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2026-27 · Northern Zone
Hamilton County Hunting
Everything county-level for Hamilton County: WMU shares and season windows, Deer Management Permit targets, bear take by year, spring turkey numbers, CWD testing and where to get a deer processed.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
The Census Gazetteer gives Hamilton County 1,717 square miles of dry land; Lake Pleasant is the county seat. The 2024 Census estimate is 5,082 residents, near 3 to the square mile. Region 5 of DEC, based in Ray Brook, covers the county. Seasons follow WMU lines, and 5H, 6J and 5F reach into the county. The DEC Lands layer measures roughly 817,638 acres of state land in the county.
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.
Hamilton County deer units and permits
Unit shares: 5H 74%; 6J 20%; 5F 6%. The Northern Zone calendar applies: bows Sept. 27 to Oct. 23, guns Oct. 24 to Dec. 6. DMP availability breaks down as no DMP by statute in 5H, 6J and 5F. A youth firearms deer and bear hunt runs Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026. Buck number two requires an antlerless deer first under the 2026 rule.
| WMU | Share | Zone | Early bow | Regular | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5H | 74% | Northern | Sept. 27–Oct. 23 | Oct. 24–Dec. 6 | Oct. 17–Oct. 23 |
| 6J | 20% | Northern | Sept. 27–Oct. 23 | Oct. 24–Dec. 6 | Oct. 17–Oct. 23 |
| 5F | 6% | Northern | Sept. 27–Oct. 23 | Oct. 24–Dec. 6 | Oct. 17–Oct. 23 |
| Unit | Target 2026 | Avg success | Res. first | Res. second | Nonres. first | Bucks | Bear | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5H | None by law | — | — | — | — | None | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
| 6J | None by law | — | — | — | — | None | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
| 5F | None by law | — | — | — | — | None | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
WMU 5H · WMU 6J · WMU 5F · DMP odds statewide · Antler restriction map
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.
Season windows that cover Hamilton County
State land and private land share these dates in Hamilton County; refuges, Fort Drum and some parks add their own permits.
| Animal | Hunt | Unit | Starts | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | All WMUs here | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 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) | All WMUs here | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | All WMUs here | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | All WMUs here | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | All WMUs here | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 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 | All WMUs here | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 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 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 | 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 | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Hamilton County deer take by year
959 deer is DEC's 2025 figure for Hamilton County, 51st of 56. From 1,185 in 2007 to 959 in 2025 is a -19% change. By sex and age: bucks 864, does 75, fawns 20. In the 2019 town table Indian Lake tops the county with 212 deer.
| Year | Adult males | Male fawns | Adult females | Female fawns | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 864 | 11 | 75 | 9 | 959 |
| 2024 | 909 | 6 | 91 | 6 | 1,012 |
| 2023 | 933 | 15 | 76 | 13 | 1,037 |
| 2022 | 831 | 14 | 111 | 12 | 968 |
| 2021 | 786 | 4 | 79 | 3 | 872 |
| 2020 | 605 | 17 | 230 | 16 | 868 |
| Season | Antlered adults | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 823 | 912 |
| 2018 | 925 | 1,048 |
| 2017 | 843 | 973 |
| 2016 | 737 | 837 |
| 2015 | 665 | 819 |
| 2014 | 894 | 1,065 |
| 2013 | 1,000 | 1,179 |
| 2012 | 867 | 1,022 |
| 2011 | 616 | 762 |
| 2010 | 560 | 698 |
| 2009 | 510 | 629 |
| 2008 | 1,289 | 1,444 |
| 2007 | 964 | 1,185 |
By unit, latest year
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.
Hamilton County: bear areas, turkey and geese
Black bear
Black bear seasons reach 5H, 6J and 5F, part of the Adirondacks area. 2 bear season segments apply, the first opening Sep 19, 2026. In 2022, the last county table, 30 bears were reported. Of 1,759 bears taken in New York in 2025, 199 came from the units that cover the county. DEC's population objective for these units: maintain moderate bear density.
| Unit | Early | Bowhunting | Muzzleloading | Regular | Youth | Total | Per 100 sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5H | — | 0 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 93 | 3.1 |
| 6J | — | 0 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 91 | 5.8 |
| 5F | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 1.1 |
Wild turkey
For fall birds: 5H, 6J and 5F Oct. 1-14. May belongs to gobblers: May 1 to May 31, 2027, with hunting hours ending at noon. Central Adirondacks spring take: about 1,335 in 2026, by DEC estimate.
| Aggregate | WMUs | Take 2024 | Take 2025 | Take 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Adirondacks | 5F,5H,6J | 1,318 | 1,280 | 1,335 |
Ducks and geese
The duck zone here is Northeastern. Goose area covering the county: Northeast.
| Area | Window | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| Northeast | Oct 24–Nov 29, 2026 | 3 |
| Northeast | Dec 12–Dec 19, 2026 | 3 |
Bear areas statewide · Turkey area map · Waterfowl zone map
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.
Hamilton County ground the public can hunt
Open ground in Hamilton County spans 23 records: 9 wilderness areas, 8 wild forests, 4 forest preserve units and 2 conservation easement tracts. The Forest Preserve share is near 817,638 acres: wild forests, wilderness and detached parcels.
