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Home › New York › Public land › Elm Ridge Wild Forest

New York wild forest

Elm Ridge Wild Forest for hunters

Public hunting ground in Greene County: access rules, WMU 3A seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.

Get driving directionsAll Greene County spots

No photo of Elm Ridge Wild Forest is on file; this Greene County scene fills in (Aerial view of autumn forest and fog in the Hudson Valley at sunset, Greene County).

Photo: tr.robinson (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Getting to Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Get driving directionsParking on Google MapsTrailheads on Google Maps

Parking, trailheads and gates near Elm Ridge Wild Forest

  • Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.8 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.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest at a glance

The records class Elm Ridge Wild Forest as a Forest Preserve wild forest in Greene County. Town lines: Windham. Regional staff for the Capital District and northern Catskills (Region 4) look after it. Its 2,380 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 31st of the 35 wild forests on our New York list. For comparison, the DEC page lists 1,355 acres. Its unit management plan: Elm Ridge.

What DEC writes about hunting here: Wildlife Management Unit : 3A and 4R The area is a popular destination for hunting small game and big game. Ruffed grouse, wild turkey and woodcock are popular species pursued by upland game hunters. White-tail deer and black bear are hunted during the archery and firearms seasons.

2,380Acreage
GreeneCounty
3A, 4RWMUs
4DEC region
FreeFee
3Parking areas

From DEC elm ridge wild forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Mount Hayden State Forest

Public land · 4 mi from Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Directions
Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness

Public land · 5 mi from Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Directions
Colgate Lake Wild Forest

Public land · 6 mi from Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Directions
Bates State Forest

Public land · 10 mi from Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Directions
Leonard Hill And High Knob State Forests

Public land · 11 mi from Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Directions
Kaaterskill Wild Forest

Public land · 11 mi from Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Directions

Open seasons on Elm Ridge Wild Forest this year

48 dated seasons for 32 species reach Elm Ridge Wild Forest, matched to WMU 3A, 4R, the Southeastern duck zone and the South goose area.

SpeciesSeasonWMU or zoneOpenCloseToday
White-tailed deerEarly BowhuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 1, 2026Nov 20, 2026
White-tailed deerYouth deer weekendWMUs 3A, 4ROct 10, 2026Oct 12, 2026
White-tailed deerRegular SeasonWMUs 3A, 4RNov 21, 2026Dec 13, 2026
White-tailed deerLate BowhuntingWMUs 3A, 4RDec 14, 2026Dec 22, 2026
White-tailed deerLate MuzzleloadingWMUs 3A, 4RDec 14, 2026Dec 22, 2026
White-tailed deerLate Bowhunting (holidays)WMUs 3A, 4RDec 26, 2026Jan 1, 2027
White-tailed deerLate Muzzleloading (holidays)WMUs 3A, 4RDec 26, 2026Jan 1, 2027
Black bearEarly Firearms SeasonWMUs 3A, 4RSep 12, 2026Sep 27, 2026
Black bearEarly BowhuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 1, 2026Nov 20, 2026
Black bearYouth Firearms Bear HuntWMUs 3A, 4ROct 10, 2026Oct 12, 2026
Black bearRegular SeasonWMUs 3A, 4RNov 21, 2026Dec 13, 2026
Black bearLate BowhuntingWMUs 3A, 4RDec 14, 2026Dec 22, 2026
Black bearLate MuzzleloadingWMUs 3A, 4RDec 14, 2026Dec 22, 2026
Wild turkeyFall SeasonWMUs 3A, 4ROct 17, 2026Oct 30, 2026
Wild turkeyYouth Spring Turkey HuntWMUs 3A, 4RApr 24, 2027Apr 25, 2027
Wild turkeySpring SeasonWMUs 3A, 4RMay 1, 2027May 31, 2027
PheasantYouth Pheasant HuntWMUs 3A, 4RSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026
PheasantRegular (either sex)WMUs 3A, 4ROct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
Ruffed grouseHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
WoodcockHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 1, 2026Nov 14, 2026
CottontailHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
Snowshoe hareHuntingWMUs 3A, 4RDec 14, 2026Feb 28, 2027
Gray squirrelHuntingWMUs 3A, 4RSep 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
Black squirrelHuntingWMUs 3A, 4RSep 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
Fox squirrelHuntingWMUs 3A, 4RSep 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
DucksSplit 1Southeastern ZoneOct 10, 2026Oct 18, 2026
DucksSplit 2Southeastern ZoneNov 7, 2026Dec 27, 2026
Scaup2-scaup windowSoutheastern ZoneDec 8, 2026Dec 27, 2026
Canada gooseSeptember seasonSouth goose areaSep 1, 2026Sep 25, 2026
Canada gooseRegular seasonSouth goose areaOct 24, 2026Jan 11, 2027
Snow gooseRegular seasonSoutheastern ZoneNov 24, 2026Mar 10, 2027
BrantRegular seasonSoutheastern ZoneOct 10, 2026Nov 8, 2026
Youth waterfowlYouth daysSoutheastern ZoneSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026
Veteran waterfowlVeteran daysSoutheastern ZoneSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026
SnipeHuntingWMUs 3A, 4RSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
RailsHuntingWMUs 3A, 4RSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
GallinuleHuntingWMUs 3A, 4RSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
CrowHuntingWMUs 3A, 4RSep 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027
CoyoteHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 1, 2026Mar 28, 2027
RaccoonHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 25, 2026Feb 15, 2027
Red foxHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 25, 2026Feb 15, 2027
Gray foxHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 25, 2026Feb 15, 2027
BobcatHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 25, 2026Feb 15, 2027
SkunkHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 25, 2026Feb 15, 2027
OpossumHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 25, 2026Feb 15, 2027
WeaselHuntingWMUs 3A, 4ROct 25, 2026Feb 15, 2027
MinkHunting (Southern Zone only)Southern ZoneNov 10, 2026Apr 7, 2027
Snapping turtleHuntingStatewideJul 15, 2026Sep 30, 2026

