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State forest · 2026-27
Bully Hill State Forest hunting rules, seasons and access
State forest of 3,563 acres in Allegany County, hunted under WMU 9P dates, for white-tailed deer.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Bully Hill State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Bully Hill State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Bus ParkingParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 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.
Bully Hill State Forest at a glance
Hunters find Bully Hill State Forest, a DEC state forest, in Allegany County. DEC places it in the towns of Birdsall and Almond. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 9, which spans western New York. The acreage used here is 3,563, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 49 by size out of 409 state forests. DEC plans it under the Allegany unit management plan.
Hunting section, quoted: Hunting is allowed on the property. Campers can set up at log landings that have been graveled for vehicle access. Permanent tree stands and ATVs are prohibited. Be sure to abide by all game laws in affect.
From DEC bully hill state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bully Hill State Forest
Bully Hill State Forest: access and site rules
These state land rules from DEC cover Bully Hill State Forest:
- Trees on Bully Hill State Forest stay unharmed, so no hardware, no cleared shooting lanes and no blinds built from brush.
- Your stand may remain in place for the season on Bully Hill State Forest as long as it is tag-marked with your details and harms no tree.
- Trail cameras and other gear may not be left on Bully Hill State Forest as storage.
- Motor vehicles stay on maintained roads, and ATVs need a designated route.
- Camping needs a DEC permit where the rules require one.
Laws every Bully Hill State Forest 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 bully hill state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Bully Hill State Forest: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Bully Hill State Forest (9P); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 9P | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 9P | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 9P | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 9P | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 9P | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 9P | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 9P | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 9P | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 9P | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 9P | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 9P | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 9P | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Western Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Western Zone | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| 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 | Western Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Western Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 9P | 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.
Bully Hill State Forest and WMU 9P: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Bully Hill State Forest is WMU 9P ground (Southern Zone, 582 sq. mi. across Allegany, Livingston and Steuben). The 2026 DMP target in 9P is 6,400, with 26.3% average success and med odds for a resident first permit. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9P | Southern | 6,400 | 26.3% | med | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 9P deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 9P 5,124 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,613 | 2,257 |
| 2017 | 4,248 | 2,764 |
| 2018 | 4,964 | 2,772 |
| 2019 | 4,998 | 3,007 |
| 2020 | 6,005 | 2,503 |
| 2021 | 4,443 | 2,660 |
| 2022 | 5,124 | 2,525 |
Recent bear numbers for 9P: 2022: 16, 2023: 19, 2024: 35, 2025: 24.
Objective for bears in 9P: 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.
Bully Hill State Forest: species list
Game listed for Bully Hill State Forest: white-tailed deer.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Species from DEC bully hill state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Bully Hill State Forest access points
The DEC directions name 4 places to leave a truck at Bully Hill State Forest.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Bush Road, with 6 pull off locations: 42.3422, -77.8204 | Navigate |
| Mike Dixon Road leading to Connection Forest Road, with 7 pull off locations: 42.3349, -77.8075 | Navigate |
| Bully Hill Road, with 3 pull off locations: 42.3312, -77.7754 | Navigate |
| Stearns Road (Karr Road), with 9 pull off locations: 42.3302, -77.7594 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Bully Hill State Forest Map
Open Bully Hill State Forest in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC bully hill state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Bully Hill State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Bully Hill State Forest and 10 neighbors; Klipnocky State Forest sits 3.4 mi off. The tracts listed total 22,953 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klipnocky | State forest | 2,711 | 9P | 3.4 mi | north |
| Karr Valley Creek | State forest | 1,916 | 9P | 3.4 mi | west |
| Hiltonville | State forest | 1,010 | 9P | 3.9 mi | northwest |
| Turnpike | State forest | 4,768 | 9P | 4.1 mi | southwest |
| Canacadea | State forest | 1,632 | 8X | 4.5 mi | east |
| Jersey Hill | State forest | 1,092 | 9P | 5.1 mi | west |
| Slader Creek | State forest | 1,224 | 9P | 5.2 mi | north |
| Gas Springs | State forest | 2,276 | 9P | 5.3 mi | northwest |
| Palmer's Pond | State forest | 3,509 | 9P | 5.8 mi | west |
| Phillips Creek | State forest | 2,815 | 9P, 9Y | 6.9 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Bully Hill State Forest
The town of Birdsall, where Bully Hill State Forest lies, produced 270 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birdsall | Allegany | 236 | 239 | 208 | 288 | 270 | 178 |
| Almond | Allegany | 310 | 258 | 305 | 389 | 429 | 257 |
DEC bear tables list 2 for Birdsall (2020), 1 for Birdsall (2021), 1 for Almond (2020), 1 for Almond (2021).
DEC puts the 2025 Allegany County deer take at 9,179.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,375 | 4,596 | 3,082 |
| 2022 | 8,690 | 4,287 | 3,281 |
| 2023 | 8,221 | 4,197 | 2,811 |
| 2024 | 8,737 | 4,820 | 3,016 |
| 2025 | 9,179 | 4,825 | 3,520 |
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.
Bully Hill State Forest: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Almond, about 3.4 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almond | Allegany | 3.4 mi | 396 | 27,644 |
| Alfred | Allegany | 6.2 mi | 5,471 | 28,295 |
| Canaseraga | Allegany | 8.2 mi | 454 | 25,984 |
| Angelica | Allegany | 12 mi | 707 | 29,130 |
Season tables by county for Bully Hill State Forest: Allegany County.
Bully Hill State Forest: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 5 licensed guides in Allegany County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Bully Hill 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.
Scheduled near Bully Hill State Forest
1 upcoming event held on this property or within about 10 miles (NWTF chapter banquet). Checked October 27, 2026.
Next on the list
| Dates | What | Miles | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2027 | Cohocton Valley NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 7 | Hornell | Get tickets | Source |
Bully Hill State Forest: nearest firing lines
Hunters on Bully Hill State Forest can sight in at Almond Rod & Gun Club (4 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.
Bully Hill State Forest 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 Bully Hill State Forest.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:08 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:34 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:18 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:09 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:33 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:41 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:09 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. | 5:39 a.m. to 8:40 p.m. | 5:39 a.m. to 8:10 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.
Bully Hill State Forest in pictures
Answers on Bully Hill State Forest access and seasons
Which WMU rules apply on Bully Hill State Forest?
Southern Zone, WMU 9P.
Is Bully Hill State Forest a large property?
3,563 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Bully Hill State Forest?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Bully Hill State Forest?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
What game does the source list for Bully Hill State Forest?
White-tailed deer.
Are antlerless permits issued for Bully Hill State Forest?
Yes. DMPs are issued by WMU, and 9P gets 6,400 in 2026.
When is bear season at Bully Hill State Forest?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 9P).
When is spring turkey season at Bully Hill State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Can I use screw-in steps on Bully Hill State Forest?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is Bully Hill State Forest from a town?
Almond, about 3.4 mi away.
How does access work on Bully Hill State Forest?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Do I need orange or pink on Bully Hill State Forest?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Bully Hill State Forest: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Bully Hill State Forest can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC bully hill 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: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).