deer Tag.
| Unit | Area share | Deer zone | Bowhunting | Gun season | Muzzle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5J | 39% | Northern | Sept. 27–Oct. 23 | Oct. 24–Dec. 6 | Oct. 17–Oct. 23 Dec. 7–Dec. 13 |
| 5H | 38% | Northern | Sept. 27–Oct. 23 | Oct. 24–Dec. 6 | Oct. 17–Oct. 23 |
| 6R | 23% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| WMU | Target | DMP success | 1st odds | 2nd odds | Nonres odds | Antler rule | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5J | None by law | — | — | — | — | None | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
| 5H | None by law | — | — | — | — | None | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
| 6R | 6,100 | 12.1% | High | Low | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 5J · WMU 5H · WMU 6R · DMP page · Antler rules
Unit shares and dates from the DEC WMU season layer (2026-27); DMP targets and odds from the 2026 DMP table and the guide DMP page; antler, bow-only, bear and turkey units from the 2026-27 guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Fulton County season dates for 2026-27
33 species and 72 dated windows reach Fulton County; the last column compares each with today.
| Quarry | Season | Units | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMUs 5H, 5J | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | All WMUs here | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading (deer of either sex) | WMUs 5H, 5J | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMUs 5H, 5J | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 6R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5J | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5J | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 6R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 6R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 6R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 6R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMUs 5H, 5J | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | All WMUs here | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 6R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 6R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 6R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMUs 5H, 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 6R | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | All WMUs here | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | All WMUs here | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | All WMUs here | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMUs 5H, 5J | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 6R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMUs 5H, 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 6R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMUs 5H, 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 6R | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Southeastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 27, 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 | Southeastern Zone | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 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 | September season | East Central 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 | East Central goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 21, 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 | Southeastern Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Feb 26, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMUs 5H, 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 6R | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Mink | Hunting (Southern Zone only) | Southern Zone | Nov 10, 2026 | Apr 7, 2027 | |
| Snapping turtle | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Frogs | Hunting | Statewide | Jun 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
From the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation), WMU lists as printed, checked October 27, 2026.
Fulton County bucks, does and fawns
The 2025 calculated take for Fulton County was 1,363 deer, 0.6% of the 227,032 statewide. The best year in the 2007-2025 run is 2013 (1,384); the lowest is 2011 (954). Fawns made up 96 of the 2025 total. By town, the Johnstown area led in 2019 with 241 deer, then Oppenheim and Mayfield.
| Season | Males 1.5+ | Male fawns | Females 1.5+ | Female fawns | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 926 | 43 | 341 | 53 | 1,363 |
| 2024 | 853 | 21 | 295 | 24 | 1,193 |
| 2023 | 832 | 21 | 259 | 21 | 1,133 |
| 2022 | 873 | 43 | 361 | 34 | 1,311 |
| 2021 | 770 | 17 | 281 | 14 | 1,082 |
| 2020 | 696 | 35 | 437 | 33 | 1,201 |
| Year | Bucks 1.5+ | Deer |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 780 | 1,149 |
| 2018 | 838 | 1,314 |
| 2017 | 675 | 983 |
| 2016 | 732 | 1,155 |
| 2015 | 722 | 1,126 |
| 2014 | 738 | 1,218 |
| 2013 | 904 | 1,384 |
| 2012 | 704 | 1,031 |
| 2011 | 646 | 954 |
| 2010 | 598 | 1,025 |
| 2009 | 597 | 1,037 |
| 2008 | 714 | 1,209 |
| 2007 | 688 | 1,142 |
Deer and DMPs by WMU (2022)
DEC 2025 deer take by county, earlier Deer Take by Town and County reports and the DEC deer and bear page; WMU and DMP figures from DEC deer reports (2022). Checked October 27, 2026.
