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What hunters need to know about Black Pond Wildlife Management Area
Rules, WMU 6G season dates, maps and neighbors for a wma in Jefferson County.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Black Pond Wildlife Management Area
What Black Pond WMA is
Black Pond Wildlife Management Area is a DEC wildlife management area in Jefferson County. The DEC page names Ellisburg as the town it falls in. It is a Region 6 property, in the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley. Size: 551 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES). 63 others of the 119 WMAs are larger.
From the DEC page for Black Pond WMA: White-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit, and ruffed grouse are found on the upland portions of the area.
From DEC black pond wildlife management area; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Black Pond Wildlife Management Area
Black Pond WMA hunting rules for 2026-27
As a DEC wildlife area, Black Pond WMA carries the Part 51 restrictions:
- Unless signs say otherwise, target shooting is off limits on Black Pond WMA.
- Overnight camping requires a written DEC permit.
- No off-road motor vehicles unless DEC permits or posts it.
- DEC prohibits cutting vegetation and building permanent stands or blinds here.
- Gear left on Black Pond WMA at day end, trail cameras included, breaks the rules; a stand labeled with your name and address or DEC ID may stay overnight until the season closes.
- Respect "No Trespassing" postings; entry needs DEC approval in writing.
- No overnight boat mooring; fires only to cook or keep warm.
Statewide rules that follow you onto Black Pond WMA
- In firearm deer and bear seasons, wear the required orange or pink above the waist.
- Setbacks from occupied buildings: firearm 500 feet, crossbow 250 feet, bow 150 feet.
- Do not hunt over bait; New York bans it for big game, turkey, upland birds and waterfowl.
- Sunday hunting is legal everywhere in New York unless a property rule says otherwise.
From DEC black pond wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Black Pond WMA, and when
This calendar is cut down to Black Pond WMA: its WMU (6G), duck zone and goose area decide which of the 2026-27 rows appear.
| Game | Hunt | Unit or zone | From | To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6G | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 6G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6G | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 6G | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 6G | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 6G | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6G | Sep 19, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 6G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6G | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Western Periphery) | WMU 6G | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 6G | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 6G | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 6G | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 6G | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 6G | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 6G | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6G | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6G | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6G | 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 6G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 6G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 6G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 6G | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 6G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 6G | 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.
Black Pond WMA: WMU 6G numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 6G, 933 square miles in the Northern Zone covering parts of Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego. For 6G, DEC aims to issue 21,000 DMPs in 2026; success averages 12.8% and residents' first-DMP odds are high. The bear area for 6G is Western Periphery. Fall turkey in 6G: Oct. 1-14.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6G | Northern | 21,000 | 12.8% | high | No | All | Western Periphery | Oct. 1-14 |
Calculated deer take, 6G
In 2022, 6G produced 6,593 deer by DEC's estimate (5,487 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5,487 | 2,519 |
| 2017 | 5,581 | 2,882 |
| 2018 | 6,430 | 3,089 |
| 2019 | 6,476 | 3,353 |
| 2020 | 7,913 | 3,370 |
| 2021 | 6,341 | 3,128 |
| 2022 | 6,593 | 3,231 |
Bear harvest in 6G for 2025 was 5, or 0.5 per 100 square miles.
The bear objective DEC lists for 6G is to maintain low 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.
Black Pond WMA game species
Expect white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and rabbit and hare on Black Pond WMA.
Species from DEC black pond wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Maps and parking around Black Pond WMA
DEC lists 3 parking or access points for Black Pond WMA.
