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State forest · western New York
What hunters need to know about Coyle Hill State Forest
Rules, WMU 9W season dates, maps and neighbors for a state forest in Allegany County.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Coyle Hill State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Coyle Hill State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 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 Coyle Hill State Forest is
Coyle Hill State Forest is a DEC state forest in Allegany County. The DEC page names Friendship and Belfast as the towns it falls in. It is a Region 9 property, in western New York. Size: 2,391 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES). 90 others of the 409 state forests are larger. Management direction comes from the Allegany unit plan.
From the DEC page for Coyle Hill State Forest: Hunting is allowed on the property in accordance with all game laws. Campers can be set up at log landings that have been graveled for vehicle access.
From DEC coyle hill state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Coyle Hill State Forest
Coyle Hill State Forest hunting rules for 2026-27
The DEC rules for using state forest land, applied to Coyle Hill State Forest:
- Cutting or damaging trees on Coyle Hill State Forest is prohibited, which rules out screw-in steps and cleared lanes.
- A portable stand or blind that does not injure the tree may stay up during the season if it carries your name and address or license number, and it comes down when the season ends.
- Coyle Hill State Forest is not a place to leave equipment: cameras and gear go home with you.
- Keep trucks on the maintained roads; an ATV needs a designated trail.
- A camping permit applies when the stay or group size calls for it.
Statewide rules that follow you onto Coyle Hill State Forest
- 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 coyle hill state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Coyle Hill State Forest, and when
This calendar is cut down to Coyle Hill State Forest: its WMU (9W), 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 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 9W | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 9W | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 9W | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 9W | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 9W | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 9W | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9W | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 9W | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 9W | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 9W | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 9W | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 9W | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 9W | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Western Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Western Zone | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | South goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | South goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 11, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Western Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Western Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 9W | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 9W | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 9W | 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.
Coyle Hill State Forest: WMU 9W numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 9W, 250 square miles in the Southern Zone covering parts of Allegany and Cattaraugus. For 9W, DEC aims to issue 2,600 DMPs in 2026; success averages 21.0% and residents' first-DMP odds are med. The bear area for 9W is Southern Zone. Fall turkey in 9W: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9W | Southern | 2,600 | 21.0% | med | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Calculated deer take, 9W
In 2022, 9W produced 1,424 deer by DEC's estimate (1,494 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,494 | 854 |
| 2017 | 1,525 | 917 |
| 2018 | 1,711 | 932 |
| 2019 | 1,499 | 877 |
| 2020 | 1,631 | 743 |
| 2021 | 1,493 | 851 |
| 2022 | 1,424 | 716 |
Bear harvest in 9W for 2025 was 10, or 4.0 per 100 square miles.
The bear objective DEC lists for 9W 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.
Maps and parking around Coyle Hill State Forest
Map in print form: Coyle Hill State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC coyle hill state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Coyle Hill State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Coyle Hill State Forest, starting with Plumbottom State Forest. Combined: 23,063 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbottom | State forest | 1,680 | 9P | 7.6 mi | east |
| Hanging Bog | WMA | 4,562 | 9W | 7.9 mi | northwest |
| Bald Mountain | State forest | 763 | 9P | 8.1 mi | northeast |
| Rush Creek | State forest | 1,405 | 9W | 8.1 mi | northwest |
| Allen Lake | State forest | 2,425 | 9P | 8.3 mi | north |
| Crab Hollow | State forest | 1,151 | 9W | 9.6 mi | northwest |
| Palmer's Pond | State forest | 3,509 | 9P | 11 mi | east |
| Gillies Hill | State forest | 2,328 | 9P | 11 mi | northeast |
| Vandermark | State forest | 2,425 | 9P, 9Y | 12 mi | east |
| Phillips Creek | State forest | 2,815 | 9P, 9Y | 13 mi | east |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Coyle Hill State Forest
Friendship logged 200 deer in 2019; DEC stopped publishing town tables after that season.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks, 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship | Allegany | 363 | 250 | 218 | 264 | 200 | 136 |
| Belfast | Allegany | 263 | 322 | 368 | 245 | 245 | 158 |
Recent bear reports from the same towns: Friendship (2021) 2, Friendship (2022) 1, Belfast (2020) 2, Belfast (2021) 1, Belfast (2022) 3.
The 2025 deer take for Allegany County was 9,179.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,375 | 4,596 | 3,082 |
| 2022 | 8,690 | 4,287 | 3,281 |
| 2023 | 8,221 | 4,197 | 2,811 |
| 2024 | 8,737 | 4,820 | 3,016 |
| 2025 | 9,179 | 4,825 | 3,520 |
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.
Coyle Hill State Forest: nearby towns and services
Friendship sits 4.0 mi from Coyle Hill State Forest, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship | Allegany | 4.0 mi | – | 8,456 |
| Belmont | Allegany | 4.5 mi | 834 | 13,932 |
| Angelica | Allegany | 5.5 mi | 707 | 29,130 |
| Belfast | Allegany | 6.0 mi | – | 16,106 |
Open the county guide for Coyle Hill State Forest: Allegany County.
Coyle Hill State Forest: businesses close by
Allegany County is home to 5 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Coyle Hill 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.
Coyle Hill State Forest: nearest firing lines
Richburg Rod & Gun Club Club, 11 miles away, is the nearest range to Coyle Hill State Forest; check its access rule before going.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Coyle Hill State Forest: 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 Coyle Hill State Forest and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:08 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:34 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:18 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:09 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:33 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:41 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:09 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. | 5:39 a.m. to 8:40 p.m. | 5:39 a.m. to 8:10 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.
Coyle Hill State Forest in pictures
Coyle Hill State Forest questions, answered from the record
Does the orange law apply on Coyle Hill State Forest?
During firearm deer and bear hunting, for you and anyone with you.
When does legal light start at Coyle Hill State Forest?
Big game from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; ducks stop at sunset.
Is Coyle Hill State Forest open to public hunting?
It is public DEC land: carry your hunting license and follow the season dates.
What does Coyle Hill State Forest measure?
The record lists 2,391 acres.
What zone and WMU is Coyle Hill State Forest?
The DEC WMU layer gives 9W (Southern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Coyle Hill State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 9W.
What is the bowhunting window on Coyle Hill State Forest?
Archery runs Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 to start.
Can I get a Deer Management Permit for Coyle Hill State Forest?
Yes: WMU 9W has a 2026 target of 2,600 DMPs, and resident first-permit odds are med.
When does turkey season open on Coyle Hill State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Coyle Hill State Forest?
WMU 9W is open for bears Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
How far is Coyle Hill State Forest from a town?
Friendship is 4.0 mi away.
Can I leave a tree stand on Coyle Hill State Forest?
Yes, a portable one that harms no tree, labeled with your name and address or license or DEC ID, removed at season end.
Coyle Hill State Forest: what to double-check
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Coyle Hill State Forest.
Sources: DEC coyle hill 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: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).