Fulton County bears, gobblers and ducks
Bear season
Adirondacks and Southern Zone: that is the bear area for 5J, 5H and 6R. Bear dates here: Regular Season Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026; Early Bowhunting Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026; Youth Firearms Bear Hunt Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026; Regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026. County bear take tables run 2007-2022; 2022 shows 3 bears. In 2025, a record year of 1,759 bears statewide, the units here gave up 132 (whole-unit totals). DEC aims to maintain infrequent bear presence and maintain moderate bear density in these units.
Turkey
Fall turkey (one bird of either sex) is open in 5J and 5H Oct. 1-14; 6R Oct. 17-30. Spring gobblers open May 1, 2027 and close May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon; youth hunt Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027. Spring 2026 take in the Central Adirondacks aggregate, which covers part of the county, was about 1,335.
| Turkey aggregate | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Adirondacks | 5F,5H,6J | 1,318 | 1,280 | 1,335 |
| Champlain Valley and Transition | 5A,5G,5J | 570 | 633 | 605 |
| Mohawk Valley | 4A,5R,6R,6S | 990 | 949 | 1,005 |
Migratory birds
For waterfowl the county is Northeastern and Southeastern zone. Goose hunters use East Central and Northeast.
| Canada goose area | Open | Daily bag |
|---|---|---|
| East Central | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| East Central | Oct 24–Nov 20, 2026 | 3 |
| East Central | Dec 5–Dec 21, 2026 | 3 |
| Northeast | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| Northeast | Oct 24–Nov 29, 2026 | 3 |
| Northeast | Dec 12–Dec 19, 2026 | 3 |
Bear area list · Turkey areas · Waterfowl zones
Bear areas and dates from the guide bear page; county bear take from DEC Bear Take by Town and County tables; 2025 by WMU and heaviest bears from the 2025 Bear Harvest Summary; turkey dates from the guide turkey page and spring take from the DEC turkey harvest page; waterfowl from the guide migratory bird pages. Checked October 27, 2026.
Fulton County state land and public ground
The 11 Fulton County listings break down as 6 state forests, 3 wild forests and 2 forest preserve detached parcels. Forest Preserve land, open to hunting under DEC rules, covers about 84,111 acres. Fulton County is one of 47 counties in the pheasant release program.
- Wild forests, 3 hereFerris Lake Wild Forest (147,936 acres*), Wilcox Lake Wild Forest (127,860 acres*), Shaker Mountain Wild Forest (45,312 acres*)
- State forests, 6 listedPeck Hill State Forest (2,744 acres), Mallet Pond State Forest (2,577 acres*), Lassellsville State Forest (2,257 acres), Patria State Forest (2,181 acres*), Petersburg State Forest (1,088 acres*), Rockwood State Forest (864 acres)
- Forest Preserve detached parcels, 2 listedFulton Forest Preserve Detached Parcel (207 acres), Johnstown Forest Preserve Detached Parcel (135 acres)
DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program)
Nearest land outside Fulton
- Silver Lake Wilderness15 miles by map · 109,774 acres
- Rural Grove State Forest and Yatesville Falls State Forest18 miles by map · 1,999 acres
- Herkimer Forest Preserve Detached Parcel19 miles by map · 922 acres
- Charleston State Forest20 miles by map · 4,032 acres
- Lost Valley State Forest21 miles by map · 748 acres
Leave Johnson Hall State Historic Site out of the plan; hunting is not allowed there.
New York public land · WMA list · State forest list · Forest Preserve
Tracts from our New York land list (DEC property pages, OPRHP, USFWS, USFS and DEP records); acres by kind from the NYS DEC Lands layer and the USFS ownership layer (GIS measures, not official acreages). Checked October 27, 2026.
What the law says in Fulton County
Fulton County is not on the guide's list of places where rifles are barred for big game; check the legal implements map before you go. Without the owner's consent, stay 500 feet out with a firearm, 250 with a crossbow, 150 with a bow. Orange or pink is required for firearm deer and bear hunting; bowhunters in archery seasons are not covered. Feeding or baiting deer and bear is banned all year, salt and mineral licks included. Sunday hunting is legal everywhere in the state.
