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State forest · the Capital District and northern Catskills
What hunters need to know about Hooker Mountain State Forest
Rules, WMU 4F season dates, maps and neighbors for a state forest in Otsego County.
Photo: ldifranza (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Hooker Mountain State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Hooker Mountain State Forest
- TrailheadTrailhead · 4.5 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Little League Parking LotParking · 5.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 5.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Municipal ParkingParking · 5.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking Lot A LowerParking · 6.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking Lot A UpperParking · 6.1 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.
What Hooker Mountain State Forest is
Hooker Mountain State Forest is a DEC state forest in Otsego County. The DEC page names Maryland and Westford as the towns it falls in. It is a Region 4 property, in the Capital District and northern Catskills. Size: 804 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES). 279 others of the 409 state forests are larger. Management direction comes from the Cherry Valley unit plan.
From the DEC page for Hooker Mountain State Forest: Wildlife Management Area : 4F Hooker Mountain State Forest is open to hunting in appropriate seasons. Wildlife to expect in this area include whitetail deer, rabbit, squirrel, grouse and turkey along with mink, raccoon, fox, coyote and bobcat.
From DEC hooker mountain state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Hooker Mountain State Forest
Hooker Mountain State Forest hunting rules for 2026-27
The DEC rules for using state forest land, applied to Hooker Mountain State Forest:
- Cutting or damaging trees on Hooker Mountain State Forest is prohibited, which rules out screw-in steps and cleared lanes.
- A portable stand or blind that does not injure the tree may stay up during the season if it carries your name and address or license number, and it comes down when the season ends.
- Hooker Mountain State Forest is not a place to leave equipment: cameras and gear go home with you.
- Keep trucks on the maintained roads; an ATV needs a designated trail.
- A camping permit applies when the stay or group size calls for it.
Statewide rules that follow you onto Hooker Mountain State Forest
- In firearm deer and bear seasons, wear the required orange or pink above the waist.
- Setbacks from occupied buildings: firearm 500 feet, crossbow 250 feet, bow 150 feet.
- Do not hunt over bait; New York bans it for big game, turkey, upland birds and waterfowl.
- Sunday hunting is legal everywhere in New York unless a property rule says otherwise.
From DEC hooker mountain state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Hooker Mountain State Forest, and when
This calendar is cut down to Hooker Mountain State Forest: its WMU (4F), duck zone and goose area decide which of the 2026-27 rows appear.
| Game | Hunt | Unit or zone | From | To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4F | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4F | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4F | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4F | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | 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 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4F | 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.
Hooker Mountain State Forest: WMU 4F numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 4F, 1,161 square miles in the Southern Zone covering parts of Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware. For 4F, DEC aims to issue 10,000 DMPs in 2026; success averages 16.9% and residents' first-DMP odds are high. The bear area for 4F is Southern Zone. Fall turkey in 4F: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4F | Southern | 10,000 | 16.9% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Calculated deer take, 4F
In 2022, 4F produced 7,002 deer by DEC's estimate (7,790 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,790 | 4,112 |
| 2017 | 7,764 | 4,313 |
| 2018 | 8,042 | 4,136 |
| 2019 | 7,068 | 3,988 |
| 2020 | 7,683 | 3,822 |
| 2021 | 6,469 | 3,754 |
| 2022 | 7,002 | 3,680 |
Bear harvest in 4F for 2025 was 16, or 1.4 per 100 square miles.
The bear objective DEC lists for 4F is to 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.
Hooker Mountain State Forest game species
Expect white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and rabbit and hare on Hooker Mountain State Forest.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ruffed grouse
Oct 1–Feb 28
Rabbit and hare
Oct 1–Feb 28
Squirrel
Sep 1–Feb 28
Coyote
Oct 1–Mar 28
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC hooker mountain state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Maps and parking around Hooker Mountain State Forest
DEC lists 1 parking or access point for Hooker Mountain State Forest.