Shooting hours differ by game; see the hours table.

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.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest: access and site rules

The Forest Preserve land use rules apply in full on Elm Ridge Wild Forest:

  • Seasons on Elm Ridge Wild Forest follow the WMU rules; posted areas are the exception.
  • Tree cutting and tree hardware are both banned on Elm Ridge Wild Forest.
  • Pitch camp 150 feet back from water, roads and trails, or at a marked site.

Rules from the state guide, on Elm Ridge Wild 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 elm ridge wild forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.

Where to park at Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Access to Elm Ridge Wild Forest starts at 3 DEC parking points.

Access point, GPSLink
Escarpment Trail/Long Path North Trailhead is in East Windham, at Route 23 and Cross Road, about 19 miles west of Exit 21 of the NYS Thruway near Catskill, and 11 miles west of the intersection of Routes 23 and 145 near Cairo: 42.3127, -74.1910Route
Peck Road Parking Lot and Elm Ridge Trailhead is located at the end of Peck Road. This trailhead may be reached from East Windham by continuing west on Route 23, 1.3 miles to the village of Windham. Turn left onto Route 296, and continue 1.5 miles to Hensonville where Route 296 turns into Greene County Route 40. Follow Route 40 for 1.9 miles to Maplecrest and turn left on County Route 56. Peck Road is 1.8 miles east of Maplecrest. Turn left onto Peck Road and travel approximately 0.6 miles to the trailhead: 42.2965, -74.1694Route
Long Path Trailhead is located at the intersection of Old Road and Jenny's Notch Road: 42.3203, -74.1872Route

Paper map to print: Elm Ridge Wild Forest Map · DECinfo Locator

DECinfo Locator map

Parking points and maps from DEC elm ridge wild forest; checked October 27, 2026.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest: species list

Game listed for Elm Ridge Wild Forest: white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and woodcock.

White-tailed deer

Nov 21–Dec 13

Black bear

Nov 21–Dec 13

Wild turkey

May 1–May 31

Ruffed grouse

Oct 1–Feb 28

Woodcock

Oct 1–Nov 14

Small game

Oct 1–Feb 28

Wild turkeys flying up from a snowy field into bare woods
Wild turkeys flying up from a snowy field into bare woods
American woodcock camouflaged in leaves
American woodcock camouflaged in leaves

Game named in the DEC property page Hunting section; all open seasons apply unless the page or posting says otherwise.

