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State forest · the Capital District and northern Catskills
Cherry Valley State Forest: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
Seasons and access for hunting in Otsego County: white-tailed deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse.
Photo: ldifranza (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Cherry Valley State Forest
Cherry Valley State Forest: size, towns and manager
Listed as a DEC state forest, Cherry Valley State Forest lies in Otsego County. On the ground it lies within Cherry Valley and Roseboom. The DEC region is Region 4 (the Capital District and northern Catskills). It measures 1,565 acres, per DEC Lands layer ACRES. Size rank: 150th of 409 state forests. DEC groups it in the Cherry Valley planning unit.
In DEC's words: Cherry Valley State Forest is open to hunting in appropriate seasons. The unit features a number of young spruce plantations, which provide good habitat for rabbits. Other wildlife to expect in this area include whitetail deer, squirrel, grouse and turkey as well as mink, raccoon, fox, coyote and bobcat.
From DEC cherry valley state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cherry Valley State Forest
Cherry Valley State Forest hunting calendar
Season windows for Cherry Valley State Forest, filtered from the 2026-27 guide by WMU 4F and the Southeastern waterfowl zone.
| Species | Segment | Where | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
How you may hunt Cherry Valley State Forest
DEC state land rules for state forests, multiple use areas and similar tracts apply on Cherry Valley State Forest:
- A stand on Cherry Valley State Forest cannot be fixed to a tree with nails or bolts, and lanes may not be cut.
- Label any portable stand on Cherry Valley State Forest with your name and address or hunting license number; it can stay through the season but must be gone at its close.
- Leaving gear, cameras included, on Cherry Valley State Forest breaks the state land rules.
- No motor vehicle leaves the maintained roads on Cherry Valley State Forest unless DEC designates the route.
- Camping is allowed under the state land rules, with a permit when one is required.
New York rules that apply on Cherry Valley State Forest too
- Firearm deer and bear hunters, and anyone with them, wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist, or a hat that is at least half orange or pink.
- Mind the 500-foot firearm setback from dwellings and farm buildings near the boundary.
- Bait, salt licks and mineral attractants are illegal for deer and bear, and feeding them is banned year-round.
- Sundays are open statewide; only a site rule can close them.
From DEC cherry valley state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Parking and maps for Cherry Valley State Forest
Cherry Valley State Forest has 1 listed parking spot on the DEC page.
| Lot or pull-off | Map |
|---|---|
| Cherry Valley State Forest Entrance is located on Morton road, 0.6 miles from its intersection with County Road 50 (Lancaster Street: 42.7762, -74.7223 | Directions |
Boundary map file: Cherry Valley State Forest Unit Map
Parking points and maps from DEC cherry valley state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Cherry Valley State Forest game species
7 game groups are named for Cherry Valley State Forest; each card shows the main 2026-27 window for its WMU.
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 cherry valley state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 4F rules that reach Cherry Valley State Forest
WMU 4F is the unit that counts for Cherry Valley State Forest: Southern Zone, 1,161 square miles, in Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware. 10,000 Deer Management Permits are the 2026 goal for 4F (average success 16.9%; resident first DMP: high). Bear rules in 4F follow the Southern Zone area. 4F fall turkey season: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 DMPs | Avg success | 1st DMP odds | 3-point rule | Deer | Bear area | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4F | Southern | 10,000 | 16.9% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
4F: deer by season
The 4F deer take moved from 7,790 (2016) to 7,002 (2022).
| Year | Deer taken | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
4F bear take by year: 2020 10; 2021 11; 2022 0; 2023 9; 2024 17; 2025 16.
4F bear objective: 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.
Cherry Valley State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Around Cherry Valley State Forest lie 10 more public tracts; Honey Hill State Forest is the closest (2.5 mi). Combined: 9,169 acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | WMU | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honey Hill | State forest | 1,015 | 4F | 2.5 mi | southeast |
| Roseboom | State forest | 632 | 4F | 4.9 mi | southwest |
| R. Milton Hick Memorial | State forest | 1,396 | 4F | 5.0 mi | southwest |
| Bear Swamp | State forest | 1,748 | 4F | 5.1 mi | south |
| Maple Valley | State forest | 806 | 4F | 7.6 mi | south |
| Decatur | State forest | 594 | 4F | 8.3 mi | south |
| Otsquago | State forest | 411 | 6S | 10 mi | north |
| Lutheranville | State forest | 1,803 | 4F | 11 mi | southeast |
| Ohisa | State forest | 681 | 6S | 12 mi | north |
| Hooker Mountain | WMA | 83 | 4F | 13 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Cherry Valley State Forest: nearby towns and services
Head to East Worcester, 9.4 mi off, for supplies.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Worcester | Otsego | 9.4 mi | – | 14,513 |
| Richmondville | Schoharie | 12 mi | 873 | 21,638 |
| Cooperstown | Otsego | 12 mi | 1,844 | 6,983 |
| St. Johnsville | Montgomery | 17 mi | 1,711 | 9,703 |
County pages that list Cherry Valley State Forest: Otsego County.
Cherry Valley State Forest: businesses close by
The DEC licensed guide list counts 15 in Otsego County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Cherry Valley 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.
Cherry Valley State Forest: town and county harvest
Deer take for the town of Cherry Valley reached 198 in 2019, per DEC.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Valley | Otsego | 216 | 219 | 208 | 237 | 198 | 113 |
| Roseboom | Otsego | 149 | 158 | 171 | 172 | 107 | 62 |
Black bears by town: Cherry Valley, 2020, 1; Roseboom, 2022, 1.
Across Otsego County, DEC counted 4,668 deer taken in 2025.
| Season | Total | 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.
Events on or near Cherry Valley State Forest
1 upcoming event here or close by as of October 27, 2026.
Dated ahead
| On | Listing | Mi | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2026 | Hunter Education Course – East Worcester Fire House · hunter education course | 9 | East Worcester Fire House | Register with DEC | Source |
Cherry Valley State Forest: nearest firing lines
It is about 38 miles from Cherry Valley State Forest to Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range, the closest public range. Nearby rod and gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Cherry Valley State Forest: first and last legal light
Spring turkey hunting ends at noon, fall turkey and upland birds run sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the half hour on each end.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Cherry Valley State Forest in pictures
Cherry Valley State Forest: short answers
What species go with Cherry Valley State Forest?
Named game: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbit and hare, squirrel and coyote.
How many DMPs are there for the WMU around Cherry Valley State Forest?
10,000 DMPs are targeted for 4F, with 16.9% average success.
Is Cherry Valley State Forest in a bear hunting area?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Is there a spring gobbler season at Cherry Valley State Forest?
It opens May 1, 2027 and ends May 31, 2027.
Are tree stands allowed on Cherry Valley State Forest?
Only portable stands: no hardware in trees, label it, take it out when the season closes.
How far is Cherry Valley State Forest from a town?
East Worcester is 9.4 mi away.
What do I need to hunt Cherry Valley State Forest?
Open in season to anyone with a New York hunting license.
Does the orange law apply on Cherry Valley State Forest?
Yes, for big game with a gun.
Which unit sets deer dates for Cherry Valley State Forest?
4F, a Southern Zone unit.
What does Cherry Valley State Forest measure?
1,565 acres on file.
When does bow season start on Cherry Valley State Forest?
Early Bowhunting: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the main deer season run on Cherry Valley State Forest?
The regular Season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
Cherry Valley State Forest: what to double-check
Confirm access and permits for Cherry Valley State Forest before the drive.
Sources: DEC cherry valley 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: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0).