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State forest · 2026-27
James Kennedy State Forest hunting rules, seasons and access
State forest of 4,507 acres in Cortland County, hunted under WMU 7R dates.
Photo: generalising (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to James Kennedy State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near James Kennedy State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Finger Lakes Trail – Babcock Hollow Road TrailheadParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.9 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.
James Kennedy State Forest at a glance
Hunters find James Kennedy State Forest, a DEC state forest, in Cortland County. DEC places it in the towns of Harford, Lapeer and Virgil. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 7, which spans central New York. The acreage used here is 4,507, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 34 by size out of 409 state forests. DEC plans it under the Virgil Mountain unit management plan.
From DEC james kennedy state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around James Kennedy State Forest
James Kennedy State Forest: access and site rules
These state land rules from DEC cover James Kennedy State Forest:
- Trees on James Kennedy State Forest stay unharmed, so no hardware, no cleared shooting lanes and no blinds built from brush.
- Your stand may remain in place for the season on James Kennedy State Forest as long as it is tag-marked with your details and harms no tree.
- Trail cameras and other gear may not be left on James Kennedy State Forest as storage.
- Motor vehicles stay on maintained roads, and ATVs need a designated route.
- Camping needs a DEC permit where the rules require one.
Laws every James Kennedy State Forest hunter carries in
- Gun hunters after deer or bear wear orange or pink: 250 square inches above the waist or a mostly orange or pink hat.
- The discharge setback is 500 feet for guns, 250 feet for crossbows and 150 feet for bows from homes, farm buildings, schools and churches.
- Hunting over bait is illegal; scents and lures are allowed.
- There is no Sunday ban in New York; some parks set their own.
From DEC james kennedy state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
James Kennedy State Forest: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under James Kennedy State Forest (7R); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
James Kennedy State Forest and WMU 7R: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, James Kennedy State Forest is WMU 7R ground (Southern Zone, 739 sq. mi. across Tompkins, Tioga and Cortland). DEC lists 7R as unlimited for DMPs this year. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7R | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 9.3% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 7R deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 7R 5,336 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult 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 |
Recent bear numbers for 7R: 2022: 0, 2023: 4, 2024: 2, 2025: 4.
Objective for bears in 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.
James Kennedy State Forest access points
The DEC directions name 2 places to leave a truck at James Kennedy State Forest.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Courtney Hill Road Parking: 42.4686, -76.1543 | Navigate |
| Finger Lakes Trail Parking, Daisy Hollow Road on western edge of the property: 42.4706, -76.2311 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Kennedy State Forest Map
Open James Kennedy State Forest in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC james kennedy state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
James Kennedy State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show James Kennedy State Forest and 10 neighbors; Griggs Gulf State Forest sits 4.0 mi off. The tracts listed total 16,985 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griggs Gulf | State forest | 2,344 | 7R | 4.0 mi | south |
| Tuller Hill | State forest | 2,498 | 7R | 4.1 mi | northeast |
| Michigan Hill | State forest | 1,199 | 7R | 5.6 mi | south |
| Dryden Lake | Multiple use area | 198 | 7R | 5.6 mi | west |
| Hoxie Gorge | State forest | 2,118 | 7M | 5.9 mi | northeast |
| Beaver Dam State Forest, | State forest | 1,151 | 7R | 6.5 mi | south |
| Robinson Hollow | State forest | 2,106 | 7R | 7.1 mi | southwest |
| Hammond Hill | State forest | 3,702 | 7R | 7.6 mi | southwest |
| Turkey Hill | State forest | 1,119 | 7R | 8.4 mi | south |
| Andersen Hill | State forest | 550 | 7R | 8.9 mi | south |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind James Kennedy State Forest
The town of Harford, where James Kennedy State Forest lies, produced 110 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harford | Cortland | 66 | 74 | 69 | 97 | 110 | 52 |
| Lapeer | Cortland | 105 | 134 | 100 | 117 | 116 | 53 |
| Virgil | Cortland | 267 | 348 | 237 | 337 | 321 | 125 |
DEC bear tables list 1 for Virgil (2020).
DEC puts the 2025 Cortland County deer take at 2,550.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
James Kennedy State Forest: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Virgil, about 3.2 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil | Cortland | 3.2 mi | – | 21,230 |
| Blodgett Mills | Cortland | 6.5 mi | – | 15,903 |
| Marathon | Cortland | 6.9 mi | 883 | 19,481 |
| Cortland | Cortland | 8.6 mi | 17,459 | 14,301 |
Season tables by county for James Kennedy State Forest: Cortland County.
James Kennedy State Forest: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 3 licensed guides in Cortland County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to James Kennedy 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.
Scheduled near James Kennedy State Forest
2 upcoming events held on this property or within about 10 miles (NWTF chapter banquet and Whitetails Unlimited banquet). Checked October 27, 2026.
Next on the list
| Dates | What | Miles | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Whitetails Unlimited Cortland County Chapter Banquet · Whitetails Unlimited banquet | 9 | Cortland Country Music Park | Event details | Source |
| Feb 27, 2027 | Cortland Limbhangers NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 9 | Cortland | Get tickets | Source |
James Kennedy State Forest: nearest firing lines
Hunters on James Kennedy State Forest can sight in at Klein's Archery & Outdoor Store (8 miles), the nearest listing; public ranges are all more than 60 miles off.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
James Kennedy State Forest shooting hours by key date
East and west matter: sunrise in Buffalo comes about 20 minutes after sunrise in Albany, so use local times for James Kennedy State Forest.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
James Kennedy State Forest in pictures
Answers on James Kennedy State Forest access and seasons
Can I use screw-in steps on James Kennedy State Forest?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is James Kennedy State Forest from a town?
Virgil, about 3.2 mi away.
What hours apply on James Kennedy State Forest?
Sunrise minus 30 minutes for big game; the hours table above has local times.
Do I need orange or pink on James Kennedy State Forest?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
How does access work on James Kennedy State Forest?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Does New York allow Sunday hunting at James Kennedy State Forest?
Sundays are open under state law.
Which WMU rules apply on James Kennedy State Forest?
Southern Zone, WMU 7R.
Is James Kennedy State Forest a large property?
4,507 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on James Kennedy State Forest?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at James Kennedy State Forest?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
When is bear season at James Kennedy State Forest?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 7R).
When is spring turkey season at James Kennedy State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
James Kennedy State Forest: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on James Kennedy State Forest can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC james kennedy 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: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).