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Easement tract · 2026-27
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract hunting rules, seasons and access
Easement tract of 19,419 acres in Franklin County, hunted under WMU 5C dates, for white-tailed deer, black bear and ruffed grouse.
Photo: ImNotQuiteJack (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract at a glance
Hunters find Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract, a conservation easement tract with public recreation rights, in Franklin County. DEC places it in the towns of Brighton and Franklin. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 5, which spans the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. The acreage used here is 19,419, taken from computed area of the DEC Conservation Easements layer polygon(s). It is number 6 by size out of 13 easement tracts.
Hunting section, quoted: Hunters may access almost all of the property except one-acre parcels around the leased camps. The diverse habitat naturally present and created through timber harvesting supports a wide variety of big and small game wildlife species and fur bearers. Recently harvested areas are rich with a variety of non-game species as well as popular game species including white-tailed deer, black bear, ruffed grouse and woodcock. Approximately 100 miles of seasonal access roads and numerous miles of old skidder trails provide …
From DEC kushaqua conservation easement tract; acreage computed area of the DEC Conservation Easements layer polygon(s); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: access and site rules
These state land rules from DEC cover Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract:
- Trees on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract 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 Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract as long as it is tag-marked with your details and harms no tree.
- Trail cameras and other gear may not be left on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract 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 Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract 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 kushaqua conservation easement tract, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract (5C); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5C | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5C | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 5C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5C | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 5C | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5C | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5C | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5C | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5C | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5C | 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 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5C | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5C | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5C | 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.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract and WMU 5C: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract is WMU 5C ground (Northern Zone, 1,126 sq. mi. across Clinton, Franklin and Essex). State law bars DMPs in 5C. Bear area: Adirondacks. Fall turkey here: Oct. 1-14.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5C | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
WMU 5C deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 5C 1,210 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 583 | 480 |
| 2017 | 616 | 528 |
| 2018 | 847 | 691 |
| 2019 | 1,003 | 808 |
| 2020 | 939 | 703 |
| 2021 | 955 | 794 |
| 2022 | 1,210 | 955 |
Recent bear numbers for 5C: 2022: 35, 2023: 47, 2024: 58, 2025: 46.
Objective for bears in 5C: 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.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: species list
Hunters come to Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract for white-tailed deer, black bear and ruffed grouse above all.
White-tailed deer
Oct 24–Dec 6
Black bear
Sep 19–Dec 6
Ruffed grouse
Sep 20–Feb 28
Woodcock
Oct 1–Nov 14
Small game
Oct 1–Mar 21
Species from DEC kushaqua conservation easement tract; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract access points
The DEC directions name 3 places to leave a truck at Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| is located off of North Branch Road, 0.7 miles west from its intersection with Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road: 44.5116, -74.1449 | Navigate |
| is located off Hunter's Camp Road approximately 2.0 miles west of its intersection with North Branch Road: 44.5021, -74.1829 | Navigate |
| is located along Port Kent-Hopkinton Turnpike (County Route 26: 44.5826, -74.1233 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Loon Lake Mountain Trail Map · DECinfo Locator
Open Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC kushaqua conservation easement tract; checked October 27, 2026.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract and 10 neighbors; Debar Mountain Wild Forest sits 4.3 mi off. The tracts listed total 301,413 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debar Mountain | Wild forest | 88,354 | 5C, 6F | 4.3 mi | west |
| Paul Smiths College | Easement tract | 7,814 | 5C, 5F | 9.4 mi | south |
| Taylor Pond | Wild forest | 39,698 | 5C, 5F | 10 mi | east |
| Santa Clara | Easement tract | 71,951 | 5C, 6F | 11 mi | west |
| Sable Highlands | Easement tract | 28,926 | 5C | 12 mi | north |
| Titusville Mountain | State forest | 7,169 | 5C | 12 mi | north |
| Saint Regis | Canoe area | 18,994 | 6F | 14 mi | southwest |
| Franklin | Detached parcel | 138 | 6F | 14 mi | northwest |
| McKenzie Mountain | Wilderness | 37,366 | 5F | 15 mi | southeast |
| Chazy Highlands | WMA | 1,003 | 5C | 16 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Conservation Easements layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract
The town of Brighton, where Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract lies, produced 32 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | Franklin | 34 | 34 | 30 | 23 | 32 | 31 |
| Franklin | Franklin | 83 | 65 | 73 | 62 | 101 | 82 |
DEC bear tables list 2 for Brighton (2020), 1 for Brighton (2022), 2 for Franklin (2020), 7 for Franklin (2021), 5 for Franklin (2022).
DEC puts the 2025 Franklin County deer take at 2,760.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,137 | 1,663 | 424 |
| 2022 | 2,393 | 1,755 | 513 |
| 2023 | 2,296 | 1,660 | 455 |
| 2024 | 2,836 | 2,164 | 582 |
| 2025 | 2,760 | 2,041 | 559 |
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.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Paul Smiths, about 8.3 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Smiths | Franklin | 8.3 mi | – | 99,131 |
| Saranac Lake | Franklin | 15 mi | 4,856 | 129,641 |
| Redford | Clinton | 18 mi | – | 55,286 |
| Lyon Mountain | Clinton | 19 mi | – | 39,548 |
Season tables by county for Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: Franklin County.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 15 licensed guides in Franklin County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract
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.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: nearest firing lines
Hunters on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract can sight in at Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club (13 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.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract 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 Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:00 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:01 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:26 a.m. | 4:18 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:18 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:34 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:49 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 5:19 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 5:19 a.m. to 8:00 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.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract in pictures
Answers on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract access and seasons
Which WMU rules apply on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
Northern Zone, WMU 5C.
Is Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract a large property?
19,419 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
It opens Oct 24, 2026 and closes Dec 6, 2026 (regular Season).
What game does the source list for Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
White-tailed deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, woodcock and small game.
Are DMPs issued for Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
No. 5C is an Adirondack unit where state law bars DMPs.
When is bear season at Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
Yes: regular Season (Adirondacks) Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026 (WMU 5C).
When is spring turkey season at Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Can I use screw-in steps on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract from a town?
Paul Smiths, about 8.3 mi away.
How does access work on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Do I need orange or pink on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC kushaqua conservation easement tract · 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: David A Mitchell (CC BY 2.0); Fyn Kynd (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).