Home › New York › Public land › Bush Hill State Forest
State forest · Region 9
Bush Hill State Forest: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this state forest in Cattaraugus County, 2,824 acres.
Photo: seabamirum (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Bush Hill State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Bush Hill State Forest
- Harwood Lake Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.4 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.
Where Bush Hill State Forest is and who runs it
Bush Hill State Forest sits in Cattaraugus County, filed as a DEC state forest. Its towns are Farmersville and Lyndon. Region 9 of DEC covers it, along with the rest of western New York. 2,824 acres are on record from DEC Lands layer ACRES. Sorted by acreage, the 409 state forests put it 70th. On the property page the figure is 3,278 acres. Unit plan on file: Cattaraugus.
The property page says: Hunting is allowed on Bush Hill State Forest. Naturally occurring forest disturbance and active forest management on the unit has created some diverse wildlife habitats. Forest roads that were built as a result of timber harvesting operations provide good access for hunting.
From DEC bush 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 Bush Hill State Forest
Bush Hill State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
The nearest public land to Bush Hill State Forest is Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area, 2.5 mi away to the northwest. Combined: 13,525 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harwood Lake | Multiple use area | 301 | 9W | 2.5 mi | northwest |
| Farmersville | State forest | 1,148 | 9W | 3.5 mi | north |
| Crab Hollow | State forest | 1,151 | 9W | 4.2 mi | southeast |
| Hanging Bog | WMA | 4,562 | 9W | 5.9 mi | southeast |
| Rush Creek | State forest | 1,405 | 9W | 7.3 mi | east |
| Bear Creek | State forest | 562 | 9M | 7.8 mi | west |
| Swift Hill | State forest | 1,571 | 9N | 8.2 mi | northeast |
| Boyce Hill | State forest | 979 | 9M | 10 mi | west |
| Lost Nation | State forest | 1,350 | 9N | 11 mi | north |
| Cold Creek | State forest | 496 | 9N | 12 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Bush Hill State Forest regulations, plainly
On Bush Hill State Forest the DEC state land use rules set the ground rules:
- Nothing may be nailed, screwed or cut on Bush Hill State Forest: no permanent stands, natural blinds or shooting lanes.
- Tagged portable stands are fine on Bush Hill State Forest for the season (name and address or license number on them), then they have to be removed.
- Personal property cannot be stored on Bush Hill State Forest, and that includes trail cameras.
- ATVs and trucks are kept to designated or maintained roads.
- Plan any overnight camp around the DEC camping permit rules.
State law reminders for Bush Hill State Forest
- Fluorescent orange or pink (250 square inches above the waist, or a hat at least half orange or pink) is required for anyone hunting deer or bear with a gun.
- Firearms may not be discharged within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, farm building, school, playground or church without permission; bows 150 feet, crossbows 250 feet.
- No baiting for big game, upland birds, turkey or waterfowl, and no salt or mineral licks for deer or bear.
- New York allows hunting on Sundays in every county.
From DEC bush hill state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 9W facts for Bush Hill State Forest
The WMU map puts Bush Hill State Forest in 9W; 9W spans 250 square miles of Allegany and Cattaraugus. DEC set a 2026 target of 2,600 Deer Management Permits for 9W; average DMP success there runs 21.0%, and a resident's first DMP chance is rated med. Southern Zone bear rules cover 9W. The fall turkey window for 9W is Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Deer zone | DMP goal | Success rate | Odds (resident) | APR | Implements | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9W | Southern | 2,600 | 21.0% | med | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer take in WMU 9W
9W yielded 1,424 deer in 2022; the WMU tables stop at 2022.
| Year | Total | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,494 | 854 |
| 2017 | 1,525 | 917 |
| 2018 | 1,711 | 932 |
| 2019 | 1,499 | 877 |
| 2020 | 1,631 | 743 |
| 2021 | 1,493 | 851 |
| 2022 | 1,424 | 716 |
The 2025 bear harvest in 9W came to 10.
DEC's bear plan for 9W reads "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.
