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State forest · 2026-27
Maple Valley State Forest hunting rules, seasons and access
State forest of 806 acres in Otsego County, hunted under WMU 4F dates, for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse.
Photo: ldifranza (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Maple Valley State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Maple Valley State Forest
- TrailheadTrailhead · 4.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Municipal ParkingParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Little League Parking LotParking · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.1 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.
Maple Valley State Forest at a glance
Hunters find Maple Valley State Forest, a DEC state forest, in Otsego County. DEC places it in the towns of Westford and Decatur. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 4, which spans the Capital District and northern Catskills. The acreage used here is 806, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 279 by size out of 409 state forests. DEC plans it under the Cherry Valley unit management plan.
Hunting section, quoted: Maple Valley State Forest is open to hunting during appropriate seasons. Wildlife expected to occur on this area include whitetailed deer, rabbit, squirrel, grouse and turkey, along with mink, raccoon, fox, coyote and bobcat.
From DEC maple valley state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Maple Valley State Forest
Maple Valley State Forest: access and site rules
These state land rules from DEC cover Maple Valley State Forest:
- Trees on Maple Valley 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 Maple Valley 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 Maple Valley 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 Maple Valley 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 maple valley state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Maple Valley State Forest: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Maple Valley State Forest (4F); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4F | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4F | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4F | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4F | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | 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 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4F | 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.
Maple Valley State Forest and WMU 4F: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Maple Valley State Forest is WMU 4F ground (Southern Zone, 1,161 sq. mi. across Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware). The 2026 DMP target in 4F is 10,000, with 16.9% average success and high odds for a resident first permit. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4F | Southern | 10,000 | 16.9% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 4F deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 4F 7,002 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,790 | 4,112 |
| 2017 | 7,764 | 4,313 |
| 2018 | 8,042 | 4,136 |
| 2019 | 7,068 | 3,988 |
| 2020 | 7,683 | 3,822 |
| 2021 | 6,469 | 3,754 |
| 2022 | 7,002 | 3,680 |
Recent bear numbers for 4F: 2022: 0, 2023: 9, 2024: 17, 2025: 16.
Objective for bears in 4F: 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.
Maple Valley State Forest: species list
Hunters come to Maple Valley State Forest for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse above all.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ruffed grouse
Oct 1–Feb 28
Rabbit and hare
Oct 1–Feb 28
Squirrel
Sep 1–Feb 28
Coyote
Oct 1–Mar 28
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC maple valley state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Maple Valley State Forest access points
The DEC directions name 1 place to leave a truck at Maple Valley State Forest.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Maple Valley State Forest Parking Area is located on Elmore Road 1.3 miles north of its intersection with County Road 39: 42.0777, -74.6109 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Maple Valley State Forest Map
Open Maple Valley State Forest in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC maple valley state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Maple Valley State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Maple Valley State Forest and 10 neighbors; Decatur State Forest sits 2.5 mi off. The tracts listed total 10,458 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | State forest | 594 | 4F | 2.5 mi | east |
| R. Milton Hick Memorial | State forest | 1,396 | 4F | 3.2 mi | north |
| Bear Swamp | State forest | 1,748 | 4F | 4.6 mi | northeast |
| Roseboom | State forest | 632 | 4F | 5.7 mi | northwest |
| Hooker Mountain | WMA | 83 | 4F | 6.0 mi | southwest |
| Hooker Mountain | State forest | 804 | 4F | 6.7 mi | southwest |
| Honey Hill | State forest | 1,015 | 4F | 7.0 mi | northeast |
| Lutheranville | State forest | 1,803 | 4F | 7.2 mi | southeast |
| Cherry Valley | State forest | 1,565 | 4F | 7.6 mi | north |
| Clapper Hollow | State forest | 818 | 4F | 11 mi | southeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Maple Valley State Forest
The town of Westford, where Maple Valley State Forest lies, produced 131 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westford | Otsego | 204 | 146 | 196 | 162 | 131 | 82 |
| Decatur | Otsego | 91 | 88 | 107 | 95 | 86 | 46 |
DEC bear tables list 1 for Westford (2021), 4 for Decatur (2021).
DEC puts the 2025 Otsego County deer take at 4,668.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,519 | 3,178 | 1,941 |
| 2022 | 6,123 | 3,135 | 2,430 |
| 2023 | 4,989 | 2,909 | 1,681 |
| 2024 | 5,021 | 2,942 | 1,654 |
| 2025 | 4,668 | 2,648 | 1,583 |
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.
Maple Valley State Forest: nearby towns and services
Closest base: East Worcester, about 4.3 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Worcester | Otsego | 4.3 mi | – | 14,513 |
| Richmondville | Schoharie | 9.6 mi | 873 | 21,638 |
| Cooperstown | Otsego | 9.7 mi | 1,844 | 6,983 |
| North Blenheim | Schoharie | 20 mi | – | 27,014 |
Season tables by county for Maple Valley State Forest: Otsego County.
Maple Valley State Forest: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 15 licensed guides in Otsego County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Maple Valley 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 Maple Valley State Forest
2 upcoming events held on this property or within about 10 miles (hunter education course and mentored pheasant hunt). Checked October 27, 2026.
Next on the list
| Dates | What | Miles | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Richmondville Fish and Game Clubs Youth and Novice Pheasant Hunt · mentored pheasant hunt | 10 | Richmondville | Reserve a spot | Source |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Hunter Education Course – East Worcester Fire House · hunter education course | 4 | East Worcester Fire House | Register with DEC | Source |
Nearest public range for Maple Valley State Forest hunters
Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range, 39 miles off, is the public range nearest Maple Valley State Forest. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Maple Valley 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 Maple Valley State Forest.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:58 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:22 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:30 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:56 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 7:58 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.
Maple Valley State Forest in pictures
Answers on Maple Valley State Forest access and seasons
When is bear season at Maple Valley State Forest?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 4F).
When is spring turkey season at Maple Valley State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Can I use screw-in steps on Maple Valley State Forest?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is Maple Valley State Forest from a town?
East Worcester, about 4.3 mi away.
How does access work on Maple Valley State Forest?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Do I need orange or pink on Maple Valley State Forest?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Which WMU rules apply on Maple Valley State Forest?
Southern Zone, WMU 4F.
Is Maple Valley State Forest a large property?
806 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Maple Valley State Forest?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Maple Valley State Forest?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
What game does the source list for Maple Valley State Forest?
White-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbit and hare, squirrel and coyote.
Are antlerless permits issued for Maple Valley State Forest?
Yes. DMPs are issued by WMU, and 4F gets 10,000 in 2026.
Maple Valley State Forest: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Maple Valley State Forest can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC maple valley 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: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0).