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Gas Springs State Forest for hunters
Public hunting ground in Allegany County: access rules, WMU 9P seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Gas Springs State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Gas Springs State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 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.
Gas Springs State Forest at a glance
The records class Gas Springs State Forest as a DEC state forest in Allegany County. Town lines: Birdsall, Almond and Burns. Regional staff for western New York (Region 9) look after it. Its 2,276 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 98th of the 409 state forests on our New York list. Its unit management plan: Allegany.
What DEC writes about hunting here: The area is a popular destination for hunting both big and small game. Please be sure to abide by all applicable game laws.
From DEC gas springs state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Gas Springs State Forest
Open seasons on Gas Springs State Forest this year
47 dated seasons for 32 species reach Gas Springs State Forest, matched to WMU 9P, the Western duck zone and the South goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 9P | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 9P | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 9P | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 9P | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 9P | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 9P | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9P | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 9P | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 9P | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 9P | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 9P | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 9P | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 9P | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9P | 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 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 9P | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 9P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 9P | 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.
Gas Springs State Forest: access and site rules
Hunters on Gas Springs State Forest work under the DEC state land use regulations:
- DEC bars permanent stands on Gas Springs State Forest, along with cut shooting lanes and blinds made from living cover.
- DEC lets a marked, tree-safe portable stand sit on Gas Springs State Forest during the open season; take it home afterwards.
- Do not leave a trail camera or other belongings stashed on Gas Springs State Forest.
- Drive only on maintained roads on Gas Springs State Forest; ATVs are limited to routes DEC designates.
- Check whether your stay needs a camping permit before you pitch a tent.
Rules from the state guide, on Gas Springs State 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 gas springs state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Gas Springs State Forest
Access to Gas Springs State Forest starts at 1 DEC parking point.
| Access point, GPS | Link |
|---|---|
| Hiltonville Road Parking Area, 3 car capacity: 42.3909, -77.8686 | Route |
Paper map to print: Gas Springs State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC gas springs state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Gas Springs State Forest: species list
Game listed for Gas Springs State Forest: small game.
Small game
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from DEC gas springs state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Gas Springs State Forest
9P is the Wildlife Management Unit over Gas Springs State Forest; it covers 582 square miles in Allegany, Livingston and Steuben. 9P gets 6,400 DMPs in 2026. Hunters fill about 26.3% of them, and first-choice resident odds are med. For bears, 9P falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 9P: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9P | Southern | 6,400 | 26.3% | med | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
9P deer numbers
Deer take in 9P: 3,613 in 2016, 5,124 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,613 | 2,257 |
| 2017 | 4,248 | 2,764 |
| 2018 | 4,964 | 2,772 |
| 2019 | 4,998 | 3,007 |
| 2020 | 6,005 | 2,503 |
| 2021 | 4,443 | 2,660 |
| 2022 | 5,124 | 2,525 |
Bears taken in 9P: 25 in 2020, 20 in 2021, 16 in 2022, 19 in 2023, 35 in 2024, 24 in 2025.
DEC's bear objective for 9P: 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.
Gas Springs State Forest and the public land around it
Gas Springs State Forest gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Keeney Swamp WMA, 1.9 mi northwest. The listed neighbors hold 20,469 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeney Swamp | WMA | 705 | 9P | 1.9 mi | northwest |
| Klipnocky | State forest | 2,711 | 9P | 2.3 mi | southeast |
| Hiltonville | State forest | 1,010 | 9P | 2.4 mi | south |
| Slader Creek | State forest | 1,224 | 9P | 2.8 mi | northeast |
| Keeney Swamp | State forest | 2,411 | 9P | 3.0 mi | northwest |
| Jersey Hill | State forest | 1,092 | 9P | 3.7 mi | southwest |
| Karr Valley Creek | State forest | 1,916 | 9P | 4.2 mi | south |
| Gillies Hill | State forest | 2,328 | 9P | 5.0 mi | southwest |
| Bully Hill | State forest | 3,563 | 9P | 5.3 mi | southeast |
| Palmer's Pond | State forest | 3,509 | 9P | 6.3 mi | south |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Gas Springs State Forest trip planning
From Gas Springs State Forest, Canaseraga is 5.9 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canaseraga | Allegany | 5.9 mi | 454 | 25,984 |
| Almond | Allegany | 8.5 mi | 396 | 27,644 |
| Angelica | Allegany | 11 mi | 707 | 29,130 |
| Dalton | Livingston | 11 mi | – | 13,021 |
The county guide covering Gas Springs State Forest: Allegany County.
Gas Springs State Forest: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Allegany County: 5, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Gas Springs 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.
Local deer numbers for Gas Springs State Forest
In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Birdsall came in at 270 deer.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 adult bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birdsall | Allegany | 236 | 239 | 208 | 288 | 270 | 178 |
| Almond | Allegany | 310 | 258 | 305 | 389 | 429 | 257 |
| Burns | Allegany | 201 | 200 | 222 | 265 | 289 | 177 |
Town bear take: Birdsall 2020: 2, Birdsall 2021: 1, Almond 2020: 1, Almond 2021: 1, Burns 2020: 1, Burns 2021: 4.
Allegany County as a whole recorded 9,179 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | 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.
Gas Springs State Forest: nearest firing lines
It is about 6 miles from Gas Springs State Forest to Almond Rod & Gun Club, the closest range on the list.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Gas Springs State Forest shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Gas Springs State Forest brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Gas Springs State Forest in pictures
Gas Springs State Forest FAQ for 2026-27
When is bear season at Gas Springs State Forest?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 9P.
How far is Gas Springs State Forest from a town?
Canaseraga (5.9 mi).
May I hang a stand for the season on Gas Springs State Forest?
Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.
What are the blaze orange rules at Gas Springs State Forest?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
Can I hunt Gas Springs State 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 Gas Springs State Forest?
Its size is 2,276 acres.
Which WMU rules apply on Gas Springs State Forest?
WMU 9P; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Gas Springs State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Gas Springs State Forest?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
What is the 2026 DMP target for Gas Springs State Forest?
9P target: 6,400 DMPs.
Which animals are named for Gas Springs State Forest?
The list names small game.
What are the spring turkey dates for Gas Springs State Forest?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
Gas Springs State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Gas Springs State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC gas springs 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: btrentler (CC BY 2.0); mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0).