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State forest · 2026-27
Dolph Pond State Forest hunting rules, seasons and access
State forest of 727 acres in Washington County, hunted under WMU 5G dates, for white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Dolph Pond State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Dolph Pond State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 5.1 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.
Dolph Pond State Forest at a glance
Hunters find Dolph Pond State Forest, a DEC state forest, in Washington County. DEC places it in the town of Whitehall. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 5, which spans the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. The acreage used here is 727, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 305 by size out of 409 state forests. DEC plans it under the Northern Piedmont unit management plan.
Hunting section, quoted: Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include small game, turkey, deer and bear.
From DEC dolph pond state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Dolph Pond State Forest
Dolph Pond State Forest: access and site rules
These state land rules from DEC cover Dolph Pond State Forest:
- Trees on Dolph Pond State Forest stay unharmed, so no hardware, no cleared shooting lanes and no blinds built from brush.
- Your stand may remain in place for the season on Dolph Pond State Forest as long as it is tag-marked with your details and harms no tree.
- Trail cameras and other gear may not be left on Dolph Pond State Forest as storage.
- Motor vehicles stay on maintained roads, and ATVs need a designated route.
- Camping needs a DEC permit where the rules require one.
Laws every Dolph Pond State Forest hunter carries in
- Gun hunters after deer or bear wear orange or pink: 250 square inches above the waist or a mostly orange or pink hat.
- The discharge setback is 500 feet for guns, 250 feet for crossbows and 150 feet for bows from homes, farm buildings, schools and churches.
- Hunting over bait is illegal; scents and lures are allowed.
- There is no Sunday ban in New York; some parks set their own.
From DEC dolph pond state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Dolph Pond State Forest: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Dolph Pond State Forest (5G); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5G | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 5G | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5G | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5G | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5G | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 5G | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5G | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5G | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5G | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5G | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5G | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5G | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5G | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5G | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5G | 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 5G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5G | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 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.
Dolph Pond State Forest and WMU 5G: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Dolph Pond State Forest is WMU 5G ground (Northern Zone, 1,113 sq. mi. across Essex, Warren and Washington). State law bars DMPs in 5G. Bear area: Adirondacks. Fall turkey here: Oct. 1-14.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
WMU 5G deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 5G 1,742 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,445 | 1,024 |
| 2017 | 1,474 | 1,158 |
| 2018 | 1,724 | 1,242 |
| 2019 | 1,727 | 1,355 |
| 2020 | 1,767 | 1,257 |
| 2021 | 1,487 | 1,149 |
| 2022 | 1,742 | 1,236 |
Recent bear numbers for 5G: 2022: 24, 2023: 16, 2024: 36, 2025: 43.
Objective for bears in 5G: maintain moderate 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.
Dolph Pond State Forest: species list
Game listed for Dolph Pond State Forest: white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, small game and furbearers.
White-tailed deer
Oct 24–Dec 6
Black bear
Sep 19–Dec 6
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Small game
Oct 1–Mar 21
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC dolph pond state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Dolph Pond State Forest access points
The DEC directions name 1 place to leave a truck at Dolph Pond State Forest.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Dolph Pond State Forest Parking Area: 43.4900, -73.4390 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Dolph Pond State Forest Map
Open Dolph Pond State Forest in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC dolph pond state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Dolph Pond State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Dolph Pond State Forest and 10 neighbors; The Saddles State Forest sits 2.5 mi off. The tracts listed total 135,893 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Saddles | State forest | 2,472 | 5G | 2.5 mi | north |
| East Bay | WMA | 39 | 5T, 5G | 6.7 mi | northeast |
| Maple Bend Island | WMA | 451 | 5G | 11 mi | north |
| Lake George | Wild forest | 76,871 | 5G, 5H | 15 mi | northwest |
| Washington County Grasslands | WMA | 468 | 5T | 19 mi | south |
| Ralph Road | State forest | 544 | 5J | 22 mi | southwest |
| Carters Pond | WMA | 446 | 5S | 22 mi | south |
| Moreau Lake | State park | 6,640 | 5J | 24 mi | southwest |
| Pharaoh Lake | Wilderness | 46,814 | 5G | 24 mi | northwest |
| Saratoga Sand Plains | WMA | 1,148 | 5J | 27 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Dolph Pond State Forest
The town of Whitehall, where Dolph Pond State Forest lies, produced 137 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehall | Washington | 156 | 142 | 157 | 175 | 137 | 106 |
DEC puts the 2025 Washington County deer take at 2,740.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Dolph Pond State Forest: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Whitehall, about 3.7 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehall | Washington | 3.7 mi | 2,482 | 32,135 |
| Lake George | Warren | 14 mi | 1,007 | 16,127 |
| Fort Edward | Washington | 17 mi | 3,138 | 1,482 |
| Ticonderoga | Essex | 24 mi | – | 17,999 |
Season tables by county for Dolph Pond State Forest: Washington County.
Dolph Pond State Forest: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 5 licensed guides in Washington County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Dolph Pond 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.
Nearest public range for Dolph Pond State Forest hunters
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range, 30 miles off, is the public range nearest Dolph Pond State Forest. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Dolph Pond State Forest shooting hours by key date
East and west matter: sunrise in Buffalo comes about 20 minutes after sunrise in Albany, so use local times for Dolph Pond State Forest.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Dolph Pond State Forest in pictures
Answers on Dolph Pond State Forest access and seasons
Which WMU rules apply on Dolph Pond State Forest?
Northern Zone, WMU 5G.
Is Dolph Pond State Forest a large property?
727 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Dolph Pond State Forest?
Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Dolph Pond State Forest?
It opens Oct 24, 2026 and closes Dec 6, 2026 (regular Season).
What game does the source list for Dolph Pond State Forest?
White-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, small game and furbearers.
Are DMPs issued for Dolph Pond State Forest?
No. 5G is an Adirondack unit where state law bars DMPs.
When is bear season at Dolph Pond State Forest?
Yes: regular Season (Adirondacks) Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026 (WMU 5G).
When is spring turkey season at Dolph Pond State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Can I use screw-in steps on Dolph Pond State Forest?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is Dolph Pond State Forest from a town?
Whitehall, about 3.7 mi away.
How does access work on Dolph Pond State Forest?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Do I need orange or pink on Dolph Pond State Forest?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Dolph Pond State Forest: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Dolph Pond State Forest can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC dolph pond 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: Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); kevbonham (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0).