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New York wilderness
Hudson Gorge Wilderness for hunters
Public hunting ground in Hamilton County and 1 more: access rules, WMU 5H seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Hudson Gorge Wilderness
Parking, trailheads and gates near Hudson Gorge Wilderness
- TrailheadTrailhead · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- OK Slip Falls ParkingParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- OK Slip Falls TrailheadTrailhead · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 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.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness at a glance
The records class Hudson Gorge Wilderness as a Forest Preserve wilderness in Essex and Hamilton counties. Town lines: Minerva, Newcomb and Indian Lake. Regional staff for the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain (Region 5) look after it. Its 24,534 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 16th of the 23 wilderness areas on our New York list. Its unit management plan: Hudson Gorge.
What DEC writes about hunting here: In addition to the property's parking area and roads, hunters may also park on the shoulders of seasonal access roads provided vehicles are out of the travel lane. Chain Lakes Road South Seasonal Access Parking Area is located north of the Old Gooley Club Parking Area and can be accessed by motor vehicles during the big game hunting season. Three designated primitive tent sites along the Chain Lakes Road South and four sites along the Camp 6 Road can be accessed by motor vehicles during the big game season.
From DEC hudson gorge wilderness; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Hudson Gorge Wilderness
Open seasons on Hudson Gorge Wilderness this year
43 dated seasons for 31 species reach Hudson Gorge Wilderness, matched to WMU 5H, the Northeastern duck zone and the Northeast goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5H | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 5H | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5H | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 5H | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5H | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5H | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5H | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5H | 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 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5H | 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.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness: access and site rules
The Forest Preserve land use rules apply in full on Hudson Gorge Wilderness:
- Seasons on Hudson Gorge Wilderness follow the WMU rules; posted areas are the exception.
- Tree cutting and tree hardware are both banned on Hudson Gorge Wilderness.
- Pitch camp 150 feet back from water, roads and trails, or at a marked site.
Rules from the state guide, on Hudson Gorge Wilderness
- 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 hudson gorge wilderness, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Hudson Gorge Wilderness
Access to Hudson Gorge Wilderness starts at 9 DEC parking points.
| Access point, GPS | Link |
|---|---|
| is located off Route 28, approximately 7.5 miles east of the community of Indian Lake: 43.7721, -74.1299 | Route |
| The actual trailhead is located on the north side of Route 28, 0.2 miles west of the parking area: 43.7712, -74.1333 | Route |
| is located along the North Woods Club Road: 43.8324, -74.1072 | Route |
| is located along the Chain Lakes Road South: 43.8275, -74.2008 | Route |
| is 1.5 miles north of the Chain Lakes Road South Seasonal (Fall) Parking Area. The parking area is only open during the Big Game Hunting Season: 43.8407, -74.2206 | Route |
| is located on Harris Lake/Beach Road of State Route 28N: 43.9717, -74.1459 | Route |
| is located at the end of Drakes Mills Road. A 0.3-mile carry brings paddlers to the hand launch on the Hudson River: 43.8952, -74.1690 | Route |
| is located along the Chain Lakes Road South and 0.1 mile from the Hudson River take-out: 43.8275, -74.2008 | Route |
| is located along State Route 28: 43.7504, -74.0587 | Route |
Paper map to print: Hudson Gorge Wilderness Map · Whortleberry Pond Trail Map · OK Slip Falls Trail Map · Blue Ledges Trail Map · Essex Chain Lakes Complex Map
Parking points and maps from DEC hudson gorge wilderness; checked October 27, 2026.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness: species list
Game listed for Hudson Gorge Wilderness: big game.
Big game
Oct 24–Dec 6
Species from DEC hudson gorge wilderness; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Hudson Gorge Wilderness
5H is the Wildlife Management Unit over Hudson Gorge Wilderness; it covers 3,046 square miles in Hamilton, Herkimer and Warren. 5H gets no DMPs; antlerless deer come only with the Bow/Muzz tag where valid. For bears, 5H falls in the Adirondacks area. Fall turkey dates for 5H: Oct. 1-14.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5H | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
5H deer numbers
Deer take in 5H: 2,312 in 2016, 2,794 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,312 | 1,921 |
| 2017 | 2,346 | 1,944 |
| 2018 | 2,512 | 2,060 |
| 2019 | 2,603 | 2,222 |
| 2020 | 2,630 | 2,070 |
| 2021 | 2,381 | 2,053 |
| 2022 | 2,794 | 2,244 |
Bears taken in 5H: 127 in 2020, 64 in 2021, 118 in 2022, 89 in 2023, 143 in 2024, 93 in 2025.