| Where to park | Link |
|---|---|
| Hooker Mountain State Forest Entrance is located on Dog Hill Road, 1-mile north down of its intersection with Chaseville Road: 42.5869, -74.8643 | Get there |
Map in print form: Hooker Mountain State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC hooker mountain state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Hooker Mountain State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Hooker Mountain State Forest, starting with Hooker Mountain WMA. Combined: 6,284 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hooker Mountain | WMA | 83 | 4F | 0.9 mi | north |
| Susquehanna | State forest | 426 | 4F | 5.0 mi | southwest |
| South Hill State Forest | State forest | 522 | 4F | 6.2 mi | south |
| Maple Valley | State forest | 806 | 4F | 6.7 mi | northeast |
| Crumhorn Mountain | WMA | 60 | 4F | 7.9 mi | southwest |
| Arnold Lake | State forest | 1,253 | 4F | 8.0 mi | west |
| Decatur | State forest | 594 | 4F | 8.3 mi | east |
| R. Milton Hick Memorial | State forest | 1,396 | 4F | 8.4 mi | northeast |
| Milford | State forest | 512 | 4F | 9.4 mi | west |
| Roseboom | State forest | 632 | 4F | 9.5 mi | north |
Points: DEC Lands layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Hooker Mountain State Forest
Maryland logged 285 deer in 2019; DEC stopped publishing town tables after that season.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks, 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Otsego | 277 | 314 | 286 | 327 | 285 | 161 |
| Westford | Otsego | 204 | 146 | 196 | 162 | 131 | 82 |
Recent bear reports from the same towns: Maryland (2021) 2, Maryland (2022) 1, Westford (2021) 1.
The 2025 deer take for Otsego County was 4,668.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,519 | 3,178 | 1,941 |
| 2022 | 6,123 | 3,135 | 2,430 |
| 2023 | 4,989 | 2,909 | 1,681 |
| 2024 | 5,021 | 2,942 | 1,654 |
| 2025 | 4,668 | 2,648 | 1,583 |
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.
Hooker Mountain State Forest: nearby towns and services
Cooperstown sits 7.9 mi from Hooker Mountain State Forest, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooperstown | Otsego | 7.9 mi | 1,844 | 6,983 |
| East Worcester | Otsego | 9.5 mi | – | 14,513 |
| Richmondville | Schoharie | 15 mi | 873 | 21,638 |
| North Blenheim | Schoharie | 22 mi | – | 27,014 |
Open the county guide for Hooker Mountain State Forest: Otsego County.
Hooker Mountain State Forest: businesses close by
Otsego County is home to 15 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Hooker Mountain 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.
Hooker Mountain State Forest and nearby events
Hunter education course: 1 upcoming event, on site or a few miles off.
Still ahead
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2026 | Hunter Education Course – East Worcester Fire House · hunter education course | 9 | East Worcester Fire House | Register with DEC | Source |
Hooker Mountain State Forest: nearest firing lines
For hunters on Hooker Mountain State Forest, the nearest public range is Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range in Albany County (45 miles). Nearby rod and gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Hooker Mountain State Forest: first and last legal light
The DEC guide prints sunrise and sunset for Albany only. The times here are worked out for the centre of Hooker Mountain State Forest and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:58 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:22 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:30 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:56 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 7:58 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.
Hooker Mountain State Forest in pictures
Hooker Mountain State Forest questions, answered from the record
Can I leave a tree stand on Hooker Mountain State Forest?
Yes, a portable one that harms no tree, labeled with your name and address or license or DEC ID, removed at season end.
Does the orange law apply on Hooker Mountain State Forest?
During firearm deer and bear hunting, for you and anyone with you.
Is Hooker Mountain State Forest open to public hunting?
It is public DEC land: carry your hunting license and follow the season dates.
What does Hooker Mountain State Forest measure?
The record lists 804 acres.
What zone and WMU is Hooker Mountain State Forest?
The DEC WMU layer gives 4F (Southern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Hooker Mountain State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 4F.
What is the bowhunting window on Hooker Mountain State Forest?
Archery runs Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 to start.
Can I get a Deer Management Permit for Hooker Mountain State Forest?
Yes: WMU 4F has a 2026 target of 10,000 DMPs, and resident first-permit odds are high.
What species go with Hooker Mountain State Forest?
You will find white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbit and hare, squirrel and coyote on the list.
When does turkey season open on Hooker Mountain State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Hooker Mountain State Forest?
WMU 4F is open for bears Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
How far is Hooker Mountain State Forest from a town?
Cooperstown is 7.9 mi away.
Hooker Mountain State Forest: what to double-check
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Hooker Mountain State Forest.
Sources: DEC hooker mountain 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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0).