Species from DEC elm ridge wild forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.

Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Elm Ridge Wild Forest

3A is the Wildlife Management Unit over Elm Ridge Wild Forest; it covers 694 square miles in Ulster, Greene and Sullivan. 3A has a 2026 DMP target of 175; DEC prints no average success, and resident first-permit odds show as "LO/DV". Antler point rules apply in 3A: 3 points on one side minimum. For bears, 3A falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 3A: Oct. 17-30.

WMUZoneDMP targetAvg. successChance, residentAPRWeaponsBear zoneFall season
3ASouthern175–LO/DVYesAllSouthern ZoneOct. 17-30
4RSouthern1,90016.8%highYesAllSouthern ZoneOct. 17-30

3A deer numbers

Deer take in 3A: 774 in 2016, 915 in 2022.

SeasonDeerBucks
2016774652
2017803662
2018912775
2019897749
20201,077893
2021935812
2022915715

Bears taken in 3A: 80 in 2020, 101 in 2021, 58 in 2022, 70 in 2023, 56 in 2024, 95 in 2025.

DEC's bear objective for 3A: reduce 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.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest and the public land around it

Elm Ridge Wild Forest gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Old Road DEP unit, 0.9 mi northwest. The listed neighbors hold 2,394 acres between them.

NameTypeSize (ac)UnitAwayBearing
Old RoadWatershed unit634R0.9 minorthwest
East WindhamWatershed unit1043A, 4R1.4 minorth
BrooksburgWatershed unit774R1.8 miwest
Pinekill MeadowsWatershed unit2153A2.0 misoutheast
Black Dome ValleyWatershed unit4423A2.0 mieast
Jennie NotchWatershed unit3894R2.1 minorth
High PeakWatershed unit1053A2.3 minortheast
MaplecrestWatershed unit6253A2.3 misouthwest
Barnum RoadWatershed unit533A2.7 misouth
Lake HeloiseWatershed unit3214R2.9 minorthwest

Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest trip planning

From Elm Ridge Wild Forest, Windham is 3.5 mi by straight line.

TownCountyStraight line2024 pop.Public acres near
WindhamGreene3.5 mi–32,259
HunterGreene6.7 mi40979,112
TannersvilleGreene8.0 mi56566,878
Haines FallsGreene8.5 mi–59,768

The county guide covering Elm Ridge Wild Forest: Greene County.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest: businesses close by

Meyer's Taxidermy Studio

taxidermy · West Coxsackie, Greene County

(518) 756-2207MapSite
Vine at Windham Arms

sporting goods · Windham, Greene County · about 3 mi away

(518) 734-6871MapSite
Al's Handguns & Loading

sporting goods · Prattsville, Greene County · about 12 mi away

(518) 299-3637MapSite
Walmart (store 2987)

sporting goods · Catskill, Greene County · about 17 mi away

(518) 943-9770MapSite
Berkshire View Farms

deer processing · Hannacroix, Greene County · about 17 mi away

(518) 596-4042MapSite
River Basin Sport Shop

sporting goods · Catskill, Greene County · about 17 mi away

(518) 943-2111MapSite
RJ's Archery and Tackle

sporting goods · West Coxsackie, Greene County · about 18 mi away

(607) 427-4505MapSite
Coxsackie Gun and Bow

sporting goods · Coxsackie, Greene County · about 19 mi away

(518) 731-4422MapSite

Licensed guides based in Greene County: 13, per DEC. DEC licensed guides

Nearest DEC desks for Elm Ridge Wild Forest

DEC satellite office

NYSDEC Region 4 Stamford Sub-Office · Stamford, Delaware County · about 24 mi away

(607) 652-3722MapSite
Regional DEC headquarters

NYSDEC Region 4 Headquarters (Schenectady) · Schenectady, Schenectady County · about 35 mi away

(518) 357-2234MapSite

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 Elm Ridge Wild Forest

In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Windham came in at 84 deer.

