Home › New York › Public land › Long Pond State Forest
State forest · central New York
Long Pond State Forest: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
Seasons and access for hunting in Chenango County: ring-necked pheasant.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Long Pond State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Long Pond State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Long Pond Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Genegantslet Creek Fishing AccessParking · 5.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Upper Lisle Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 6.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.2 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.
Long Pond State Forest: size, towns and manager
Listed as a DEC state forest, Long Pond State Forest lies in Chenango County. On the ground it lies within Smithville. The DEC region is Region 7 (central New York). It measures 3,185 acres, per DEC Lands layer ACRES. Size rank: 59th of 409 state forests. DEC groups it in the Long Pond planning unit.
In DEC's words: Long Pond State Forest is open to hunting during appropriate seasons .
From DEC long pond state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Long Pond State Forest
Long Pond State Forest hunting calendar
Season windows for Long Pond State Forest, filtered from the 2026-27 guide by WMU 7M and the Southeastern waterfowl zone.
| Species | Segment | Where | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7M | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7M | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7M | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7M | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7M | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7M | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7M | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7M | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7M | 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 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7M | 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.
How you may hunt Long Pond State Forest
DEC state land rules for state forests, multiple use areas and similar tracts apply on Long Pond State Forest:
- A stand on Long Pond State Forest cannot be fixed to a tree with nails or bolts, and lanes may not be cut.
- Label any portable stand on Long Pond State Forest with your name and address or hunting license number; it can stay through the season but must be gone at its close.
- Leaving gear, cameras included, on Long Pond State Forest breaks the state land rules.
- No motor vehicle leaves the maintained roads on Long Pond State Forest unless DEC designates the route.
- Camping is allowed under the state land rules, with a permit when one is required.
New York rules that apply on Long Pond State Forest too
- Firearm deer and bear hunters, and anyone with them, wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist, or a hat that is at least half orange or pink.
- Mind the 500-foot firearm setback from dwellings and farm buildings near the boundary.
- Bait, salt licks and mineral attractants are illegal for deer and bear, and feeding them is banned year-round.
- Sundays are open statewide; only a site rule can close them.
From DEC long pond state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Parking and maps for Long Pond State Forest
Long Pond State Forest has 5 listed parking spots on the DEC page.
| Lot or pull-off | Map |
|---|---|
| NYS Route 41 features six parking areas in Long Pond State Forest all within one mile of each other. The Boat Launch Parking Area is the farthest west: 42.4225, -75.8511 | Directions |
| Round Pond Road Pull-off Parking Area is located on Round Pond Road east of its intersection with Marvin Road: 42.3999, -75.8485 | Directions |
| A pull-off near its intersection with State Road, south of Long Pond: 42.4149, -75.8446 | Directions |
| In the southeastern corner of the state forest: 42.4073, -75.8218 | Directions |
| Nelson Road Pull-off is located in the northeastern corner of the state forest: 42.4385, -75.8216 | Directions |
Boundary map file: Long Pond State Forest Map
Wheelchair access, per DEC: From the Long Pond Parking Area, off Route 51 , wheelchair accessible features include the: Fishing/viewing platform
Parking points and maps from DEC long pond state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Long Pond State Forest game species
1 game group is named for Long Pond State Forest; each card shows the main 2026-27 window for its WMU.
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 17–Feb 28
Species from DEC long pond state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Long Pond State Forest pheasant releases for 2026
DEC stocks pheasants on Long Pond State Forest: 11 releases in 2026 adding up to 755 birds.
| Site | Access rule | Town | Field acres | Stocking | Events | Birds released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Pond State Forest | Public – open access | Smithville | 255 | Youth, regular | 11 | 755 |
| Week | Pheasants released |
|---|---|
| 10/05 | 51 |
| 10/12 | 51 |
| 10/19 | 102 |
| 10/26 | 102 |
| 11/02 | 102 |
| 11/09 | 70 |
| 12/07 | 51 |
| 12/14 | 51 |
| 12/21 | 35 |
| 12/28 | 35 |
| 01/05 | 35 |
| 01/19 | 35 |
| 01/26 | 35 |
Note for bird hunters: Do not block gates or driveways with vehicles
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
WMU 7M rules that reach Long Pond State Forest
WMU 7M is the unit that counts for Long Pond State Forest: Southern Zone, 1,242 square miles, in Chenango, Madison and Cortland. 20,200 Deer Management Permits are the 2026 goal for 7M (average success 14.4%; resident first DMP: high). Bear rules in 7M follow the Southern Zone area. 7M fall turkey season: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 DMPs | Avg success | 1st DMP odds | 3-point rule | Deer | Bear area | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7M | Southern | 20,200 | 14.4% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
7M: deer by season
The 7M deer take moved from 7,919 (2016) to 7,666 (2022).
| Year | Deer taken | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,919 | 3,953 |
| 2017 | 7,717 | 4,041 |
| 2018 | 8,952 | 4,135 |
| 2019 | 8,159 | 4,077 |
| 2020 | 8,285 | 3,607 |
| 2021 | 6,858 | 3,371 |
| 2022 | 7,666 | 3,675 |
7M bear take by year: 2020 0; 2021 0; 2022 4; 2023 6; 2024 8; 2025 1.
