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State forest · Region 5
Lincoln Mountain State Forest: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this state forest in Saratoga County, 1,219 acres.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Lincoln Mountain State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Lincoln Mountain State Forest
- GateGate · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Spier Falls Upstream LaunchBoat ramp · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 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.
Where Lincoln Mountain State Forest is and who runs it
Lincoln Mountain State Forest sits in Saratoga County, filed as a DEC state forest. Its town is Greenfield. Region 5 of DEC covers it, along with the rest of the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. 1,219 acres are on record from DEC Lands layer ACRES. Sorted by acreage, the 409 state forests put it 197th. On the property page the figure is 982 acres. Unit plan on file: Saratoga Warren.
The property page says: Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main furbearers and game species found on the property include fisher, cottontail rabbit, wild turkey, and whitetail deer.
From DEC lincoln 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 Lincoln Mountain State Forest
Lincoln Mountain State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
The nearest public land to Lincoln Mountain State Forest is Daniel's Road State Forest, 3.6 mi away to the south. Combined: 12,936 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel's Road | State forest | 524 | 5J | 3.6 mi | south |
| Moreau Lake | State park | 6,640 | 5J | 4.5 mi | northeast |
| Saratoga Sand Plains | WMA | 1,148 | 5J | 5.3 mi | east |
| Daketown | State forest | 506 | 5J | 7.5 mi | southwest |
| Ralph Road | State forest | 544 | 5J | 7.6 mi | north |
| Lake Desolation State Forest | Easement tract | 610 | 5J | 8.2 mi | west |
| Saratoga | Detached parcel | 142 | 5J | 9.2 mi | west |
| Middle Grove | State forest | 792 | 5J, 5R | 9.7 mi | southwest |
| Saratoga Spa | State park | 1,983 | 5R | 10.0 mi | south |
| Victory Mills | WMA | 47 | 5R | 12 mi | southeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Lincoln Mountain State Forest regulations, plainly
On Lincoln Mountain State Forest the DEC state land use rules set the ground rules:
- Nothing may be nailed, screwed or cut on Lincoln Mountain State Forest: no permanent stands, natural blinds or shooting lanes.
- Tagged portable stands are fine on Lincoln Mountain State Forest for the season (name and address or license number on them), then they have to be removed.
- Personal property cannot be stored on Lincoln Mountain State Forest, and that includes trail cameras.
- ATVs and trucks are kept to designated or maintained roads.
- Plan any overnight camp around the DEC camping permit rules.
State law reminders for Lincoln Mountain State Forest
- Fluorescent orange or pink (250 square inches above the waist, or a hat at least half orange or pink) is required for anyone hunting deer or bear with a gun.
- Firearms may not be discharged within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, farm building, school, playground or church without permission; bows 150 feet, crossbows 250 feet.
- No baiting for big game, upland birds, turkey or waterfowl, and no salt or mineral licks for deer or bear.
- New York allows hunting on Sundays in every county.
From DEC lincoln mountain state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 5J facts for Lincoln Mountain State Forest
The WMU map puts Lincoln Mountain State Forest in 5J; 5J spans 674 square miles of Saratoga, Fulton and Warren. No Deer Management Permits exist for 5J. Adirondacks bear rules cover 5J. The fall turkey window for 5J is Oct. 1-14.
| WMU | Deer zone | DMP goal | Success rate | Odds (resident) | APR | Implements | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5J | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
Deer take in WMU 5J
5J yielded 1,494 deer in 2022; the WMU tables stop at 2022.
| Year | Total | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,457 | 1,072 |
| 2017 | 1,258 | 965 |
| 2018 | 1,464 | 1,011 |
| 2019 | 1,394 | 1,040 |
| 2020 | 1,511 | 1,075 |
| 2021 | 1,277 | 992 |
| 2022 | 1,494 | 1,114 |
The 2025 bear harvest in 5J came to 20.
DEC's bear plan for 5J reads "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.