CWD and Fulton deer
CWD is not known in wild New York deer: DEC tested 3,050 in 2025 with no positives, and 71,973 since 2002. Hunting outside New York? Debone the meat and clean the skull before you come home.
| Season | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 2,967 | 0 |
| 2022-2023 | 2,727 | 0 |
| 2023-2024 | 2,713 | 0 |
| 2024-2025 | 3,189 | 0 |
| 2025-2026 | 3,050 | 0 |
Junior firearm deer hunting at 12-13 is a county opt-in pilot through 2028. DEC junior big game page
All rules · CWD rules · Junior hunters
Rifle areas and setbacks from the guide legal implements map; orange from the guide big game rules; baiting from the general regulations; Sunday hunting from the guide; CWD from the DEC CWD page and the CWD surveillance plan. Checked October 27, 2026.
Fulton County DEC offices, processors and shops
Businesses in Fulton County come first; the nearest in bordering counties fill each group. For a licensed guide, DEC's list has 3 in Fulton County. Town clerks count for 6 of the license outlets in Fulton County.
DEC offices
For Fulton County, DEC's regional office is in Ray Brook. Northville has the nearest DEC office, 15 miles from mid-county.
Processors
Taxidermy
Hunting preserves
Gun and archery shops
Offices from the DEC office list; processors from the DEC 2026 processor list and directories; guides and clerks from DEC data.ny.gov lists; shops from directories and store locators. Checked October 27, 2026; call ahead. All New York hunting services.
Fulton County town guides and neighbours
Fulton County has 5 town guides, seat first; each lists the public land within reach and the nearest shops.
- Johnstownseat · 8,027 residents (2024) · 9,175 public ac nearby
- Caroga Lake91,506 public ac nearby
- Gloversville14,894 residents (2024) · 16,658 public ac nearby
- Mayfield778 residents (2024) · 29,195 public ac nearby
- Northville994 residents (2024) · 49,241 public ac nearby
Fulton County borders 4 New York counties.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Fulton County legal hunting light
Spring turkey hunting ends at noon, fall turkey and upland birds run sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the half hour on each end.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and bear | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:21 a.m. | 6:03 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:57 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:21 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:29 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:52 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 8:27 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 7:57 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.
Fulton County ranges and match dates
Up to six Fulton County ranges show as cards; any others are in the table below.
Nearest public range: Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range in Saratoga County, about 35 miles from the county center. Range page
Shoots coming up here
| Date and event | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 / Pistol Skill Builder at Stratford Guns And Ammo | Class | Course page |
| Dec 12, 2026 / Pistol Skill Builder at Stratford Guns And Ammo | Class | Course page |
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Fulton County hunting questions
How many bears may one hunter take in Fulton County?
One per license year.
Where does Fulton County rank for deer?
It placed 50th among the 56 counties DEC reports for 2025, with 1,363 deer.
Which Canada goose area covers Fulton County?
Goose areas here: East Central and Northeast.
When does spring turkey open in Fulton County?
May 1, 2027; youth hunt Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027.
How far from a house can I shoot in Fulton County?
500 feet with a firearm, 250 with a crossbow and 150 with a bow, unless the owner consents.
How much Forest Preserve is in Fulton County?
About 84,111 acres by GIS.
Where does a Fulton County deer go for cutting and wrapping?
Whitey's Deli, Meat, & Beverage-Edwards Meats is closest on our list; phone before dropping off.
How far is Fulton County from a DEC office?
NYSDEC Region 5 Northville Sub-Office, about 15 miles away.
What are the DMP odds in WMU 5J?
Resident first DMP: NA; second: NA.
Is there a late muzzleloader season in Fulton County?
Yes: Oct. 17 to Oct. 23, Dec. 7 to Dec. 13.
Answers from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, the DMP pages, harvest reporting rules, DEC harvest data and the sources above. Checked October 27, 2026.
Fulton County trip checklist
Units in and around Fulton County can change between seasons; read the WMU page and the guide before you go.
Sources: 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, DEC hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); eflon (CC BY 2.0).