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Wilderness · 2026-27
Big Indian Wilderness hunting rules, seasons and access
Wilderness of 34,161 acres in Ulster County, hunted under WMU 3A dates.
Photo: GRI SHA (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Big Indian Wilderness
Parking, trailheads and gates near Big Indian Wilderness
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Black Bear TrailheadTrailhead · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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 Big Indian Wilderness
Hunters find Big Indian Wilderness, a Forest Preserve wilderness, in Ulster County. DEC places it in the towns of Hardenburgh and Denning. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 3, which spans the lower Hudson Valley. The acreage used here is 34,161, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 12 by size out of 23 wilderness areas. DEC plans it under the Big Indian unit management plan.
Hunting section, quoted: Big Indian Wilderness is open to hunting during appropriate seasons.
From DEC big indian wilderness; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Big Indian Wilderness
Big Indian Wilderness: access and site rules
Forest Preserve regulations (6 NYCRR Part 190) shape a hunt on Big Indian Wilderness:
- Unless posted, every part of Big Indian Wilderness is open in the regular seasons.
- Forest Preserve rules forbid cutting trees or putting hardware in them on Big Indian Wilderness.
- The 150-foot camping setback from water, trails and roads applies outside designated sites.
Laws every Big Indian Wilderness 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 big indian wilderness, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Big Indian Wilderness: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Big Indian Wilderness (3A); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 3A | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 3A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 3A | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 3A | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Firearms Season | WMU 3A | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 3A | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 3A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 3A | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 3A | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 3A | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 3A | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3A | 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 | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 3A | 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.
Big Indian Wilderness and WMU 3A: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Big Indian Wilderness is WMU 3A ground (Southern Zone, 694 sq. mi. across Ulster, Greene and Sullivan). DEC set a 2026 target of 175 Deer Management Permits for 3A; the resident first-DMP chance reads "LO/DV" in the DEC table. Bucks in 3A 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3A | Southern | 175 | – | LO/DV | Yes | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 3A deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 3A 915 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 774 | 652 |
| 2017 | 803 | 662 |
| 2018 | 912 | 775 |
| 2019 | 897 | 749 |
| 2020 | 1,077 | 893 |
| 2021 | 935 | 812 |
| 2022 | 915 | 715 |
Recent bear numbers for 3A: 2022: 58, 2023: 70, 2024: 56, 2025: 95.
Objective for bears in 3A: 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.
Big Indian Wilderness access points
The DEC directions name 7 places to leave a truck at Big Indian Wilderness.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Provides access to the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail: 42.0117, -74.6224 | Navigate |
| Provides access to the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail: 42.0233, -74.5995 | Navigate |
| is located on Frost Valley Road, 2.7 miles west of its intersection with Oilverea Road. Provides southern access to the Pine Hill West Branch Trail: 41.9908, -74.4846 | Navigate |
| is located on McKinley Hollow Road, 0.9 miles northwest of its intersection with Oilverea Road. Provides eastern access to the Oliverea Mapledale Trail: 42.0704, -74.4740 | Navigate |
| is located on Lost Clove Road, 1.3 miles northwest of its intersection with Oilverea Road. Provides access to the Lost Clove Trail: 42.1054, -74.4701 | Navigate |
| is located on Rider Hollow Road, 2.1 miles east of its intersection with Dry Brook Road. Provides western access to the Oliverea Mapledale Trail: 42.1018, -74.5170 | Navigate |
| is located on Dry Brook Road, 8.8 miles south of its intersection with NYS Route 28. Provides access to the Seager Big Indian Trail: 42.0579, -74.5397 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Big Indian Wilderness Map
Open Big Indian Wilderness in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC big indian wilderness; checked October 27, 2026.
Big Indian Wilderness pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Big Indian Wilderness and 10 neighbors; Flat Brook DEP unit sits 3.9 mi off. The tracts listed total 27,369 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Brook | Watershed unit | 231 | 3A | 3.9 mi | south |
| Ladleton | Watershed unit | 754 | 3A | 5.8 mi | south |
| Oliverea | Watershed unit | 78 | 3A | 6.0 mi | northeast |
| Lost Clove | Watershed unit | 425 | 3A | 6.1 mi | northeast |
| Unclassified parcels | Forest Preserve unit | 2,365 | 3A, 3C | 6.1 mi | northeast |
| Balsam Lake Mountain | Wild forest | 13,615 | 3A | 6.2 mi | west |
| Red Hill Knolls | Watershed unit | 206 | 3A | 6.7 mi | southeast |
| Dry Brook Ridge | Wild forest | 9,539 | 3A | 6.9 mi | north |
| Bungalow Brook | Watershed unit | 42 | 3A | 7.6 mi | south |
| Red Hill | Watershed unit | 114 | 3A | 8.0 mi | south |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Big Indian Wilderness
The town of Hardenburgh, where Big Indian Wilderness lies, produced 118 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardenburgh | Ulster | 97 | 96 | 112 | 103 | 118 | 92 |
| Denning | Ulster | 106 | 100 | 104 | 123 | 108 | 89 |
DEC bear tables list 15 for Hardenburgh (2020), 2 for Hardenburgh (2021), 2 for Hardenburgh (2022), 14 for Denning (2020), 32 for Denning (2021), 10 for Denning (2022).
DEC puts the 2025 Ulster County deer take at 3,423.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,647 | 1,633 | 857 |
| 2022 | 3,423 | 2,081 | 1,110 |
| 2023 | 3,062 | 2,049 | 825 |
| 2024 | 3,565 | 2,190 | 1,114 |
| 2025 | 3,423 | 2,083 | 1,062 |
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.
Big Indian Wilderness: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Pine Hill, about 8.4 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Hill | Ulster | 8.4 mi | – | 86,733 |
| Margaretville | Delaware | 10 mi | 492 | 39,451 |
| Grahamsville | Sullivan | 12 mi | – | 47,226 |
| Phoenicia | Ulster | 13 mi | – | 109,393 |
Season tables by county for Big Indian Wilderness: Ulster County.
Big Indian Wilderness: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 25 licensed guides in Ulster County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Big Indian Wilderness
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.
Nearest public range for Big Indian Wilderness hunters
Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range, 53 miles off, is the public range nearest Big Indian Wilderness. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Big Indian Wilderness 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 Big Indian Wilderness.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:48 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:04 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:54 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:17 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:25 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:54 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 7:54 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.
Big Indian Wilderness in pictures
Answers on Big Indian Wilderness access and seasons
How far is Big Indian Wilderness from a town?
Pine Hill, about 8.4 mi away.
When is bear season at Big Indian Wilderness?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 3A).
Do I need orange or pink on Big Indian Wilderness?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Can I use screw-in steps on Big Indian Wilderness?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How does access work on Big Indian Wilderness?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
What hours apply on Big Indian Wilderness?
Sunrise minus 30 minutes for big game; the hours table above has local times.
Which WMU rules apply on Big Indian Wilderness?
Southern Zone, WMU 3A.
Is Big Indian Wilderness a large property?
34,161 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Big Indian Wilderness?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Big Indian Wilderness?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
When is spring turkey season at Big Indian Wilderness?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Are antlerless permits issued for Big Indian Wilderness?
Yes. DMPs are issued by WMU, and 3A gets 175 in 2026.
Big Indian Wilderness: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Big Indian Wilderness can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC big indian wilderness · 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: ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0); ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).