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WMA · 2026-27
Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area hunting rules, seasons and access
WMA of 7,140 acres in Delaware County, hunted under WMU 4P dates, for ring-necked pheasant.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Acres and location of Bear Spring Mountain WMA
Hunters find Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area, a DEC wildlife management area, in Delaware County. DEC places it in the towns of Colchester, Hancock and Walton. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 4, which spans the Capital District and northern Catskills. The acreage used here is 7,140, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 8 by size out of 119 WMAs.
Hunting section, quoted: Wildlife Management Units : 4W and 4P
From DEC bear spring mountain wildlife manageme; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Bear Spring Mountain WMA: access and site rules
Bear Spring Mountain WMA is run under the wildlife management area rules in 6 NYCRR Part 51:
- No target practice on Bear Spring Mountain WMA except where DEC posts that it is allowed.
- No camping without a written OK from DEC.
- Off-road vehicles are allowed only by permit or posting.
- Vegetation stays uncut, and permanent blinds, stands or tree hardware are not allowed.
- Personal property, trail cameras among it, must leave with you; a marked stand can stay for the season.
- Stay out of any section posted "No Trespassing" unless DEC gives written approval.
- Keep fires small and for cooking or heat; boats leave at night.
Other notes: Wildlife Management Units : 4W and 4P DEC Wildlife Management Area rules (6 NYCRR Part 51, DEC Places to Hunt page): no target shooting unless posted; no camping without written permission; no off-road motor vehicles unless allowed by permit or posting; no cutting vegetation; no permanent structures, blinds, stands or hardware in trees; no personal property left on exit incl. trail cameras (stands labeled with name/address or DEC ID may stay overnight, removed at season end); no entry to areas posted "No Trespassing" without written DEC permission; no overnight boat mooring; fires only for cooking or warmth.
Laws every Bear Spring Mountain WMA hunter carries in
- Gun hunters after deer or bear wear orange or pink: 250 square inches above the waist or a mostly orange or pink hat.
- The discharge setback is 500 feet for guns, 250 feet for crossbows and 150 feet for bows from homes, farm buildings, schools and churches.
- Hunting over bait is illegal; scents and lures are allowed.
- There is no Sunday ban in New York; some parks set their own.
From DEC bear spring mountain wildlife manageme, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Bear Spring Mountain WMA (4P, 4W); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMUs 4P, 4W | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMUs 4P, 4W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMUs 4P, 4W | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMUs 4P, 4W | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Firearms Season | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMUs 4P, 4W | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMUs 4P, 4W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMUs 4P, 4W | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMUs 4P, 4W | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Southeastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Southeastern Zone | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | South goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | South goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 11, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMUs 4P, 4W | 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 |
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.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA and WMU 4P: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Bear Spring Mountain WMA is WMU 4P ground (Southern Zone, 361 sq. mi. across Delaware and Schoharie). The 2026 DMP target in 4P is 2,000, with 20.4% average success and high odds for a resident first permit. Bucks in 4P must show 3 or more points on one antler, except for junior hunters. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4P | Southern | 2,000 | 20.4% | high | Yes | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 4W | Southern | 2,100 | 17.6% | high | Yes | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 4P deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 4P 1,381 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,331 | 720 |
| 2017 | 1,054 | 675 |
| 2018 | 1,327 | 834 |
| 2019 | 1,336 | 862 |
| 2020 | 1,522 | 823 |
| 2021 | 1,306 | 833 |
| 2022 | 1,381 | 857 |
Recent bear numbers for 4P: 2022: 34, 2023: 13, 2024: 41, 2025: 30.
Objective for bears in 4P: reduce 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.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA: species list
Hunters come to Bear Spring Mountain WMA for ring-necked pheasant above all.
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from DEC bear spring mountain wildlife manageme; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA: DEC pheasant release site
Expect stocked birds: DEC plans 4 releases and 328 pheasants on Bear Spring Mountain WMA this fall.