TownCounty201520162017201820192019 adult bucks
WindhamGreene9080921158467

Town bear take: Windham 2020: 6, Windham 2021: 1, Windham 2022: 10.

Greene County as a whole recorded 2,318 deer in 2025.

YearTotalAdult malesAdult females
20212,0791,348639
20222,3181,272866
20231,8981,266515
20242,0781,299639
20252,3181,461672

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.

Nearest public range for Elm Ridge Wild Forest hunters

Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range is the nearest public range to Elm Ridge Wild Forest, about 27 miles away. Closer club ranges are shown as well.

Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range (a DEC archery range)

Voorheesville, Albany County · 27 mi

Range offers archery

Free DEC range · Black Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area · source: dec.ny.gov

Sheepdog Warrior Training (an outdoor range)

Catskill, Greene County · 8 mi

Access not stated · source: boisegunclub.com

R C Sportsman Club (a rod and gun club)

Earlton, Greene County · 13 mi

Range offers trap, archery, shotgun

Members only · source: boisegunclub.com

From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest shooting hours by key date

Big game legal light at Elm Ridge Wild Forest brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.

DateWhySunriseSunsetLegal for big gameLegal for ducks
Sep 27, 2026Northern bow opener6:48 a.m.6:47 p.m.6:18 a.m. to 7:17 p.m.6:18 a.m. to 6:47 p.m.
Oct 1, 2026Southern bow opener6:52 a.m.6:40 p.m.6:22 a.m. to 7:10 p.m.6:22 a.m. to 6:40 p.m.
Oct 24, 2026Northern regular opener7:19 a.m.6:03 p.m.6:49 a.m. to 6:33 p.m.6:49 a.m. to 6:03 p.m.
Nov 21, 2026Southern regular opener6:54 a.m.4:32 p.m.6:24 a.m. to 5:02 p.m.6:24 a.m. to 4:32 p.m.
Dec 14, 2026Southern late season7:18 a.m.4:25 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 4:55 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 4:25 p.m.
Jan 1, 2027Late season close7:25 a.m.4:34 p.m.6:55 a.m. to 5:04 p.m.6:55 a.m. to 4:34 p.m.
May 1, 2027Spring turkey opener5:53 a.m.7:54 p.m.5:23 a.m. to 8:24 p.m.5:23 a.m. to 7:54 p.m.

Times are rounded to the minute.

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.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest in pictures

Ice-filled Hudson River in January near the Hannacroix Preserve
Ice-filled Hudson River in January near the Hannacroix Preserve
Sun rays over the Catskill escarpment beyond a winter field in Greene County
Sun rays over the Catskill escarpment beyond a winter field in Greene County

Four more wild forests near Elm Ridge Wild Forest

Wilderness

Windham-Blackhead Range

17,024 ac, 5 mi

Wild forest

Colgate Lake

1,500 ac, 6 mi

Wild forest

Rusk Mountain

3,907 ac, 9 mi

Wild forest

Kaaterskill

8,099 ac, 11 mi

Forest PreserveNYC watershed landsHunting programs

Elm Ridge Wild Forest FAQ for 2026-27

When is bear season at Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMUs 3A, 4R.

How far is Elm Ridge Wild Forest from a town?

Windham (3.5 mi).

May I hang a stand for the season on Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.

What are the blaze orange rules at Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.

Can I hunt Elm Ridge Wild 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 Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

Its size is 2,380 acres.

Which WMU rules apply on Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

WMU 3A; that puts it in the Southern Zone.

What deer season covers Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.

Is there an early bow season at Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.

What is the 2026 DMP target for Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

3A target: 175 DMPs.

Which animals are named for Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

The list names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock and small game.

What are the spring turkey dates for Elm Ridge Wild Forest?

Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.

Elm Ridge Wild Forest: confirm these before you go

Print the Elm Ridge Wild Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.

Statewide mapAll 1,206 recordsAbout Greene CountyWMU 3AThis categoryAgency website

Sources: DEC elm ridge wild 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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0).