Every season window on Bush Hill State Forest
32 species have open dates on Bush Hill State Forest this license year; the table holds 47 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 9W | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 9W | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 9W | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 9W | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 9W | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 9W | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 9W | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 9W | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 9W | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 9W | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 9W | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 9W | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9W | 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 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 9W | 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.
Getting into Bush Hill State Forest: parking and maps
Park at one of the 2 access points DEC gives for Bush Hill State Forest.
| Access and location | Map |
|---|---|
| The unit itself doesn't have any designated parking areas but roadside parking is available. The state forest is located at: 42.3776, -78.3580 | Open map |
| has a 24-car parking area at the hand launch site: 42.3850, -78.3797 | Open map |
Map download: Bush Hill State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC bush hill state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Bush Hill State Forest: town and county harvest
DEC's last take-by-town table (2019) credits the town of Farmersville with 352 deer, 164 of them adult bucks.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmersville | Cattaraugus | 306 | 312 | 349 | 407 | 352 | 164 |
| Lyndon | Cattaraugus | 192 | 203 | 186 | 264 | 160 | 104 |
Bears reported by town: Farmersville 2 in 2020; Farmersville 1 in 2022.
Cattaraugus County deer, 2025: 9,661.
| Year | County deer | Adult bucks | Adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,728 | 4,112 | 2,907 |
| 2022 | 8,844 | 3,994 | 3,609 |
| 2023 | 7,729 | 3,871 | 2,680 |
| 2024 | 8,337 | 4,672 | 2,822 |
| 2025 | 9,661 | 5,225 | 3,586 |
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.
Bush Hill State Forest hunting-hour table
Sun times below are calculated for Bush Hill State Forest; the game column adds the big game half hour and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and bear | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:10 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:37 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:12 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:35 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:43 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:11 a.m. | 8:12 p.m. | 5:41 a.m. to 8:42 p.m. | 5:41 a.m. to 8:12 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.
Bush Hill State Forest: nearby towns and services
Rushford is the nearest town with its own page, 4.7 mi from Bush Hill State Forest.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushford | Allegany | 4.7 mi | – | 16,906 |
| Franklinville | Cattaraugus | 6.4 mi | 1,644 | 9,456 |
| Belfast | Allegany | 11 mi | – | 16,106 |
| Friendship | Allegany | 14 mi | – | 8,456 |
Bush Hill State Forest falls inside these county guides: Cattaraugus County.
Bush Hill State Forest: businesses close by
4 licensed guides are registered in Cattaraugus County, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Bush 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.
Bush Hill State Forest: nearest firing lines
Nearest range to Bush Hill State Forest: Lime Lake Sportsman Club, roughly 12 miles. DEC has no firearm range, and no local public range is close.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Bush Hill State Forest in pictures
Bush Hill State Forest: short answers
How long is spring turkey on Bush Hill State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, with shooting until noon.
When does bear hunting open near Bush Hill State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Which town page is closest to Bush Hill State Forest?
Rushford, about 4.7 mi away.
What are the stand rules on Bush Hill State Forest?
No permanent stands or screw-in steps; a labeled portable stand may stay during the season.
What colors are required at Bush Hill State Forest in gun season?
Orange or pink, 250 square inches, when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
What time does hunting end at Bush Hill State Forest?
Big game ends 30 minutes after sunset; upland birds at sunset.
How does access work on Bush Hill State Forest?
No special permit is listed; a valid license and the open seasons are what count.
What does Bush Hill State Forest measure?
About 2,824 acres by the source used here.
Which WMU rules apply on Bush Hill State Forest?
WMU 9W, in the Southern Zone.
When does the main deer season run on Bush Hill State Forest?
WMU 9W: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
When can I bowhunt deer on Bush Hill State Forest?
Bowhunting opens Oct 1, 2026 (WMU 9W).
What are the DMP odds near Bush Hill State Forest?
Resident first-permit odds in 9W are med; the target is 2,600.
Bush Hill State Forest: what to double-check
After a deer, bear or turkey on Bush Hill State Forest, report it: paper tags within 48 hours, e-tags right away in HuntFishNY.
Sources: DEC bush 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: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0).