Home › New York › Public land › Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest
State forest · WMU 5S
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest for hunters
Everything we could verify about this state forest in Washington County (1,460 acres).
Photo: kevbonham (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest
Acres and location of Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest counts as a DEC state forest; its ground is in Washington County. It reaches into White Creek and Jackson, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 5, the office for the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. Recorded size: 1,460 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 157th among 409 state forests. The DEC page text gives 535 acres instead. The Northern Piedmont plan covers it.
DEC page text: Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main furbearers and game species found within the property include fisher, pheasants, deer, turkey, and other small game. Private properties adjoin the Batten Kill and Goose Egg State Forests – please respect their private lands.
Data note: Acreage conflict: DEC page text says 535 acres; DEC Lands layer 1,460 acres (layer value used; the page may describe a larger complex or an older boundary).
From DEC goose egg state forest and batten kill; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest, starting with Eldridge Swamp State Forest. Together they add 7,656 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eldridge Swamp | State forest | 533 | 5S | 3.0 mi | west |
| Chestnut Woods | State forest | 801 | 5S | 4.1 mi | south |
| Mount Tom | State forest | 1,725 | 5S | 5.7 mi | south |
| Carters Pond | WMA | 446 | 5S | 9.3 mi | northwest |
| Bennington Battlefield | Historic site | 411 | 4C, 5S | 9.3 mi | south |
| Washington | Detached parcel | 37 | 5S | 11 mi | west |
| Victory Mills | WMA | 47 | 5R | 16 mi | west |
| Tibbitts | State forest | 846 | 4C, 4L | 17 mi | south |
| Washington County Grasslands | WMA | 468 | 5T | 18 mi | northwest |
| Pittstown | State forest | 2,342 | 4L | 21 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest follows the rules DEC sets for state forest land:
- Leave every tree on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest as you found it: hardware, trimmed lanes and built blinds are not allowed.
- Seasonal stands on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest need an ID tag (name and address or license number) and must be pulled when the season closes.
- Storing personal items on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest is not allowed; trail cameras count.
- Off-road driving is not allowed on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest unless a route is designated, and that covers ATVs.
- Overnight camps follow the state land permit rules.
Beyond the site rules: state law on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest
- The orange-or-pink rule covers firearm deer and bear hunters and their companions.
- Boundary houses matter: no gun discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling without consent.
- Bait piles and mineral blocks are not allowed for deer or bear.
- State law no longer limits Sunday hunting anywhere.
From DEC goose egg state forest and batten kill, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest lies in WMU 5S, a Southern Zone unit of 422 square miles reaching Washington and Rensselaer. Antlerless permits: 2,000 DMPs targeted for 5S in 2026, 20.3% average success, resident first-permit chance med. 5S bear hunting: Southern Zone. 5S fall turkey: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5S | Southern | 2,000 | 20.3% | med | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer reported from 5S
DEC calculated 2,197 deer taken in 5S in 2022, against 2,488 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,488 | 1,286 |
| 2017 | 2,426 | 1,339 |
| 2018 | 2,440 | 1,254 |
| 2019 | 1,988 | 1,113 |
| 2020 | 2,416 | 1,324 |
| 2021 | 2,264 | 1,254 |
| 2022 | 2,197 | 1,262 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 5S with 17 (2023), 24 (2024), 16 (2025).
Bear management goal in 5S: 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.
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 5S and the waterfowl zones over Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest are listed: 47 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5S | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5S | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 5S | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 5S | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5S | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 5S | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5S | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5S | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5S | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5S | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5S | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Southeastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Southeastern Zone | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Hudson Valley goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Hudson Valley goose area | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5S | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5S | 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.
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest: species list
6 species groups lead the list for Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest, each linked to its species page.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Oct 18
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 1–Feb 28
Small game
Oct 1–Feb 28
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC goose egg state forest and batten kill; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest: lots, pull-offs and map files
3 parking locations serve Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest, each with coordinates.
| Parking area, lat and lon | Link |
|---|---|
| Eagleville Road parking lot provides access to the Batten Kill River: 43.0830, -73.3111 | Map it |
| Batten Kill State Forest Route 313 parking lot provides access to the Folded Rock Trail: 43.0824, -73.3075 | Map it |
| Goose Egg State Forest parking lot located off Bates Road: 43.0706, -73.2763 | Map it |
Map on file: Batten Kill and Goose Egg State Forests Map
Parking points and maps from DEC goose egg state forest and batten kill; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest
Town-level numbers for Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest: White Creek gave up 198 deer in 2019 (113 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Creek | Washington | 212 | 229 | 228 | 226 | 198 | 113 |
| Jackson | Washington | 231 | 246 | 197 | 185 | 146 | 72 |
By town, bears taken: 2 in White Creek in 2020; 1 in White Creek in 2021; 5 in White Creek in 2022; 4 in Jackson in 2021; 1 in Jackson in 2022.
County-wide, Washington produced 2,740 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest: first and last legal light
Deer and bear may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese close at sunset, and small game runs sunrise to sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest trip planning
The quickest town stop is Hoosick Falls (13 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoosick Falls | Rensselaer | 13 mi | 3,190 | 7,692 |
| Victory | Saratoga | 15 mi | 676 | 1,475 |
| Valley Falls | Rensselaer | 19 mi | 453 | 2,356 |
| Fort Edward | Washington | 20 mi | 3,138 | 1,482 |
Read Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest alongside its county page: Washington County.
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest: businesses close by
DEC lists 5 licensed guides with an address in Washington County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill 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.
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest: nearest firing lines
Closest range open to everyone from Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest: Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range, roughly 23 miles. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest in pictures
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest questions, answered from the record
When does archery open near Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
WMU 5S: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
Regular Season: Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 5S).
Which animals are named for Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
Listed: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ring-necked pheasant, small game and furbearers.
How likely is a DMP for Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
Resident first DMP odds in 5S: med; average success 20.3%.
What bear season covers Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 5S.
What are the spring turkey dates for Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
How far is Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest from a town?
Hoosick Falls, 13 mi straight-line.
Can I hunt ducks on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
The Southeastern Zone opens Oct 10, 2026.
Who may hunt Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
How do stands work on Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
What zone and WMU is Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest?
It is 5S ground, Southern Zone.
What does Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest measure?
1,460 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Goose Egg State Forest and Batten Kill State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC goose egg state forest and batten kill · 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); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0).