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Public hunting · WMA
What hunters need to know about Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area
Rules, WMU 5S season dates, maps and neighbors for a wma in Washington County.
Photo: kevbonham (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 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.
What Carters Pond WMA is
Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area is a DEC wildlife management area in Washington County. The DEC page names Greenwich as the town it falls in. It is a Region 5 property, in the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. Size: 446 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES). 69 others of the 119 WMAs are larger. Management direction comes from the Northern Piedmont unit plan.
From the DEC page for Carters Pond WMA: Ducks, woodcock, grouse, pheasants, and deer attract hunters to the area in October and November, although small game hunting is popular throughout the season. DEC releases ring-necked pheasants in the area prior to the youth and regular hunting seasons. Muskrats, mink, and foxes attract the most interest from trappers.
From DEC carters 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 Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area
Carters Pond WMA hunting rules for 2026-27
As a DEC wildlife area, Carters Pond WMA carries the Part 51 restrictions:
- Unless signs say otherwise, target shooting is off limits on Carters 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 Carters 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.
Open for recreation: Year-round; parking lots are not plowed in winter months
Statewide rules that follow you onto Carters 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 carters pond wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Carters Pond WMA, and when
This calendar is cut down to Carters Pond WMA: its WMU (5S), 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 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5S | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5S | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 5S | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 5S | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5S | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 5S | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5S | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5S | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5S | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5S | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5S | 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 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5S | 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.
Carters Pond WMA: WMU 5S numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 5S, 422 square miles in the Southern Zone covering parts of Washington and Rensselaer. For 5S, DEC aims to issue 2,000 DMPs in 2026; success averages 20.3% and residents' first-DMP odds are med. The bear area for 5S is Southern Zone. Fall turkey in 5S: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5S | Southern | 2,000 | 20.3% | med | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Calculated deer take, 5S
In 2022, 5S produced 2,197 deer by DEC's estimate (2,488 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,488 | 1,286 |
| 2017 | 2,426 | 1,339 |
| 2018 | 2,440 | 1,254 |
| 2019 | 1,988 | 1,113 |
| 2020 | 2,416 | 1,324 |
| 2021 | 2,264 | 1,254 |
| 2022 | 2,197 | 1,262 |
Bear harvest in 5S for 2025 was 16, or 3.8 per 100 square miles.
The bear objective DEC lists for 5S 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.
Carters Pond WMA game species
Expect white-tailed deer, ducks and geese, ring-necked pheasant and ruffed grouse on Carters Pond WMA.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Nov 29
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 1–Feb 28
Ruffed grouse
Oct 1–Feb 28
Woodcock
Oct 1–Nov 14
Small game
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from DEC carters pond wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Pheasant stocking on Carters Pond WMA
385 pheasants, 3 releases: that is the 2026 plan for Carters Pond WMA.
| Release site | Type | Town | Acres of fields | Program | Stocking days | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carters Pond WMA | Public – open access | Greenwich | 74 | Youth, regular | 3 | 385 |
| Week beginning | Birds |
|---|---|
| 09/21 | 85 |
| 09/28 | 94 |
| 10/12 | 103 |
| 10/26 | 103 |
| NA | – |
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
Waterfowl hunting on Carters Pond WMA
DEC's map of waterfowl hunting places shows Carters Pond WMA. The duck zone here is Northeastern. For Canada geese it is in the Northeast area.
| Name on the map | Owner | Type | Extra rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carters Pond WMA | NYSDEC | WMA | No |
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026. Waterfowl zones.
Maps and parking around Carters Pond WMA
DEC lists 3 parking or access points for Carters Pond WMA.
| Where to park | Link |
|---|---|
| A large parking area is located on the right, 1.6 miles from the intersection of State Route 29 and County Route 49 which provides access to the universally accessible observation tower and nature trail: 43.1645, -73.4237 | Get there |
| A large parking area is located on the right 1.9 miles from the intersection of State Route 29 and County Route 49 which provides access to a car top boat launch for Carters Pond: 43.1634, -73.4161 | Get there |
| Two other parking areas located in the northern part of the Carters Pond WMA can be accessed from Mill Road. Turn right onto Mill Road 3.5 miles from the County Route 49/State Route 29 intersection: 43.1802, -73.4196 | Get there |
Map in print form: Carters Pond WMA Map
DEC accessible recreation note: From the Calhoun Lane/Rt. 49 Parking Area , wheelchair accessible features include the: Boardwalk to viewing platform; and Hiking trail The trail is a 0.5 mile loop and has a gentle grade (max. slope 5%), wide tread (min. width 5 feet), and firm compacted stone surface.