7M bear objective: 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.
Long Pond State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Around Long Pond State Forest lie 10 more public tracts; Red Brook State Forest is the closest (3.0 mi). Combined: 25,419 acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | WMU | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Brook | State forest | 602 | 7M | 3.0 mi | north |
| Triangle | State forest | 663 | 7M | 3.9 mi | southwest |
| Genegantslet | State forest | 3,202 | 7M | 4.4 mi | east |
| Five Streams | State forest | 6,375 | 7M | 4.8 mi | north |
| Ludlow Creek | State forest | 3,197 | 7M | 7.0 mi | east |
| Whitney Point | Corps lake MUA | 732 | 7M | 7.2 mi | west |
| Gee Brook | State forest | 865 | 7M | 7.8 mi | northwest |
| Papish Pond | Multiple use area | 191 | 7M | 7.8 mi | northwest |
| Balsam Swamp | State forest | 2,679 | 7M | 8.7 mi | north |
| McDonough | State forest | 6,913 | 7M | 9.4 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Long Pond State Forest: nearby towns and services
Head to Smithville Flats, 2.2 mi off, for supplies.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithville Flats | Chenango | 2.2 mi | – | 22,393 |
| Greene | Chenango | 7.1 mi | 1,424 | 15,526 |
| Marathon | Cortland | 10 mi | 883 | 19,481 |
| Oxford | Chenango | 12 mi | 1,329 | 21,141 |
County pages that list Long Pond State Forest: Chenango County.
Long Pond State Forest: businesses close by
The DEC licensed guide list counts 4 in Chenango County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Long Pond 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.
Long Pond State Forest: town and county harvest
Deer take for the town of Smithville reached 344 in 2019, per DEC.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithville | Chenango | 289 | 351 | 276 | 395 | 344 | 168 |
Across Chenango County, DEC counted 5,123 deer taken in 2025.
| Season | Total | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,514 | 2,465 | 1,642 |
| 2022 | 5,478 | 2,897 | 1,926 |
| 2023 | 5,234 | 2,940 | 1,690 |
| 2024 | 5,528 | 3,121 | 1,829 |
| 2025 | 5,123 | 2,757 | 1,918 |
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.
Long Pond State Forest: nearest firing lines
Hidden Valley Archery is the closest listed range to Long Pond State Forest, about 2 miles away; no public range lies within 60 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Long Pond State Forest: first and last legal light
Spring turkey hunting ends at noon, fall turkey and upland birds run sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the half hour on each end.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:54 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:25 a.m. | 6:08 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:00 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:24 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:32 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:58 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 5:28 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 5:28 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.
Long Pond State Forest in pictures
Long Pond State Forest: short answers
What species go with Long Pond State Forest?
Named game: ring-necked pheasant.
How many DMPs are there for the WMU around Long Pond State Forest?
20,200 DMPs are targeted for 7M, with 14.4% average success.
Is Long Pond State Forest in a bear hunting area?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Is there a spring gobbler season at Long Pond State Forest?
It opens May 1, 2027 and ends May 31, 2027.
How far is Long Pond State Forest from a town?
Smithville Flats is 2.2 mi away.
Can I hunt stocked pheasants on Long Pond State Forest?
755 birds are scheduled for 2026.
What do I need to hunt Long Pond State Forest?
Open in season to anyone with a New York hunting license.
Are tree stands allowed on Long Pond State Forest?
Only portable stands: no hardware in trees, label it, take it out when the season closes.
Which unit sets deer dates for Long Pond State Forest?
7M, a Southern Zone unit.
What does Long Pond State Forest measure?
3,185 acres on file.
When does bow season start on Long Pond State Forest?
Early Bowhunting: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the main deer season run on Long Pond State Forest?
The regular Season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
Long Pond State Forest: what to double-check
Confirm access and permits for Long Pond State Forest before the drive.
Sources: DEC long pond state forest · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC · DEC GIS; 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); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); z2amiller (CC BY-SA 2.0).