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Griggs Gulf State Forest for hunters
Public hunting ground in Cortland County and 1 more: access rules, WMU 7R seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: seabamirum (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Griggs Gulf State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Griggs Gulf State Forest
- Finger Lakes Trail – Babcock Hollow Road TrailheadParking · 4.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.5 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.
Griggs Gulf State Forest at a glance
The records class Griggs Gulf State Forest as a DEC state forest in Cortland and Tioga counties. Town lines: Harford and Richford. Regional staff for central New York (Region 7) look after it. Its 2,344 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 92nd of the 409 state forests on our New York list. Its unit management plan: Rockefeller.
From DEC griggs gulf state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Griggs Gulf State Forest
Open seasons on Griggs Gulf State Forest this year
47 dated seasons for 31 species reach Griggs Gulf State Forest, matched to WMU 7R, the Western duck zone and the South goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 7R | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7R | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7R | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7R | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7R | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | 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 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7R | 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.
Griggs Gulf State Forest: access and site rules
Hunters on Griggs Gulf State Forest work under the DEC state land use regulations:
- DEC bars permanent stands on Griggs Gulf State Forest, along with cut shooting lanes and blinds made from living cover.
- DEC lets a marked, tree-safe portable stand sit on Griggs Gulf State Forest during the open season; take it home afterwards.
- Do not leave a trail camera or other belongings stashed on Griggs Gulf State Forest.
- Drive only on maintained roads on Griggs Gulf 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 Griggs Gulf 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 griggs gulf state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Griggs Gulf State Forest
Paper map to print: Griggs Gulf State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC griggs gulf state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Griggs Gulf State Forest
7R is the Wildlife Management Unit over Griggs Gulf State Forest; it covers 739 square miles in Tompkins, Tioga and Cortland. DMPs are unlimited in 7R for 2026. For bears, 7R falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 7R: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7R | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 9.3% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
7R deer numbers
Deer take in 7R: 5,023 in 2016, 5,336 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5,023 | 2,025 |
| 2017 | 4,322 | 1,891 |
| 2018 | 5,328 | 2,094 |
| 2019 | 4,851 | 2,203 |
| 2020 | 5,716 | 2,355 |
| 2021 | 4,863 | 2,086 |
| 2022 | 5,336 | 2,140 |
Bears taken in 7R: 6 in 2020, 2 in 2021, 0 in 2022, 4 in 2023, 2 in 2024, 4 in 2025.
DEC's bear objective for 7R: 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.
Griggs Gulf State Forest and the public land around it
Griggs Gulf State Forest gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Michigan Hill State Forest, 1.9 mi southwest. The listed neighbors hold 15,771 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Hill | State forest | 1,199 | 7R | 1.9 mi | southwest |
| Beaver Dam State Forest, | State forest | 1,151 | 7R | 2.8 mi | southeast |
| James Kennedy | State forest | 4,507 | 7R | 4.0 mi | north |
| Turkey Hill | State forest | 1,119 | 7R | 4.4 mi | south |
| Robinson Hollow | State forest | 2,106 | 7R | 4.9 mi | west |
| Andersen Hill | State forest | 550 | 7R | 5.4 mi | southwest |
| Dryden Lake | Multiple use area | 198 | 7R | 6.4 mi | northwest |
| Potato Hill | State forest | 900 | 7R | 6.5 mi | southwest |
| Hammond Hill | State forest | 3,702 | 7R | 6.7 mi | west |
| Nanticoke Lake | Multiple use area | 339 | 7R | 6.7 mi | southeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Griggs Gulf State Forest trip planning
From Griggs Gulf State Forest, Marathon is 6.8 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | Cortland | 6.8 mi | 883 | 19,481 |
| Virgil | Cortland | 6.9 mi | – | 21,230 |
| Slaterville Springs | Tompkins | 9.3 mi | – | 26,297 |
| Blodgett Mills | Cortland | 10 mi | – | 15,903 |
The county guide covering Griggs Gulf State Forest: Cortland County, Tioga County.
Griggs Gulf State Forest: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Cortland County: 3, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Griggs Gulf 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 Griggs Gulf State Forest
In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Harford came in at 110 deer.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 adult bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harford | Cortland | 66 | 74 | 69 | 97 | 110 | 52 |
| Richford | Tioga | 147 | 221 | 205 | 266 | 220 | 108 |
Cortland County as a whole recorded 2,550 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,484 | 1,137 | 1,061 |
| 2022 | 2,963 | 1,343 | 1,194 |
| 2023 | 2,354 | 1,231 | 838 |
| 2024 | 2,631 | 1,387 | 942 |
| 2025 | 2,550 | 1,343 | 986 |
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.
Griggs Gulf State Forest: nearest firing lines
It is about 7 miles from Griggs Gulf State Forest to Berkshire Rod & Gun Club, the closest range on the list.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Griggs Gulf State Forest shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Griggs Gulf 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 | 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 | 7:27 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:26 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:34 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:00 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 5:30 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. | 5:30 a.m. to 8:02 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.
Griggs Gulf State Forest in pictures
Griggs Gulf State Forest FAQ for 2026-27
Which WMU rules apply on Griggs Gulf State Forest?
WMU 7R; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Griggs Gulf State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Griggs Gulf State Forest?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
What are the spring turkey dates for Griggs Gulf State Forest?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at Griggs Gulf State Forest?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 7R.
How far is Griggs Gulf State Forest from a town?
Marathon (6.8 mi).
May I hang a stand for the season on Griggs Gulf State Forest?
Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.
What are the blaze orange rules at Griggs Gulf State Forest?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
What hours apply on Griggs Gulf State Forest?
Big game 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; migratory birds end at sunset.
Does New York allow Sunday hunting at Griggs Gulf State Forest?
Yes, unless the property says otherwise.
Can I hunt Griggs Gulf 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 Griggs Gulf State Forest?
Its size is 2,344 acres.
Griggs Gulf State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Griggs Gulf State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC griggs gulf 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); SquireSnapsalot (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0).