Parking points and maps from DEC carters pond wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Carters Pond WMA and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Carters Pond WMA, starting with Eldridge Swamp State Forest. Combined: 13,270 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eldridge Swamp | State forest | 533 | 5S | 8.3 mi | southeast |
| Washington County Grasslands | WMA | 468 | 5T | 8.4 mi | northwest |
| Goose Egg State Forest | State forest | 1,460 | 5S | 9.3 mi | southeast |
| Washington | Detached parcel | 37 | 5S | 10 mi | south |
| Victory Mills | WMA | 47 | 5R | 11 mi | southwest |
| Chestnut Woods | State forest | 801 | 5S | 13 mi | southeast |
| Mount Tom | State forest | 1,725 | 5S | 13 mi | south |
| Saratoga Sand Plains | WMA | 1,148 | 5J | 14 mi | west |
| Moreau Lake | State park | 6,640 | 5J | 17 mi | west |
| Bennington Battlefield | Historic site | 411 | 4C, 5S | 17 mi | south |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Carters Pond WMA
Greenwich logged 280 deer in 2019; DEC stopped publishing town tables after that season.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks, 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | Washington | 272 | 348 | 334 | 337 | 280 | 158 |
Recent bear reports from the same towns: Greenwich (2020) 1.
The 2025 deer take for Washington County was 2,740.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,209 | 1,965 | 1,069 |
| 2022 | 3,171 | 2,004 | 939 |
| 2023 | 2,606 | 1,695 | 624 |
| 2024 | 2,771 | 1,699 | 875 |
| 2025 | 2,740 | 1,687 | 809 |
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.
Carters Pond WMA: nearby towns and services
Victory sits 10 mi from Carters Pond WMA, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory | Saratoga | 10 mi | 676 | 1,475 |
| Fort Edward | Washington | 11 mi | 3,138 | 1,482 |
| Hoosick Falls | Rensselaer | 19 mi | 3,190 | 7,692 |
| Valley Falls | Rensselaer | 20 mi | 453 | 2,356 |
Open the county guide for Carters Pond WMA: Washington County.
Carters Pond WMA: businesses close by
Washington County is home to 5 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Carters 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.
Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
For hunters on Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area, the nearest public range is Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range in Saratoga County (16 miles). Nearby rod and gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Carters 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 Carters Pond WMA and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:45 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:17 a.m. | 5:58 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:54 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:18 a.m. | 4:19 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:19 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:26 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:48 a.m. | 7:53 p.m. | 5:18 a.m. to 8:23 p.m. | 5:18 a.m. to 7:53 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.
Carters Pond WMA in pictures
Carters Pond WMA questions, answered from the record
What is the bowhunting window on Carters Pond WMA?
Archery runs Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 to start.
Can I get a Deer Management Permit for Carters Pond WMA?
Yes: WMU 5S has a 2026 target of 2,000 DMPs, and resident first-permit odds are med.
What species go with Carters Pond WMA?
You will find white-tailed deer, ducks and geese, ring-necked pheasant, ruffed grouse, woodcock and small game on the list.
When does turkey season open on Carters Pond WMA?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Carters Pond WMA?
WMU 5S is open for bears Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
Can I hunt ducks on Carters Pond WMA?
Duck split one runs Oct 10 to Nov 29, 2026 (Northeastern Zone).
Is Carters Pond WMA a pheasant release site?
Yes. The 2026 plan is 385 pheasants.
How far is Carters Pond WMA from a town?
Victory is 10 mi away.
Is Carters Pond WMA open to public hunting?
It is public DEC land: carry your hunting license and follow the season dates.
What does Carters Pond WMA measure?
The record lists 446 acres.
What zone and WMU is Carters Pond WMA?
The DEC WMU layer gives 5S (Southern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Carters Pond WMA?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 5S.
Carters Pond WMA: what to double-check
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Carters Pond WMA.
Sources: DEC carters pond wildlife management area · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public domain); Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0).