- Wilderness areas, 9 listedHigh Peaks Wilderness Complex (275,351 ac*), West Canada Lake Wilderness (177,527 ac*), Five Ponds and Pepperbox Wildernesses (157,632 ac*), Siamese Ponds Wilderness (115,124 ac*), Silver Lake Wilderness (109,774 ac), Pigeon Lake Wilderness (50,836 ac*), Blue Ridge Wilderness (48,490 ac), William C. Whitney Wilderness and Round Lake Wilderness (31,865 ac*), Hudson Gorge Wilderness (24,534 ac*)
- Wild forests (8)Ferris Lake Wild Forest (147,936 ac*), Black River Wild Forest (128,160 ac*), Wilcox Lake Wild Forest (127,860 ac*), Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest (96,577 ac*), Jessup River Wild Forest (48,456 ac), Shaker Mountain Wild Forest (45,312 ac*), Sargent Ponds Wild Forest (43,793 ac), Blue Mountain Wild Forest (42,635 ac*)
- Forest Preserve units, 4Moose River Plains Complex (79,479 ac*), Bog River Complex (17,058 ac*), Essex Chain Lakes Complex (9,746 ac*), Unclassified Forest Preserve parcels (Essex, St. Lawrence, Warren County) (1,742 ac*)
- Conservation easement tracts, 2 listedPerkins Clearing And Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Tracts (40,476 ac), Cedarlands Conservation Easement Tract (3,953 ac)
Beyond Hamilton County
- Fulton Chain Wild Forest22 miles out · 15,566 ac
- Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness29 miles out · 25,663 ac
- Stillwater Reservoir31 miles out · 6,700 ac
- Woodhull Detached Parcel33 miles out · 301 ac
- Independence River Wild Forest34 miles out · 79,217 ac
Public land hub · WMA index · All state forests · Adirondack and Catskill units
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.
Hamilton County rules: rifles, setbacks and CWD
Hamilton County is absent from the guide's rifle restriction list. Do not hunt deer or bear in this closed area: Rt. 28 Old Forge to Inlet and South Shore Rd. Inlet to Old Forge. Keep 500 feet from occupied buildings with a gun, 250 with a crossbow and 150 with a bow. Fluorescent pink counts the same as orange for the 250-square-inch rule. Bait stays out of the woods: the deer and bear feeding ban runs year-round. Old county Sunday bans no longer apply.
Disease watch
The 2025-2026 sample (3,050 deer) was clean, and no containment area exists in 2026. The CWD carcass import ban covers deer, elk, moose and caribou taken anywhere outside the state.
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Hunters aged 12 and 13 may use a firearm or crossbow for deer only where the county opted in; DEC shows those counties on a map. County opt-in map
Law summary · CWD page · Youth seasons
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.
Hamilton County offices and businesses
Distances are straight lines from the Hamilton County centre point. The DEC guide license list shows 9 in Hamilton County. You can buy a license at 6 municipal clerks in Hamilton County.
Hamilton wildlife staff
Questions about Hamilton County go to DEC Region 5 in Ray Brook. Closest DEC door: NYSDEC Region 5 Northville Sub-Office in Northville.
Processors near the county
Taxidermy shops
Sporting goods
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.
Hamilton County towns plus the counties that touch it
Use a Hamilton County town page to see the closest public land by distance.
- Long Lake74,428 acres of open land in 10 mi
- Speculator400 inhabitants · 136,031 acres of open land in 10 mi
- Wells151,936 acres of open land in 10 mi
Hamilton County borders 7 New York counties.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Hamilton County legal hunting light
Big game legal light at Hamilton County brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:54 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:22 a.m. | 6:02 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:59 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:24 a.m. | 4:22 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:22 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:31 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:52 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:22 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.
Hamilton County ranges, clubs and shoots
1 range in Hamilton County are on this list.
The closest public range is in Saratoga County: Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range, 54 miles off. See the range
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Hamilton County FAQ
Do I need HIP to hunt ducks in Hamilton County?
Yes. HIP registration and a federal duck stamp are required for waterfowl.
How much Forest Preserve is in Hamilton County?
About 817,638 acres by GIS.
Must I wear orange in Hamilton County?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a hat at least half orange or pink.
How many licensed guides live in Hamilton County?
9, per DEC's licensed guide list.
Which meat cutter is handiest for Hamilton County hunters?
Big Buck Deer Processors, by straight-line distance.
Do WMU lines or the county line set Hamilton County dates?
WMU lines. Each unit carries its own dates, and several units reach into the county.
What is the DMP success rate in WMU 5H?
NA on average, per DEC.
Is any part of Hamilton County bowhunting only?
No. Firearms are legal in the regular season in every unit here.
Which town in Hamilton County produces the most deer?
Indian Lake, with 212 in 2019, the last town table.
Which bear area is Hamilton County in?
Adirondacks.
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.
Heading to Hamilton County
Carry your license and tags afield, paper or electronic, and report within the deadline.
Sources: 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, DEC hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 27, 2026.
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