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Beartown State Forest for hunters
Public hunting ground in Lewis County: access rules, WMU 6C seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Beartown State Forest
Beartown State Forest at a glance
The records class Beartown State Forest as a DEC state forest in Lewis County. Town lines: Croghan. Regional staff for the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley (Region 6) look after it. Its 7,209 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 13th of the 409 state forests on our New York list. Its unit management plan: Westward Waters.
From DEC beartown state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Open seasons on Beartown State Forest this year
45 dated seasons for 31 species reach Beartown State Forest, matched to WMU 6C, the Northeastern duck zone and the Northeast goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6C | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 6C | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 6C | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 6C | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 6C | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 6C | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 6C | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 6C | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 6C | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 6C | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 6C | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 6C | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 6C | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6C | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6C | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6C | 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 6C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 6C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 6C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 6C | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 6C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 6C | 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.
Beartown State Forest: access and site rules
Hunters on Beartown State Forest work under the DEC state land use regulations:
- DEC bars permanent stands on Beartown State Forest, along with cut shooting lanes and blinds made from living cover.
- DEC lets a marked, tree-safe portable stand sit on Beartown State Forest during the open season; take it home afterwards.
- Do not leave a trail camera or other belongings stashed on Beartown State Forest.
- Drive only on maintained roads on Beartown State Forest; ATVs are limited to routes DEC designates.
- Check whether your stay needs a camping permit before you pitch a tent.
Rules from the state guide, on Beartown State Forest
- Pink counts the same as orange; firearm deer and bear hunters need 250 square inches or a qualifying hat.
- Keep 500 feet from occupied houses and farm buildings with a gun (250 feet with a crossbow, 150 feet with a bow) unless the owner consents.
- Feeding deer or bear is prohibited at any time, and baited areas are off limits.
- Sunday is a hunting day under state law.
From DEC beartown state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Beartown State Forest
Paper map to print: Beartown State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC beartown state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Beartown State Forest
6C is the Wildlife Management Unit over Beartown State Forest; it covers 977 square miles in St Lawrence, Lewis and Franklin. 6C gets 3,800 DMPs in 2026. Hunters fill about 17.4% of them, and first-choice resident odds are med. For bears, 6C falls in the Adirondacks area. Fall turkey dates for 6C: Oct. 1-14.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6C | Northern | 3,800 | 17.4% | med | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
6C deer numbers
Deer take in 6C: 2,488 in 2016, 3,587 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,488 | 1,605 |
| 2017 | 2,660 | 1,831 |
| 2018 | 3,184 | 1,919 |
| 2019 | 3,505 | 2,189 |
| 2020 | 3,728 | 1,873 |
| 2021 | 3,016 | 2,039 |
| 2022 | 3,587 | 2,188 |
Bears taken in 6C: 102 in 2020, 42 in 2021, 67 in 2022, 92 in 2023, 141 in 2024, 106 in 2025.
DEC's bear objective for 6C: 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.
Beartown State Forest and the public land around it
Beartown State Forest gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Onjebonge State Forest, 7.8 mi north. The listed neighbors hold 98,593 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onjebonge | State forest | 1,830 | 6C | 7.8 mi | north |
| Frank E. Jadwin Memorial | State forest | 20,550 | 6C, 6J | 8.9 mi | northeast |
| Hogsback | State forest | 630 | 6C | 9.0 mi | northeast |
| Balsam Creek | State forest | 561 | 6J | 11 mi | east |
| Fort Drum | Army post | 70,000 | 6A, 6C | 11 mi | northwest |
| Indian Pipe | State forest | 595 | 6C | 12 mi | southeast |
| Sand Bay | State forest | 325 | 6C, 6H | 13 mi | north |
| Cobb Creek | State forest | 2,203 | 6K | 14 mi | southwest |
| Bonaparte's Cave | State forest | 1,438 | 6C | 14 mi | northeast |
| Diana | Detached parcel | 461 | 6C, 6J | 14 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Beartown State Forest trip planning
From Beartown State Forest, Carthage is 6.0 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage | Jefferson | 6.0 mi | 3,257 | 9,243 |
| Natural Bridge | Jefferson | 6.5 mi | – | 27,229 |
| Croghan | Lewis | 7.4 mi | 640 | 19,330 |
| Copenhagen | Lewis | 11 mi | 660 | 21,231 |
The county guide covering Beartown State Forest: Lewis County.
Beartown State Forest: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Lewis County: 10, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Beartown State Forest
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.
Local deer numbers for Beartown State Forest
In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Croghan came in at 434 deer.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 adult bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croghan | Lewis | 287 | 408 | 379 | 441 | 434 | 308 |
Town bear take: Croghan 2020: 30, Croghan 2021: 15, Croghan 2022: 21.
Lewis County as a whole recorded 3,638 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,399 | 2,324 | 927 |
| 2022 | 3,709 | 2,453 | 959 |
| 2023 | 3,541 | 2,393 | 843 |
| 2024 | 3,705 | 2,484 | 1,032 |
| 2025 | 3,638 | 2,244 | 1,097 |
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.
Beartown State Forest: nearest firing lines
It is about 5 miles from Beartown State Forest to Feraris Archery, the closest range on the list.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Beartown State Forest shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Beartown State Forest brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:28 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:36 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:55 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:03 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.
Beartown State Forest in pictures
Beartown State Forest FAQ for 2026-27
How far is Beartown State Forest from a town?
Carthage (6.0 mi).
May I hang a stand for the season on Beartown State Forest?
Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.
What are the blaze orange rules at Beartown State Forest?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
What hours apply on Beartown State Forest?
Big game 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; migratory birds end at sunset.
Can I hunt Beartown State Forest with just a hunting license?
Yes. It is open to licensed hunters in season, and the fee is free.
What size do the sources give Beartown State Forest?
Its size is 7,209 acres.
Which WMU rules apply on Beartown State Forest?
WMU 6C; that puts it in the Northern Zone.
What deer season covers Beartown State Forest?
Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Beartown State Forest?
The first bow window is Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026.
What is the 2026 DMP target for Beartown State Forest?
6C target: 3,800 DMPs.
What are the spring turkey dates for Beartown State Forest?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at Beartown State Forest?
Regular Season (Adirondacks): Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026.
Beartown State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Beartown State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC beartown 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: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); nayukim (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).