| Site | Property type | Town | Fields (ac) | Type | Events | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Spring WMA | Public – open access | Walton | 26 | Youth, regular | 4 | 328 |
| Stocking week | Pheasants |
|---|---|
| 09/21 | 59 |
| 09/28 | 52 |
| 10/05 | 45 |
| 10/12 | 37 |
| 10/19 | 30 |
| 10/26 | 30 |
| 11/02 | 30 |
| 01/05 | 45 |
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA access points
The DEC directions name 15 places to leave a truck at Bear Spring Mountain WMA.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Beers Brook Rd by Operations Building: 42.1324, -75.0813 | Navigate |
| Beers Brook Rd, dirt area: 42.1217, -75.0963 | Navigate |
| West Trout Brook Rd: 42.1199, -75.0810 | Navigate |
| West Trout Brook Rd, small space: 42.1007, -75.0810 | Navigate |
| East Trout Brook Rd, south of campground large stone area: 42.0749, -75.0586 | Navigate |
| East Trout Brook Rd, large gravel pull off: 42.0926, -75.0530 | Navigate |
| East Trout Brook Rd: 42.1016, -75.0589 | Navigate |
| East Trout Brook Rd: 42.1138, -75.0650 | Navigate |
| East Trout Brook Rd: 42.1148, -75.0655 | Navigate |
| East Trout Brook Rd, large gravel area for beach/campground: 42.1201, -75.0701 | Navigate |
| Rte 206, large area: 42.1323, -75.0639 | Navigate |
| Rte 206, small area: 42.1228, -75.0578 | Navigate |
| Rte 206: 42.1313, -75.0622 | Navigate |
| Rte 206, Bear Cub Pond: 42.1232, -75.0586 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Bear Spring Mountain WMA Map
Open Bear Spring Mountain WMA in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC bear spring mountain wildlife manageme; checked October 27, 2026.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Bear Spring Mountain WMA and 10 neighbors; Colchester Forest Preserve Detached Parcel sits 1.4 mi off. The tracts listed total 3,665 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester | Detached parcel | 779 | 4W | 1.4 mi | southwest |
| River Road | Watershed unit | 51 | 4P | 3.7 mi | north |
| Walton | Detached parcel | 110 | 4P | 3.9 mi | northeast |
| Bear Spring | Watershed unit | 1,300 | 4P, 4W | 4.1 mi | northwest |
| Marvin Hollow | Watershed unit | 175 | 4O | 4.9 mi | northwest |
| Mallory Brook | Watershed unit | 36 | 4P | 5.2 mi | northeast |
| Beerston | Watershed unit | 851 | 4W | 5.2 mi | west |
| Baxter Brook | Watershed unit | 9 | 4W | 5.5 mi | southwest |
| Raynor Brook | Watershed unit | 324 | 4P | 6.0 mi | east |
| MacDonald Road | Watershed unit | 30 | 4P | 6.2 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Bear Spring Mountain WMA
The town of Colchester, where Bear Spring Mountain WMA lies, produced 322 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester | Delaware | 311 | 318 | 310 | 329 | 322 | 222 |
| Hancock | Delaware | 566 | 504 | 502 | 625 | 685 | 458 |
| Walton | Delaware | 307 | 345 | 302 | 376 | 405 | 253 |
DEC bear tables list 18 for Colchester (2020), 9 for Colchester (2021), 10 for Colchester (2022), 33 for Hancock (2020), 27 for Hancock (2021), 25 for Hancock (2022).
DEC puts the 2025 Delaware County deer take at 5,279.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,330 | 3,488 | 1,578 |
| 2022 | 5,347 | 3,415 | 1,579 |
| 2023 | 5,343 | 3,520 | 1,452 |
| 2024 | 5,715 | 3,715 | 1,620 |
| 2025 | 5,279 | 3,393 | 1,477 |
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.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Downsville, about 3.8 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downsville | Delaware | 3.8 mi | – | 31,805 |
| Roscoe | Sullivan | 14 mi | – | 29,592 |
| Delhi | Delaware | 14 mi | 3,362 | 51 |
| Deposit | Broome | 18 mi | 1,413 | 15,497 |
Season tables by county for Bear Spring Mountain WMA: Delaware County.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 11 licensed guides in Delaware County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Bear Spring Mountain WMA
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.
Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
Hunters on Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area can sight in at NY State Shooting Sports (6 miles), the nearest listing; public ranges are all more than 60 miles off.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA shooting hours by key date
East and west matter: sunrise in Buffalo comes about 20 minutes after sunrise in Albany, so use local times for Bear Spring Mountain WMA.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:55 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:22 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:57 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:20 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:28 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:57 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 5:27 a.m. to 8:27 p.m. | 5:27 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.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA in pictures
Answers on Bear Spring Mountain WMA access and seasons
When is bear season at Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMUs 4P, 4W).
When is spring turkey season at Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
How far is Bear Spring Mountain WMA from a town?
Downsville, about 3.8 mi away.
When are pheasants stocked at Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
DEC plans 328 birds here in 2026.
How does access work on Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Can I use screw-in steps on Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
Which WMU rules apply on Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
Southern Zone, WMU 4P.
Is Bear Spring Mountain WMA a large property?
7,140 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
What game does the source list for Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
Ring-necked pheasant.
Are antlerless permits issued for Bear Spring Mountain WMA?
Yes. DMPs are issued by WMU, and 4P gets 2,000 in 2026.
Bear Spring Mountain WMA: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Bear Spring Mountain WMA can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC bear spring mountain wildlife manageme · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); z2amiller (CC BY-SA 2.0).