| Where to park | Link |
|---|---|
| Bolton Road, gravel, small, pull off: 43.8008, -76.2224 | Get there |
| Bolton Road, large area: 43.8018, -76.2244 | Get there |
| Bolton Road, pull off, capacity 4-5: 43.8036, -76.2185 | Get there |
Map in print form: Black Pond WMA Map
DEC accessible recreation note: Wheelchair accessible features include the: Path; Observation platform; and Fishing pier The accessible path includes opportunities for wildlife observation and travels through woodland, wetland, and dune areas. Note: The gate on the entrance road to Black Pond WMA is closed and locked from the Friday before Memorial Day to the Tuesday after Labor Day. Qualified individuals …
Parking points and maps from DEC black pond wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Black Pond WMA and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Black Pond WMA, starting with Southwick Beach State Park. Combined: 19,475 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwick Beach | State park | 484 | 6G | 2.6 mi | south |
| Henderson Shores | Unique area | 891 | 6G | 4.8 mi | northwest |
| Lakeview | WMA | 3,444 | 6G | 4.9 mi | south |
| Robert G. Wehle | State park | 1,088 | 6G | 5.6 mi | northwest |
| Westcott Beach | State park | 312 | 6G | 8.6 mi | northeast |
| Lake Ontario Islands | WMA | 75 | 6G | 11 mi | northwest |
| Honeyville | WMA | 111 | 6G | 13 mi | northeast |
| Deer Creek Marsh | WMA | 1,771 | 6G | 14 mi | south |
| Winona | State forest | 9,234 | 6K, 6N | 14 mi | southeast |
| Gould Corners | State forest | 2,065 | 6K | 14 mi | east |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Black Pond WMA
Ellisburg logged 800 deer in 2019; DEC stopped publishing town tables after that season.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks, 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellisburg | Jefferson | 695 | 710 | 655 | 690 | 800 | 357 |
The 2025 deer take for Jefferson County was 6,226.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,902 | 3,693 | 2,659 |
| 2022 | 7,410 | 3,860 | 2,634 |
| 2023 | 6,673 | 3,893 | 2,340 |
| 2024 | 6,871 | 3,930 | 2,436 |
| 2025 | 6,226 | 3,219 | 2,375 |
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.
Black Pond WMA: nearby towns and services
Belleville sits 5.1 mi from Black Pond WMA, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belleville | Jefferson | 5.1 mi | – | 12,437 |
| Lorraine | Jefferson | 13 mi | – | 34,980 |
| Pulaski | Oswego | 17 mi | 2,270 | 13,089 |
| Dexter | Jefferson | 17 mi | 1,011 | 8,371 |
Open the county guide for Black Pond WMA: Jefferson County.
Black Pond WMA: businesses close by
Jefferson County is home to 39 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Black Pond WMA: the nearest DEC offices
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.
Black Pond Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
North Country Archery, 11 miles away, is the nearest range to Black Pond Wildlife Management Area; check its access rule before going.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Black Pond WMA: first and last legal light
The DEC guide prints sunrise and sunset for Albany only. The times here are worked out for the centre of Black Pond WMA and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:00 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:08 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:06 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:31 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:39 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:57 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. | 5:27 a.m. to 8:35 p.m. | 5:27 a.m. to 8:05 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.
Black Pond WMA in pictures
Black Pond WMA questions, answered from the record
Can I leave a tree stand on Black Pond WMA?
Yes, a portable one that harms no tree, labeled with your name and address or license or DEC ID, removed at season end.
Does the orange law apply on Black Pond WMA?
During firearm deer and bear hunting, for you and anyone with you.
Is Black Pond WMA open to public hunting?
It is public DEC land: carry your hunting license and follow the season dates.
What does Black Pond WMA measure?
The record lists 551 acres.
What zone and WMU is Black Pond WMA?
The DEC WMU layer gives 6G (Northern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Black Pond WMA?
Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 6G.
What is the bowhunting window on Black Pond WMA?
Archery runs Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026 to start.
Can I get a Deer Management Permit for Black Pond WMA?
Yes: WMU 6G has a 2026 target of 21,000 DMPs, and resident first-permit odds are high.
What species go with Black Pond WMA?
You will find white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and rabbit and hare on the list.
When does turkey season open on Black Pond WMA?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Black Pond WMA?
WMU 6G is open for bears Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026.
How far is Black Pond WMA from a town?
Belleville is 5.1 mi away.
Black Pond WMA: what to double-check
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Black Pond WMA.
Sources: DEC black pond wildlife management area · 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: tuchodi (CC BY 2.0); DenaliNPS (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0).