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State forest · the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley
Hunting Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest
Seasons and access for hunting in Lewis County.
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: size, towns and manager
Listed as a DEC state forest, Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest lies in Lewis County. On the ground it lies within Croghan and Diana. The DEC region is Region 6 (the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley). It measures 20,550 acres, per DEC Lands layer ACRES. Size rank: 2nd of 409 state forests. DEC groups it in the Westward Waters planning unit.
In DEC's words: Wildlife Management Unit : 6C and 6J
From DEC frank e jadwin memorial state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest hunting calendar
31 species have open dates on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest this license year; the table holds 45 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Species | Segment | Where | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 6C | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 6C | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMUs 6C, 6J | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMUs 6C, 6J | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | 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 | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMUs 6C, 6J | 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.
How you may hunt Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest
DEC state land rules for state forests, multiple use areas and similar tracts apply on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest:
- A stand on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest cannot be fixed to a tree with nails or bolts, and lanes may not be cut.
- Label any portable stand on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest with your name and address or hunting license number; it can stay through the season but must be gone at its close.
- Leaving gear, cameras included, on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest breaks the state land rules.
- No motor vehicle leaves the maintained roads on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest unless DEC designates the route.
- Camping is allowed under the state land rules, with a permit when one is required.
Additional access notes: Wildlife Management Unit : 6C and 6J DEC State Forest rules (DEC Places to Hunt page): no cutting or injuring trees (no permanent stands, natural blinds, shooting lanes or hardware in trees); tree stands/blinds that do not injure trees and are tagged with the owner's name and address or hunting license number may be placed during the season but must be removed at season end; no storing personal property (incl. trail cameras); no motor vehicles off maintained roads or ATVs unless designated; camping permit when required.
New York rules that apply on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest too
- Firearm deer and bear hunters, and anyone with them, wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist, or a hat that is at least half orange or pink.
- Mind the 500-foot firearm setback from dwellings and farm buildings near the boundary.
- Bait, salt licks and mineral attractants are illegal for deer and bear, and feeding them is banned year-round.
- Sundays are open statewide; only a site rule can close them.
From DEC frank e jadwin memorial state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Parking and maps for Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest has 12 listed parking spots on the DEC page.
| Lot or pull-off | Map |
|---|---|
| Q-Road parking area (1-2 car) located in the southern portion of the property, there is another 1-2 car parking area further down the unpaved road: 43.9983, -75.3201 | Directions |
| Hays Flats Trail parking area (1-2 car), located off Dutton Road in the southern portion of the property, there are 2 more parking areas further down the trail: 44.0162, -75.3327 | Directions |
| Cherry Knoll haul road parking area (1-2 car), located off Jerden Falls Road in the southern portion of the property: 44.0293, -75.3227 | Directions |
| South PASNY Trail parking area (1-2 car), located at the end of the unpaved Lonesome Gate Road in the eastern portion of the property: 44.0435, -75.3145 | Directions |
| North PASNY Trail parking area (1-2 car), located at the northern tip of PASNY Trail, there are 2 more parking areas between these PASNY parking areas: 44.0622, -75.3064 | Directions |
| Browns Creek haul road parking area (1-2 car), located off Jerdens Falls Road, in the eastern portion of the property: 44.0649, -75.3054 | Directions |
| Old Croghan parking area (1-2 car), located off Aldrich Settlement Road in the eastern portion of the property: 44.0354, -75.4295 | Directions |
| Nelson PFAR parking area (1-2 car), located off Aldrich Settlement Road in the eastern portion of the property: 44.0413, -75.3964 | Directions |
| Bernard Haul Rd parking area (2-3car), located off St. Rte 812 in the middle of the unit: 44.0515, -75.3545 | Directions |
| Pine Haul Road parking area (2-3car), located off St. Rte 812 in the middle of the unit: 44.0639, -75.3564 | Directions |
| Oswegatchie Corner pfar parking area (2-3car), located off St. Rte 812 in the northern portion of the unit: 44.0974, -75.3592 | Directions |
| Kimballs Mill Road fishing access site # 1, located in the center of the property: 44.0719, -75.3419 | Directions |
Boundary map file: Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC frank e jadwin memorial state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 6C rules that reach Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest
WMU 6C is the unit that counts for Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: Northern Zone, 977 square miles, in St Lawrence, Lewis and Franklin. 3,800 Deer Management Permits are the 2026 goal for 6C (average success 17.4%; resident first DMP: med). Bear rules in 6C follow the Adirondacks area. 6C fall turkey season: Oct. 1-14.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 DMPs | Avg success | 1st DMP odds | 3-point rule | Deer | Bear area | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6C | Northern | 3,800 | 17.4% | med | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
| 6J | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
6C: deer by season
The 6C deer take moved from 2,488 (2016) to 3,587 (2022).
