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Grant Powell State Forest for hunters
Everything we could verify about this state forest in Lewis County (8,337 acres).
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Grant Powell State Forest
Acres and location of Grant Powell State Forest
Grant Powell State Forest counts as a DEC state forest; its ground is in Lewis County. It reaches into Martinsburg, Harrisburg, Montague and Pinckney, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 6, the office for the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley. Recorded size: 8,337 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 11th among 409 state forests. The Tug Hill North plan covers it.
From DEC grant powell state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Grant Powell State Forest
Grant Powell State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Grant Powell State Forest, starting with Sears Pond State Forest. Together they add 57,881 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sears Pond | State forest | 5,723 | 6N | 4.1 mi | west |
| Tug Hill | WMA | 5,081 | 6N | 4.4 mi | south |
| Cobb Creek | State forest | 2,203 | 6K | 4.7 mi | north |
| Lookout | State forest | 3,983 | 6K | 5.9 mi | northwest |
| Tug Hill | State forest | 12,268 | 6K, 6N | 6.5 mi | west |
| Granger | State forest | 737 | 6K | 7.6 mi | northwest |
| East Branch Fish Creek | Easement tract | 22,484 | 6N | 8.3 mi | south |
| Pinckney | State forest | 2,100 | 6K | 9.4 mi | northwest |
| Whetstone Gulf | State park | 1,903 | 6N | 10.0 mi | southeast |
| East Branch Fish Creek | State forest | 1,399 | 6N | 12 mi | south |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Grant Powell State Forest
Grant Powell State Forest follows the rules DEC sets for state forest land:
- Leave every tree on Grant Powell State Forest as you found it: hardware, trimmed lanes and built blinds are not allowed.
- Seasonal stands on Grant Powell State Forest need an ID tag (name and address or license number) and must be pulled when the season closes.
- Storing personal items on Grant Powell State Forest is not allowed; trail cameras count.
- Off-road driving is not allowed on Grant Powell 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 Grant Powell 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 grant powell state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Grant Powell State Forest
Grant Powell State Forest lies in WMU 6N, a Northern Zone unit of 491 square miles reaching Lewis, Oswego and Jefferson. There are no DMPs for 6N under state law. 6N bear hunting: Western Periphery. 6N fall turkey: Oct. 1-14.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6N | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Western Periphery | Oct. 1-14 |
Deer reported from 6N
DEC calculated 947 deer taken in 6N in 2022, against 982 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 982 | 764 |
| 2017 | 900 | 739 |
| 2018 | 782 | 558 |
| 2019 | 823 | 670 |
| 2020 | 997 | 810 |
| 2021 | 905 | 778 |
| 2022 | 947 | 783 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 6N with 21 (2023), 24 (2024), 15 (2025).
Bear management goal in 6N: 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.
Grant Powell State Forest season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 6N and the waterfowl zones over Grant Powell State Forest are listed: 45 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6N | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 6N | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6N | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 6N | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6N | Sep 19, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 6N | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6N | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Western Periphery) | WMU 6N | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 6N | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 6N | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 6N | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6N | 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 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 6N | 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.
Grant Powell State Forest: lots, pull-offs and map files
1 parking location serve Grant Powell State Forest, each with coordinates.
| Parking area, lat and lon | Link |
|---|---|
| Huck Berry unpaved parking lot: 43.7493, -75.6879 | Map it |
Map on file: Grant Powell State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC grant powell state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Grant Powell State Forest
Town-level numbers for Grant Powell State Forest: Martinsburg gave up 265 deer in 2019 (148 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinsburg | Lewis | 255 | 212 | 267 | 264 | 265 | 148 |
| Harrisburg | Lewis | 171 | 74 | 61 | 173 | 204 | 121 |
| Montague | Lewis | 55 | 104 | 85 | 50 | 52 | 49 |
| Pinckney | Lewis | 129 | 31 | 27 | 138 | 158 | 119 |
By town, bears taken: 5 in Martinsburg in 2020; 11 in Martinsburg in 2021; 2 in Martinsburg in 2022; 2 in Harrisburg in 2021; 3 in Harrisburg in 2022; 1 in Montague in 2020.
County-wide, Lewis produced 3,638 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | 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.
Grant Powell 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 | 6:53 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.
Grant Powell State Forest trip planning
The quickest town stop is Copenhagen (8.8 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen | Lewis | 8.8 mi | 660 | 21,231 |
| Lowville | Lewis | 9.3 mi | 3,336 | 16,235 |
| Lorraine | Jefferson | 14 mi | – | 34,980 |
| Carthage | Jefferson | 15 mi | 3,257 | 9,243 |
Read Grant Powell State Forest alongside its county page: Lewis County.
Grant Powell State Forest: businesses close by
DEC lists 10 licensed guides with an address in Lewis County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Grant Powell 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.
What is planned around Grant Powell State Forest
Checked October 27, 2026: 1 upcoming event at or close to the property (DU dinner).
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | How far | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2027 | Lewis County Banquet · DU dinner | 9 | Elks Lodge Lowville | Get tickets | Source |
Grant Powell State Forest: nearest firing lines
The three listed ranges closest to Grant Powell State Forest follow; New Bremen Fish and Game Club leads at 13 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Grant Powell State Forest in pictures
Grant Powell State Forest questions, answered from the record
Is fluorescent pink legal at Grant Powell State Forest?
Yes, pink counts the same as orange for the firearm deer and bear rule.
How do stands work on Grant Powell State Forest?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
Who may hunt Grant Powell State Forest?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
What are legal shooting hours on Grant Powell State Forest?
Deer and bear: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; small game sunrise to sunset.
What zone and WMU is Grant Powell State Forest?
It is 6N ground, Northern Zone.
What does Grant Powell State Forest measure?
8,337 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
When does archery open near Grant Powell State Forest?
WMU 6N: Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Grant Powell State Forest?
Regular Season: Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 (WMU 6N).
What are the spring turkey dates for Grant Powell State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
Is there a DMP for the WMU over Grant Powell State Forest?
6N gets no DMPs by law.
How far is Grant Powell State Forest from a town?
Copenhagen, 8.8 mi straight-line.
What bear season covers Grant Powell State Forest?
Bear season runs Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 in WMU 6N.
Grant Powell State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Grant Powell State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC grant powell 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); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Martin Cathrae (CC BY-SA 2.0).