Every season window on Lincoln Mountain State Forest
31 species have open dates on Lincoln Mountain State Forest this license year; the table holds 45 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5J | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 5J | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5J | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5J | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5J | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 5J | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5J | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5J | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5J | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5J | 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 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5J | 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.
Lincoln Mountain State Forest game species
The source names white-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit and hare and furbearers on Lincoln Mountain State Forest.
White-tailed deer
Oct 24–Dec 6
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Rabbit and hare
Oct 1–Mar 21
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC lincoln mountain state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Getting into Lincoln Mountain State Forest: parking and maps
Park at one of the 2 access points DEC gives for Lincoln Mountain State Forest.
| Access and location | Map |
|---|---|
| Cohen Road Parking Lot: 43.1828, -73.8159 | Open map |
| Lincoln Mountain Road Parking Area: 43.1908, -73.7982 | Open map |
Map download: Lincoln Mountain State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC lincoln mountain state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Lincoln Mountain State Forest: town and county harvest
DEC's last take-by-town table (2019) credits the town of Greenfield with 126 deer, 93 of them adult bucks.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield | Saratoga | 160 | 144 | 139 | 151 | 126 | 93 |
Bears reported by town: Greenfield 2 in 2020; Greenfield 2 in 2022.
Saratoga County deer, 2025: 2,554.
| Year | County deer | Adult bucks | Adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,371 | 1,483 | 765 |
| 2022 | 2,810 | 1,518 | 1,050 |
| 2023 | 2,287 | 1,410 | 711 |
| 2024 | 2,362 | 1,440 | 758 |
| 2025 | 2,554 | 1,539 | 781 |
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.
Lincoln Mountain State Forest hunting-hour table
Sun times below are calculated for Lincoln Mountain State Forest; the game column adds the big game half hour and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and bear | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:47 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:00 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:55 a.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:19 a.m. | 4:21 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:21 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:27 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:50 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 8:25 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 7:55 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.
Lincoln Mountain State Forest: nearby towns and services
Ballston Spa is the nearest town with its own page, 12 mi from Lincoln Mountain State Forest.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballston Spa | Saratoga | 12 mi | 4,930 | 1,997 |
| Victory | Saratoga | 12 mi | 676 | 1,475 |
| Fort Edward | Washington | 13 mi | 3,138 | 1,482 |
| Lake George | Warren | 18 mi | 1,007 | 16,127 |
Lincoln Mountain State Forest falls inside these county guides: Saratoga County.
Lincoln Mountain State Forest: businesses close by
17 licensed guides are registered in Saratoga County, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Lincoln Mountain 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.
Nearest public range for Lincoln Mountain State Forest hunters
From Lincoln Mountain State Forest, Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range is the nearest DEC or government-run range (6 miles). Nearby rod and gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Lincoln Mountain State Forest in pictures
Lincoln Mountain State Forest: short answers
How does access work on Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
No special permit is listed; a valid license and the open seasons are what count.
What does Lincoln Mountain State Forest measure?
About 1,219 acres by the source used here.
Which WMU rules apply on Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
WMU 5J, in the Northern Zone.
When does the main deer season run on Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
WMU 5J: regular Season Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026.
When can I bowhunt deer on Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
Bowhunting opens Sep 27, 2026 (WMU 5J).
What about DMPs on Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
None: 5J is a no-DMP unit.
What game is found on Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
White-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit and hare and furbearers top the list.
How long is spring turkey on Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, with shooting until noon.
When does bear hunting open near Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026 (regular Season (Adirondacks)).
Which town page is closest to Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
Ballston Spa, about 12 mi away.
What are the stand rules on Lincoln Mountain State Forest?
No permanent stands or screw-in steps; a labeled portable stand may stay during the season.
What colors are required at Lincoln Mountain State Forest in gun season?
Orange or pink, 250 square inches, when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
Lincoln Mountain State Forest: what to double-check
After a deer, bear or turkey on Lincoln Mountain State Forest, report it: paper tags within 48 hours, e-tags right away in HuntFishNY.
Sources: DEC lincoln 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: SquireSnapsalot (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0).