| Year | Deer taken | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,488 | 1,605 |
| 2017 | 2,660 | 1,831 |
| 2018 | 3,184 | 1,919 |
| 2019 | 3,505 | 2,189 |
| 2020 | 3,728 | 1,873 |
| 2021 | 3,016 | 2,039 |
| 2022 | 3,587 | 2,188 |
6C bear take by year: 2020 102; 2021 42; 2022 67; 2023 92; 2024 141; 2025 106.
6C bear objective: 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.
Map of Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest with its neighbors
Around Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest lie 10 more public tracts; Hogsback State Forest is the closest (4.0 mi). Combined: 13,626 acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | WMU | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hogsback | State forest | 630 | 6C | 4.0 mi | northwest |
| Diana | Detached parcel | 461 | 6C, 6J | 5.8 mi | north |
| Onjebonge | State forest | 1,830 | 6C | 6.7 mi | west |
| Pitcairn | Detached parcel | 174 | 6C, 6J | 6.9 mi | north |
| Bonaparte's Cave | State forest | 1,438 | 6C | 7.2 mi | north |
| Sand Bay | State forest | 325 | 6C, 6H | 7.8 mi | north |
| Balsam Creek | State forest | 561 | 6J | 8.6 mi | southeast |
| Beartown | State forest | 7,209 | 6C | 8.9 mi | southwest |
| Toothaker Creek | State forest | 709 | 6C | 10.0 mi | north |
| St. Lawrence | Detached parcel | 289 | 6C | 10 mi | north |
Points: DEC Lands layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: nearby towns and services
Head to Natural Bridge, 7.9 mi off, for supplies.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Bridge | Jefferson | 7.9 mi | – | 27,229 |
| Croghan | Lewis | 12 mi | 640 | 19,330 |
| Carthage | Jefferson | 14 mi | 3,257 | 9,243 |
| Star Lake | St. Lawrence | 17 mi | – | 90,185 |
County pages that list Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: Lewis County.
Shops that serve Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest hunters
The DEC licensed guide list counts 10 in Lewis County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Frank E. Jadwin Memorial 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.
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: town and county harvest
Deer take for the town of Croghan reached 434 in 2019, per DEC.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croghan | Lewis | 287 | 408 | 379 | 441 | 434 | 308 |
| Diana | Lewis | 107 | 157 | 123 | 190 | 164 | 138 |
Black bears by town: Croghan, 2020, 30; Croghan, 2021, 15; Croghan, 2022, 21; Diana, 2020, 11; Diana, 2021, 9; Diana, 2022, 12.
Across Lewis County, DEC counted 3,638 deer taken in 2025.
| Season | Total | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,399 | 2,324 | 927 |
| 2022 | 3,709 | 2,453 | 959 |
| 2023 | 3,541 | 2,393 | 843 |
| 2024 | 3,705 | 2,484 | 1,032 |
| 2025 | 3,638 | 2,244 | 1,097 |
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.
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: nearest firing lines
Beaver River Fish and Game Club is the closest listed range to Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest, about 13 miles away; no public range lies within 60 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: first and last legal light
Spring turkey hunting ends at noon, fall turkey and upland birds run sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the half hour on each end.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:28 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:36 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:55 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:03 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.
Around Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: photos
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: short answers
Is there a spring gobbler season at Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
It opens May 1, 2027 and ends May 31, 2027.
How many DMPs are there for the WMU around Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
3,800 DMPs are targeted for 6C, with 17.4% average success.
Which town page is closest to Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
Natural Bridge is 7.9 mi away.
Is Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest in a bear hunting area?
Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026 (regular Season (Adirondacks)).
Does the orange law apply on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
Yes, for big game with a gun.
Are tree stands allowed on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
Only portable stands: no hardware in trees, label it, take it out when the season closes.
What do I need to hunt Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
Open in season to anyone with a New York hunting license.
How early can I shoot deer on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
Half an hour before sunrise for deer and bear; spring turkey ends at noon.
Which unit sets deer dates for Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
6C, a Northern Zone unit.
How big is Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
20,550 acres on file.
When does bow season start on Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
Early Bowhunting: Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026.
What are the 2026-27 deer dates for Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest?
The regular Season runs Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026.
Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest: what to double-check
Confirm access and permits for Frank E. Jadwin Memorial State Forest before the drive.
Sources: DEC frank e jadwin memorial 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); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0).