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New York state park
What hunters need to know about Green Lakes State Park
Public hunting ground in Onondaga County: access rules, WMU 7F seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: MTBradley (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Green Lakes State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Green Lakes State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Duguid Park ParkingParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 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.
Green Lakes State Park at a glance
The records class Green Lakes State Park as a state park with a hunting program in Onondaga County. Regional staff for central New York (Region 7) look after it. The managing agency is the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Its 2,211 acres come from NY State Parks Property layer. That ranks 15th of the 83 state parks on our New York list.
Note on this record: Acreage conflict: NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre) 2,211 vs computed polygon area 257 acres.
From NYS Parks green lakes state par; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Green Lakes State Park
Open seasons on Green Lakes State Park this year
48 dated seasons for 31 species reach Green Lakes State Park, matched to WMU 7F, the Southeastern duck zone and the East Central goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 7F | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7F | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7F | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7F | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7F | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7F | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7F | 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 | East Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Dec 5, 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 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7F | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7F | 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.
Green Lakes State Park: access and site rules
Park hunting on Green Lakes State Park runs under the OPRHP statewide hunting rules (6 NYCRR 372.7(q)):
- A NYS Parks regional hunting permit for this park is required, and only the designated hunting areas are open.
- Species, hunting areas, legal implements and dates all come from the permit.
- Tree damage, permanent blinds and permanent stands are all off limits.
- Respect posted Restricted Areas and answer park harvest requests.
Rules from the state guide, on Green Lakes State Park
- 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 NYS Parks green lakes state par, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Green Lakes State Park: what the park permit covers
Species and implements mapped for the hunting areas of Green Lakes State Park:
| Quarry | Implements |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloader, Shotgun |
| Waterfowl | Shotgun |
Park layer remarks on Green Lakes State Park
- As per DEC regulations, Deer – Shotgun, bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, Canada geese- shotgun only. Contact park office for additional information.
- Waterfowl hunting is Canada Goose Only.
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
Green Lakes State Park game species
Game listed for Green Lakes State Park: white-tailed deer and ducks and geese.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Oct 18
Species from NYS Parks green lakes state par; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Waterfowl places listing for Green Lakes State Park
Duck and goose hunters will find Green Lakes State Park on DEC's waterfowl places map. Duck dates follow the Southeastern zone. Canada geese follow the East Central goose area.
| Property | Owner | Type | Special rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Lakes State Park | NYSOPRHP | State Park | Yes |
DEC map note: See State Park webpage for current rules and access information. Some parks may only allow boat access to public waterways.
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026. Waterfowl zones.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Green Lakes State Park
7F is the Wildlife Management Unit over Green Lakes State Park; it covers 687 square miles in Onondaga, Cayuga and Madison. DMPs are unlimited in 7F for 2026. For bears, 7F falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 7F: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7F | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 8.2% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
7F deer numbers
Deer take in 7F: 3,970 in 2016, 3,681 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,970 | 1,552 |
| 2017 | 3,398 | 1,574 |
| 2018 | 3,959 | 1,711 |
| 2019 | 3,503 | 1,717 |
| 2020 | 3,790 | 1,593 |
| 2021 | 3,210 | 1,530 |
| 2022 | 3,681 | 1,625 |
DEC's bear objective for 7F: maintain infrequent bear presence.
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.
Green Lakes State Park and the public land around it
Green Lakes State Park gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Cicero Swamp WMA, 7.6 mi northwest. The listed neighbors hold 20,212 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero Swamp | WMA | 5,039 | 7F | 7.6 mi | northwest |
| Oneida Lake Islands | WMA | – | 7F | 7.9 mi | north |
| Stanley J. Hamlin Marsh | WMA | 1,668 | 7F | 13 mi | northwest |
| Nelson Swamp | Unique area | 1,010 | 7J, 7M | 13 mi | southeast |
| Verona Beach | State park | 1,684 | 6P | 15 mi | northeast |
| Stone Barn | State forest | 621 | 6K | 15 mi | north |
| Three Mile Bay | WMA | 3,966 | 7F | 15 mi | north |
| Stoney Pond | State forest | 1,469 | 7M | 16 mi | southeast |
| Tioughnioga | WMA | 3,903 | 7M | 16 mi | southeast |
| Oneida | Detached parcel | 852 | 6K | 17 mi | northeast |
Points: NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer (hunting-area polygons) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Green Lakes State Park trip planning
From Green Lakes State Park, Bridgeport is 7.6 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | Madison | 7.6 mi | – | 9,863 |
| Syracuse | Onondaga | 9.7 mi | 146,097 | 6,332 |
| Cazenovia | Madison | 9.8 mi | 2,730 | 8,425 |
| North Syracuse | Onondaga | 11 mi | 6,761 | 11,110 |
The county guide covering Green Lakes State Park: Onondaga County.
Gear and processing near Green Lakes State Park
Licensed guides based in Onondaga County: 31, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Green Lakes State Park
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 Green Lakes State Park
Onondaga County as a whole recorded 4,259 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,767 | 1,746 | 1,609 |
| 2022 | 4,245 | 1,894 | 1,739 |
| 2023 | 3,864 | 1,949 | 1,418 |
| 2024 | 4,002 | 2,118 | 1,426 |
| 2025 | 4,259 | 2,080 | 1,768 |
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.
Close to Green Lakes State Park on the calendar
On the ground itself or nearby: 1 upcoming event, covering sportsman show.
On the way
| Held on | Event | Distance | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22–24, 2027 | New York Sportsman's Expo 2027 · sportsman show | 10 | Exposition Center Syracuse | Event details | Source |
Green Lakes State Park: nearest firing lines
It is about 6 miles from Green Lakes State Park to Black Creek Archery Club, the closest range on the list.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Green Lakes State Park: first and last legal light
Big game legal light at Green Lakes State Park 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 | 6:56 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:00 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:28 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:04 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:28 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:36 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:00 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 5:30 a.m. to 8:34 p.m. | 5:30 a.m. to 8:04 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.
Green Lakes State Park in pictures
Green Lakes State Park FAQ for 2026-27
When is duck season at Green Lakes State Park?
Southeastern Zone: first split Oct 10 to Oct 18, 2026.
How far is Green Lakes State Park from a town?
Bridgeport (7.6 mi).
Where do I get the hunting permit for Green Lakes State Park?
From the park office or the NYS Parks regional permit system; the permit sets areas, species, implements and dates.
What are the blaze orange rules at Green Lakes State Park?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
Can I hunt Green Lakes State Park with just a hunting license?
Through the park's hunting permit and only in designated areas.
What size do the sources give Green Lakes State Park?
Its size is 2,211 acres.
Which WMU rules apply on Green Lakes State Park?
WMU 7F; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Green Lakes State Park?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Green Lakes State Park?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
Which animals are named for Green Lakes State Park?
The list names white-tailed deer and ducks and geese.
What are the spring turkey dates for Green Lakes State Park?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at Green Lakes State Park?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 7F.
Green Lakes State Park: what to double-check
Print the Green Lakes State Park map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: NYS Parks green lakes state par · NYS Parks state parks · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · NYS Parks StatewideHuntingRegulationsinNYStatePa · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: MSVG (CC BY 2.0); Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain).