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Clapper Hollow State Forest for hunters
Public hunting ground in Schoharie County: access rules, WMU 4F seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Clapper Hollow State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Clapper Hollow State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Municipal ParkingParking · 7.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Little League Parking LotParking · 7.3 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.
Clapper Hollow State Forest at a glance
The records class Clapper Hollow State Forest as a DEC state forest in Schoharie County. Town lines: Jefferson. Regional staff for the Capital District and northern Catskills (Region 4) look after it. Its 818 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 276th of the 409 state forests on our New York list. Its unit management plan: Cherry Valley.
What DEC writes about hunting here: Clapper Hollow 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 includes whitetail deer, squirrel, grouse and turkey along with mink, raccoon, fox, coyote and bobcat.
From DEC clapper hollow state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Clapper Hollow State Forest
Open seasons on Clapper Hollow State Forest this year
48 dated seasons for 32 species reach Clapper Hollow State Forest, matched to WMU 4F, the Southeastern duck zone and the East Central goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | 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.
Clapper Hollow State Forest: access and site rules
Hunters on Clapper Hollow State Forest work under the DEC state land use regulations:
- DEC bars permanent stands on Clapper Hollow State Forest, along with cut shooting lanes and blinds made from living cover.
- DEC lets a marked, tree-safe portable stand sit on Clapper Hollow State Forest during the open season; take it home afterwards.
- Do not leave a trail camera or other belongings stashed on Clapper Hollow State Forest.
- Drive only on maintained roads on Clapper Hollow State Forest; ATVs are limited to routes DEC designates.
- Check whether your stay needs a camping permit before you pitch a tent.
Rules from the state guide, on Clapper Hollow State Forest
- Pink counts the same as orange; firearm deer and bear hunters need 250 square inches or a qualifying hat.
- Keep 500 feet from occupied houses and farm buildings with a gun (250 feet with a crossbow, 150 feet with a bow) unless the owner consents.
- Feeding deer or bear is prohibited at any time, and baited areas are off limits.
- Sunday is a hunting day under state law.
From DEC clapper hollow state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Clapper Hollow State Forest
Access to Clapper Hollow State Forest starts at 1 DEC parking point.
| Access point, GPS | Link |
|---|---|
| is located on Clapper Hollow Road, 1-mile from its intersection with NYS Route 10 (Moxley Road: 42.5134, -74.6442 | Route |
Paper map to print: Clapper Hollow State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC clapper hollow state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Clapper Hollow State Forest: species list
Game listed for Clapper Hollow State Forest: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbit and hare and squirrel.
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 clapper hollow state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Clapper Hollow State Forest
4F is the Wildlife Management Unit over Clapper Hollow State Forest; it covers 1,161 square miles in Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware. 4F gets 10,000 DMPs in 2026. Hunters fill about 16.9% of them, and first-choice resident odds are high. For bears, 4F falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 4F: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4F | Southern | 10,000 | 16.9% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
4F deer numbers
Deer take in 4F: 7,790 in 2016, 7,002 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | 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 |
Bears taken in 4F: 10 in 2020, 11 in 2021, 0 in 2022, 9 in 2023, 17 in 2024, 16 in 2025.
DEC's bear objective for 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.
Clapper Hollow State Forest and the public land around it
Clapper Hollow State Forest gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Taylor Road DEP unit, 5.7 mi south. The listed neighbors hold 16,963 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Road | Watershed unit | 84 | 4F | 5.7 mi | south |
| Lutheranville | State forest | 1,803 | 4F | 6.2 mi | north |
| Odell Lake Road | Watershed unit | 44 | 4O | 7.2 mi | south |
| Burnt-Rossman Hills | State forest | 10,634 | 4G | 7.3 mi | east |
| Mallet Pond | State forest | 2,577 | 4G | 8.2 mi | northeast |
| Utsayantha | Watershed unit | 275 | 4P | 8.6 mi | south |
| Decatur | State forest | 594 | 4F | 8.7 mi | north |
| Hobart Hill | Watershed unit | 69 | 4O | 8.9 mi | south |
| Blenheim Hill | State forest | 779 | 4G | 9.0 mi | southeast |
| Betty Brook Road | Watershed unit | 104 | 4O | 9.0 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Clapper Hollow State Forest trip planning
From Clapper Hollow State Forest, East Worcester is 7.4 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Worcester | Otsego | 7.4 mi | – | 14,513 |
| Richmondville | Schoharie | 8.7 mi | 873 | 21,638 |
| North Blenheim | Schoharie | 10 mi | – | 27,014 |
| Middleburgh | Schoharie | 17 mi | 1,161 | 25,598 |
The county guide covering Clapper Hollow State Forest: Schoharie County.
Clapper Hollow State Forest: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Schoharie County: 9, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Clapper Hollow 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.
Local deer numbers for Clapper Hollow State Forest
In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Jefferson came in at 287 deer.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 adult bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | Schoharie | 272 | 309 | 274 | 336 | 287 | 154 |
Town bear take: Jefferson 2022: 1.
Schoharie County as a whole recorded 2,960 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,150 | 1,974 | 1,013 |
| 2022 | 3,476 | 1,901 | 1,286 |
| 2023 | 2,899 | 1,708 | 973 |
| 2024 | 2,793 | 1,658 | 928 |
| 2025 | 2,960 | 1,749 | 953 |
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.
Close to Clapper Hollow State Forest on the calendar
On the ground itself or nearby: 2 upcoming events, covering hunter education course and mentored pheasant hunt.
On the way
| Held on | Event | Distance | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Richmondville Fish and Game Clubs Youth and Novice Pheasant Hunt · mentored pheasant hunt | 9 | Richmondville | Reserve a spot | Source |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Hunter Education Course – East Worcester Fire House · hunter education course | 7 | East Worcester Fire House | Register with DEC | Source |
Nearest public range for Clapper Hollow State Forest hunters
Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range is the nearest public range to Clapper Hollow State Forest, about 35 miles away. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Clapper Hollow State Forest shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Clapper Hollow State Forest brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:03 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:56 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:20 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:27 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:54 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 8:26 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 7:56 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.
Clapper Hollow State Forest in pictures
Clapper Hollow State Forest FAQ for 2026-27
When is bear season at Clapper Hollow State Forest?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 4F.
How far is Clapper Hollow State Forest from a town?
East Worcester (7.4 mi).
May I hang a stand for the season on Clapper Hollow State Forest?
Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.
What are the blaze orange rules at Clapper Hollow State Forest?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
Can I hunt Clapper Hollow State Forest with just a hunting license?
Yes. It is open to licensed hunters in season, and the fee is free.
What size do the sources give Clapper Hollow State Forest?
Its size is 818 acres.
Which WMU rules apply on Clapper Hollow State Forest?
WMU 4F; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Clapper Hollow State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Clapper Hollow State Forest?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
What is the 2026 DMP target for Clapper Hollow State Forest?
4F target: 10,000 DMPs.
Which animals are named for Clapper Hollow State Forest?
The list names white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbit and hare, squirrel and coyote.
What are the spring turkey dates for Clapper Hollow State Forest?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
Clapper Hollow State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Clapper Hollow State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC clapper hollow 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: Russ (CC BY 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).