DEC's bear objective for 5H: maintain moderate 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.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness and the public land around it
Hudson Gorge Wilderness gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Essex Chain Lakes Complex, 6.6 mi northwest. The listed neighbors hold 674,518 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex Chain Lakes Complex | Forest Preserve unit | 9,746 | 5H | 6.6 mi | northwest |
| Blue Mountain | Wild forest | 42,635 | 5F, 5H | 8.0 mi | west |
| Vanderwhacker Mountain | Wild forest | 96,577 | 5F, 5G | 8.2 mi | northeast |
| Siamese Ponds | Wilderness | 115,124 | 5H | 13 mi | south |
| Hoffman Notch | Wilderness | 38,529 | 5H, 5F | 16 mi | east |
| Boreas Ponds Tract | DEC state land | 320 | 5F | 16 mi | northeast |
| Blue Ridge | Wilderness | 48,490 | 5H | 18 mi | west |
| Sargent Ponds | Wild forest | 43,793 | 5F, 6J | 20 mi | west |
| Cedarlands | Easement tract | 3,953 | 5F | 20 mi | northwest |
| High Peaks Wilderness Complex | Wilderness | 275,351 | 5F | 22 mi | north |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness trip planning
From Hudson Gorge Wilderness, North Creek is 12 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Creek | Warren | 12 mi | – | 76,806 |
| Pottersville | Warren | 17 mi | – | 55,861 |
| Long Lake | Hamilton | 18 mi | – | 74,428 |
| Schroon Lake | Essex | 19 mi | – | 115,226 |
The county guide covering Hudson Gorge Wilderness: Essex County, Hamilton County.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Hamilton County: 9, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Hudson Gorge Wilderness
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 Hudson Gorge Wilderness
In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Minerva came in at 94 deer.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 adult bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minerva | Essex | 71 | 75 | 110 | 128 | 94 | 81 |
| Newcomb | Essex | 65 | 78 | 88 | 51 | 83 | 71 |
| Indian Lake | Hamilton | 176 | 176 | 203 | 217 | 212 | 192 |
Town bear take: Minerva 2020: 2, Minerva 2021: 3, Minerva 2022: 3, Newcomb 2020: 1, Newcomb 2021: 4, Indian Lake 2020: 1.
Hamilton County as a whole recorded 959 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 872 | 786 | 79 |
| 2022 | 968 | 831 | 111 |
| 2023 | 1,037 | 933 | 76 |
| 2024 | 1,012 | 909 | 91 |
| 2025 | 959 | 864 | 75 |
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.
Nearest public range for Hudson Gorge Wilderness hunters
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range is the nearest public range to Hudson Gorge Wilderness, about 53 miles away. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Hudson Gorge Wilderness 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 | 6:49 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:54 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:22 a.m. | 6:02 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:59 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:24 a.m. | 4:22 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:22 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:31 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:52 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:22 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.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness in pictures
Hudson Gorge Wilderness FAQ for 2026-27
Which WMU rules apply on Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
WMU 5H; that puts it in the Northern Zone.
What deer season covers Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
The first bow window is Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026.
Can I get antlerless permits for Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
Not in 5H; DMPs are banned there by law.
Which animals are named for Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
The list names big game.
What are the spring turkey dates for Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
Regular Season (Adirondacks): Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026.
How far is Hudson Gorge Wilderness from a town?
North Creek (12 mi).
May I hang a stand for the season on Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.
What are the blaze orange rules at Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
Can I hunt Hudson Gorge Wilderness 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 Hudson Gorge Wilderness?
Its size is 24,534 acres.
Hudson Gorge Wilderness: confirm these before you go
Print the Hudson Gorge Wilderness map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC hudson gorge wilderness · 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: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 2.0); Adventure George (CC BY-SA 2.0).