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State forest · 2026-27
Lookout State Forest hunting rules, seasons and access
State forest of 3,983 acres in Lewis County, hunted under WMU 6K dates.
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Lookout State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Lookout State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Tug Hill State ForestParking · 5.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.4 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.
Lookout State Forest at a glance
Hunters find Lookout State Forest, a DEC state forest, in Lewis County. DEC places it in the towns of Harrisburg and Pinckney. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 6, which spans the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley. The acreage used here is 3,983, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 42 by size out of 409 state forests. DEC plans it under the Tug Hill North unit management plan.
From DEC lookout state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Lookout State Forest
Lookout State Forest: access and site rules
These state land rules from DEC cover Lookout State Forest:
- Trees on Lookout 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 Lookout 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 Lookout 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 Lookout 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 lookout state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Lookout State Forest: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Lookout State Forest (6K); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6K | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 6K | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6K | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 6K | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6K | Sep 19, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 6K | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6K | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Western Periphery) | WMU 6K | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 6K | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 6K | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 6K | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 6K | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 6K | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 6K | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6K | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6K | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6K | 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 6K | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 6K | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 6K | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 6K | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 6K | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 6K | 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.
Lookout State Forest and WMU 6K: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Lookout State Forest is WMU 6K ground (Northern Zone, 1,161 sq. mi. across Oneida, Oswego and Lewis). The 2026 DMP target in 6K is 6,500, with 18.0% average success and med odds for a resident first permit. Bear area: Western Periphery. Fall turkey here: Oct. 1-14.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6K | Northern | 6,500 | 18.0% | med | No | All | Western Periphery | Oct. 1-14 |
WMU 6K deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 6K 5,072 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,960 | 2,358 |
| 2017 | 3,580 | 2,248 |
| 2018 | 4,271 | 2,530 |
| 2019 | 4,483 | 2,968 |
| 2020 | 5,300 | 2,854 |
| 2021 | 4,613 | 2,974 |
| 2022 | 5,072 | 2,892 |
Recent bear numbers for 6K: 2022: 12, 2023: 13, 2024: 17, 2025: 18.
Objective for bears in 6K: 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.
Lookout State Forest access points
The DEC directions name 2 places to leave a truck at Lookout State Forest.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Dike Access pull-off parking area, off Cty Rte 194: 43.8386, -75.7701 | Navigate |
| Lookout Rd. and trail head off of Grant Rd: 43.8331, -75.7357 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Lookout State Forest Map
Open Lookout State Forest in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC lookout state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Lookout State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Lookout State Forest and 10 neighbors; Granger State Forest sits 2.4 mi off. The tracts listed total 46,546 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granger | State forest | 737 | 6K | 2.4 mi | west |
| Cobb Creek | State forest | 2,203 | 6K | 3.4 mi | east |
| Pinckney | State forest | 2,100 | 6K | 3.5 mi | northwest |
| Tug Hill | State forest | 12,268 | 6K, 6N | 4.8 mi | southwest |
| Sears Pond | State forest | 5,723 | 6N | 5.6 mi | south |
| Grant Powell | State forest | 8,337 | 6N | 5.9 mi | southeast |
| Gould Corners | State forest | 2,065 | 6K | 9.6 mi | west |
| Tug Hill | WMA | 5,081 | 6N | 9.9 mi | southeast |
| Honeyville | WMA | 111 | 6G | 12 mi | west |
| Little John | WMA | 7,921 | 6K, 6N | 12 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Lookout State Forest
The town of Harrisburg, where Lookout State Forest lies, produced 204 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | Lewis | 171 | 74 | 61 | 173 | 204 | 121 |
| Pinckney | Lewis | 129 | 31 | 27 | 138 | 158 | 119 |
DEC bear tables list 2 for Harrisburg (2021), 3 for Harrisburg (2022), 2 for Pinckney (2020), 1 for Pinckney (2021).
DEC puts the 2025 Lewis County deer take at 3,638.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,399 | 2,324 | 927 |
| 2022 | 3,709 | 2,453 | 959 |
| 2023 | 3,541 | 2,393 | 843 |
| 2024 | 3,705 | 2,484 | 1,032 |
| 2025 | 3,638 | 2,244 | 1,097 |
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.
Lookout State Forest: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Copenhagen, about 5.6 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen | Lewis | 5.6 mi | 660 | 21,231 |
| Lorraine | Jefferson | 11 mi | – | 34,980 |
| Carthage | Jefferson | 13 mi | 3,257 | 9,243 |
| Watertown | Jefferson | 13 mi | 24,038 | 10,230 |
Season tables by county for Lookout State Forest: Lewis County.
Lookout State Forest: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 10 licensed guides in Lewis County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Lookout 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.
Lookout State Forest: nearest firing lines
Hunters on Lookout State Forest can sight in at Watertown Sportsmen Inc (11 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.
Lookout 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 Lookout State Forest.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:28 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:36 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:55 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:03 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.
Lookout State Forest in pictures
Answers on Lookout State Forest access and seasons
How far is Lookout State Forest from a town?
Copenhagen, about 5.6 mi away.
When is bear season at Lookout State Forest?
Yes: regular Season (Western Periphery) Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 (WMU 6K).
Do I need orange or pink on Lookout State Forest?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Can I use screw-in steps on Lookout State Forest?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How does access work on Lookout State Forest?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
What hours apply on Lookout State Forest?
Sunrise minus 30 minutes for big game; the hours table above has local times.
Which WMU rules apply on Lookout State Forest?
Northern Zone, WMU 6K.
Is Lookout State Forest a large property?
3,983 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Lookout State Forest?
Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Lookout State Forest?
It opens Oct 24, 2026 and closes Dec 6, 2026 (regular Season).
When is spring turkey season at Lookout State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Are antlerless permits issued for Lookout State Forest?
Yes. DMPs are issued by WMU, and 6K gets 6,500 in 2026.
Lookout State Forest: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Lookout State Forest can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC lookout 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: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).