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State forest · WMU 4F
Calhoun Creek State Forest for hunters
Everything we could verify about this state forest in Otsego County (723 acres).
Photo: ldifranza (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Calhoun Creek State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Calhoun Creek State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Hunts Pond Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 5.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Mill Brook Reservoir Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 5.8 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 Calhoun Creek State Forest
Calhoun Creek State Forest counts as a DEC state forest; its ground is in Otsego County. It reaches into Pittsfield and Morris, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 4, the office for the Capital District and northern Catskills. Recorded size: 723 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 306th among 409 state forests. The Leatherstocking plan covers it.
DEC page text: Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbits, squirrels, and coyotes.
From DEC calhoun creek state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Calhoun Creek State Forest
Calhoun Creek State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Calhoun Creek State Forest, starting with Wagner Farm and General Jacob Morris State Forests. Together they add 11,391 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagner Farm and General | State forest | 1,649 | 4F | 3.2 mi | southwest |
| Hunts Pond | State forest | 1,374 | 7P | 4.7 mi | west |
| Gilbert Lake | State park | 1,590 | 4F | 7.3 mi | east |
| Skinner Hill | State forest | 1,668 | 7P | 8.0 mi | northwest |
| Ambler | State forest | 642 | 7P | 8.1 mi | west |
| Texas School House | State forest | 1,252 | 4F | 9.7 mi | northeast |
| Whaupaunaucau | State forest | 1,187 | 7P | 10 mi | west |
| Pine Ridge | State forest | 275 | 7P | 11 mi | northwest |
| Milford | State forest | 512 | 4F | 12 mi | east |
| Hartwick | State forest | 1,242 | 4F | 14 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Calhoun Creek State Forest
Calhoun Creek State Forest follows the rules DEC sets for state forest land:
- Leave every tree on Calhoun Creek State Forest as you found it: hardware, trimmed lanes and built blinds are not allowed.
- Seasonal stands on Calhoun Creek State Forest need an ID tag (name and address or license number) and must be pulled when the season closes.
- Storing personal items on Calhoun Creek State Forest is not allowed; trail cameras count.
- Off-road driving is not allowed on Calhoun Creek State Forest unless a route is designated, and that covers ATVs.
- Overnight camps follow the state land permit rules.
Beyond the site rules: state law on Calhoun Creek State Forest
- The orange-or-pink rule covers firearm deer and bear hunters and their companions.
- Boundary houses matter: no gun discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling without consent.
- Bait piles and mineral blocks are not allowed for deer or bear.
- State law no longer limits Sunday hunting anywhere.
From DEC calhoun creek state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Calhoun Creek State Forest
Calhoun Creek State Forest lies in WMU 4F, a Southern Zone unit of 1,161 square miles reaching Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware. Antlerless permits: 10,000 DMPs targeted for 4F in 2026, 16.9% average success, resident first-permit chance high. 4F bear hunting: Southern Zone. 4F fall turkey: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4F | Southern | 10,000 | 16.9% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer reported from 4F
DEC calculated 7,002 deer taken in 4F in 2022, against 7,790 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,790 | 4,112 |
| 2017 | 7,764 | 4,313 |
| 2018 | 8,042 | 4,136 |
| 2019 | 7,068 | 3,988 |
| 2020 | 7,683 | 3,822 |
| 2021 | 6,469 | 3,754 |
| 2022 | 7,002 | 3,680 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 4F with 9 (2023), 17 (2024), 16 (2025).
Bear management goal in 4F: 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.
Calhoun Creek State Forest season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 4F and the waterfowl zones over Calhoun Creek State Forest are listed: 48 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4F | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4F | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4F | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4F | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | 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 | East Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| 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 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4F | 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.
Calhoun Creek State Forest: species list
7 species groups lead the list for Calhoun Creek State Forest, each linked to its species page.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ruffed grouse
Oct 1–Feb 28
Rabbit and hare
Oct 1–Feb 28
Squirrel
Sep 1–Feb 28
Coyote
Oct 1–Mar 28
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC calhoun creek state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Calhoun Creek State Forest: lots, pull-offs and map files
1 parking location serve Calhoun Creek State Forest, each with coordinates.
| Parking area, lat and lon | Link |
|---|---|
| in the Calhoun Creek State Forest: 42.5729, -75.2755 | Map it |
Map on file: Calhoun Creek Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC calhoun creek state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Calhoun Creek State Forest
Town-level numbers for Calhoun Creek State Forest: Pittsfield gave up 240 deer in 2019 (133 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield | Otsego | 173 | 189 | 228 | 208 | 240 | 133 |
| Morris | Otsego | 329 | 375 | 337 | 415 | 327 | 176 |
County-wide, Otsego produced 4,668 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,519 | 3,178 | 1,941 |
| 2022 | 6,123 | 3,135 | 2,430 |
| 2023 | 4,989 | 2,909 | 1,681 |
| 2024 | 5,021 | 2,942 | 1,654 |
| 2025 | 4,668 | 2,648 | 1,583 |
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.
Calhoun Creek State Forest: first and last legal light
Deer and bear may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese close at sunset, and small game runs sunrise to sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:58 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:22 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:30 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:56 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 7:58 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.
Calhoun Creek State Forest trip planning
The quickest town stop is South Edmeston (8.0 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Edmeston | Otsego | 8.0 mi | – | 15,426 |
| Norwich | Chenango | 13 mi | 6,608 | 18,811 |
| Guilford | Chenango | 16 mi | – | 6,677 |
| Earlville | Madison | 18 mi | 771 | 20,050 |
Read Calhoun Creek State Forest alongside its county page: Otsego County.
Calhoun Creek State Forest: businesses close by
DEC lists 15 licensed guides with an address in Otsego County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Calhoun Creek State Forest: 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.
What is planned around Calhoun Creek State Forest
Checked October 27, 2026: 1 upcoming event at or close to the property (NWTF chapter banquet).
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | How far | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2027 | Otsego County Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 9 | Edmeston | Get tickets | Source |
Calhoun Creek State Forest: nearest firing lines
The three listed ranges closest to Calhoun Creek State Forest follow; Burlington Flats Fish and Game leads at 12 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Calhoun Creek State Forest in pictures
Calhoun Creek State Forest questions, answered from the record
How do stands work on Calhoun Creek State Forest?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
How far is Calhoun Creek State Forest from a town?
South Edmeston, 8.0 mi straight-line.
Who may hunt Calhoun Creek State Forest?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
Is fluorescent pink legal at Calhoun Creek State Forest?
Yes, pink counts the same as orange for the firearm deer and bear rule.
What zone and WMU is Calhoun Creek State Forest?
It is 4F ground, Southern Zone.
What does Calhoun Creek State Forest measure?
723 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
When does archery open near Calhoun Creek State Forest?
WMU 4F: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Calhoun Creek State Forest?
Regular Season: Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 4F).
Which animals are named for Calhoun Creek State Forest?
Listed: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbit and hare, squirrel and coyote.
How likely is a DMP for Calhoun Creek State Forest?
Resident first DMP odds in 4F: high; average success 16.9%.
What bear season covers Calhoun Creek State Forest?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 4F.
What are the spring turkey dates for Calhoun Creek State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
Calhoun Creek State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Calhoun Creek State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC calhoun creek 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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0).