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Cowee State Forest for hunters
Everything we could verify about this state forest in Rensselaer County (4,908 acres).
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Cowee State Forest
Acres and location of Cowee State Forest
Cowee State Forest counts as a DEC state forest; its ground is in Rensselaer County. It reaches into Petersburgh, Poestenkill, Sand Lake, Grafton and Berlin, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 4, the office for the Capital District and northern Catskills. Recorded size: 4,908 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 29th among 409 state forests. The DEC page text gives 3,700 acres instead. The Taconic Highlands plan covers it.
DEC page text: Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons.
From DEC cowee state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Cowee State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Cowee State Forest, starting with Cherry Plain State Park. Together they add 29,075 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Plain | State park | 150 | 4L | 4.3 mi | south |
| Capital District | WMA | 6,865 | 4L | 4.5 mi | south |
| Berlin | State forest | 1,949 | 4L | 5.6 mi | southeast |
| Taconic Ridge | State forest | 11,036 | 4L | 5.6 mi | east |
| Grafton Lakes | State park | 2,612 | 4L | 7.6 mi | north |
| Pittstown | State forest | 2,342 | 4L | 9.4 mi | north |
| Tibbitts | State forest | 846 | 4C, 4L | 12 mi | north |
| Hand Hollow | State forest | 1,139 | 4U | 15 mi | south |
| Bennington Battlefield | Historic site | 411 | 4C, 5S | 19 mi | north |
| Mount Tom | State forest | 1,725 | 5S | 23 mi | north |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Cowee State Forest
Cowee State Forest follows the rules DEC sets for state forest land:
- Leave every tree on Cowee State Forest as you found it: hardware, trimmed lanes and built blinds are not allowed.
- Seasonal stands on Cowee State Forest need an ID tag (name and address or license number) and must be pulled when the season closes.
- Storing personal items on Cowee State Forest is not allowed; trail cameras count.
- Off-road driving is not allowed on Cowee 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 Cowee 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 cowee state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Cowee State Forest
Cowee State Forest lies in WMU 4L, a Southern Zone unit of 221 square miles reaching Rensselaer. Antlerless permits: 400 DMPs targeted for 4L in 2026, 21.4% average success, resident first-permit chance PP Req. 4L bear hunting: Southern Zone. 4L fall turkey: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4L | Southern | 400 | 21.4% | PP Req | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer reported from 4L
DEC calculated 620 deer taken in 4L in 2022, against 543 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 543 | 439 |
| 2017 | 555 | 398 |
| 2018 | 643 | 479 |
| 2019 | 540 | 411 |
| 2020 | 734 | 467 |
| 2021 | 685 | 523 |
| 2022 | 620 | 383 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 4L with 15 (2023), 6 (2024), 12 (2025).
Bear management goal in 4L: 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.
Cowee State Forest season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 4L and the waterfowl zones over Cowee State Forest are listed: 47 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4L | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4L | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4L | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4L | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4L | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4L | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4L | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4L | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4L | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4L | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4L | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4L | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4L | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4L | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4L | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4L | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4L | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4L | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4L | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4L | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4L | 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 | Hudson Valley goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Hudson Valley goose area | Nov 7, 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 4L | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4L | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4L | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4L | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4L | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4L | 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.
Cowee State Forest: lots, pull-offs and map files
1 parking location serve Cowee State Forest, each with coordinates.
| Parking area, lat and lon | Link |
|---|---|
| Plank Road parking area (6 cars: 42.6982, -73.4087 | Map it |
Map on file: Cowee State Forest Map · DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC cowee state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Cowee State Forest
Town-level numbers for Cowee State Forest: Poestenkill gave up 154 deer in 2019 (94 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poestenkill | Rensselaer | 125 | 150 | 90 | 149 | 154 | 94 |
| Sand Lake | Rensselaer | 149 | 161 | 140 | 193 | 142 | 92 |
| Grafton | Rensselaer | 82 | 52 | 100 | 114 | 90 | 64 |
| Berlin | Rensselaer | 139 | 169 | 150 | 165 | 129 | 98 |
By town, bears taken: 1 in Petersburgh in 2020; 1 in Petersburgh in 2021; 1 in Poestenkill in 2020; 1 in Sand Lake in 2021; 2 in Grafton in 2020; 1 in Grafton in 2021.
County-wide, Rensselaer produced 2,796 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,143 | 1,908 | 1,065 |
| 2022 | 3,080 | 1,732 | 1,093 |
| 2023 | 2,695 | 1,604 | 866 |
| 2024 | 2,588 | 1,507 | 878 |
| 2025 | 2,796 | 1,601 | 935 |
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.
Cowee 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 | 6:45 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:17 a.m. | 6:00 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:53 a.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:16 a.m. | 4:21 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:21 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:24 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:50 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 8:22 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 7:52 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.
Cowee State Forest trip planning
The quickest town stop is Averill Park (7.8 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Averill Park | Rensselaer | 7.8 mi | – | 11,499 |
| East Nassau | Rensselaer | 11 mi | 516 | 10,675 |
| Troy | Rensselaer | 14 mi | 51,065 | 392 |
| Hoosick Falls | Rensselaer | 16 mi | 3,190 | 7,692 |
Read Cowee State Forest alongside its county page: Rensselaer County.
Cowee State Forest: businesses close by
DEC lists 12 licensed guides with an address in Rensselaer County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Cowee 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.
Cowee State Forest: nearest firing lines
Closest range open to everyone from Cowee State Forest: Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range, roughly 29 miles. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Cowee State Forest in pictures
Cowee State Forest questions, answered from the record
Is fluorescent pink legal at Cowee State Forest?
Yes, pink counts the same as orange for the firearm deer and bear rule.
How do stands work on Cowee State Forest?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
Who may hunt Cowee State Forest?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
What are legal shooting hours on Cowee State Forest?
Deer and bear: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; small game sunrise to sunset.
What zone and WMU is Cowee State Forest?
It is 4L ground, Southern Zone.
What does Cowee State Forest measure?
4,908 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
When does archery open near Cowee State Forest?
WMU 4L: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Cowee State Forest?
Regular Season: Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 4L).
What are the spring turkey dates for Cowee State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
How likely is a DMP for Cowee State Forest?
Resident first DMP odds in 4L: PP Req; average success 21.4%.
How far is Cowee State Forest from a town?
Averill Park, 7.8 mi straight-line.
What bear season covers Cowee State Forest?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 4L.
Cowee State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Cowee State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC cowee 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: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).