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What hunters need to know about Michigan Hill State Forest
Everything we could verify about this state forest in Tioga County (1,199 acres).
Photo: seabamirum (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Michigan Hill State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Michigan Hill State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Finger Lakes Trail – Babcock Hollow Road TrailheadParking · 5.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Trail parkingParking · 6.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.6 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.
Acres and location of Michigan Hill State Forest
Michigan Hill State Forest counts as a DEC state forest; its ground is in Tioga County. It reaches into Richford, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 7, the office for central New York. Recorded size: 1,199 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 200th among 409 state forests. The Rockefeller plan covers it.
DEC page text: There are approximately 47 acres of maintained pheasant habitat on Michigan Hill State Forest. Pheasants are released annually.
From DEC michigan hill state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Michigan Hill State Forest
Michigan Hill State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Michigan Hill State Forest, starting with Griggs Gulf State Forest. Together they add 16,916 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griggs Gulf | State forest | 2,344 | 7R | 1.9 mi | northeast |
| Beaver Dam State Forest, | State forest | 1,151 | 7R | 3.0 mi | east |
| Turkey Hill | State forest | 1,119 | 7R | 3.4 mi | southeast |
| Robinson Hollow | State forest | 2,106 | 7R | 3.5 mi | west |
| Andersen Hill | State forest | 550 | 7R | 3.5 mi | southwest |
| Potato Hill | State forest | 900 | 7R | 4.6 mi | southwest |
| James Kennedy | State forest | 4,507 | 7R | 5.6 mi | north |
| Hammond Hill | State forest | 3,702 | 7R | 5.8 mi | west |
| Dryden Lake | Multiple use area | 198 | 7R | 6.3 mi | northwest |
| Nanticoke Lake | Multiple use area | 339 | 7R | 6.4 mi | southeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Michigan Hill State Forest
Michigan Hill State Forest follows the rules DEC sets for state forest land:
- Leave every tree on Michigan Hill State Forest as you found it: hardware, trimmed lanes and built blinds are not allowed.
- Seasonal stands on Michigan Hill State Forest need an ID tag (name and address or license number) and must be pulled when the season closes.
- Storing personal items on Michigan Hill State Forest is not allowed; trail cameras count.
- Off-road driving is not allowed on Michigan Hill State Forest unless a route is designated, and that covers ATVs.
- Overnight camps follow the state land permit rules.
Beyond the site rules: state law on Michigan Hill State Forest
- The orange-or-pink rule covers firearm deer and bear hunters and their companions.
- Boundary houses matter: no gun discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling without consent.
- Bait piles and mineral blocks are not allowed for deer or bear.
- State law no longer limits Sunday hunting anywhere.
From DEC michigan hill state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Michigan Hill State Forest
Michigan Hill State Forest lies in WMU 7R, a Southern Zone unit of 739 square miles reaching Tompkins, Tioga and Cortland. 7R is an unlimited-DMP unit this year. 7R bear hunting: Southern Zone. 7R fall turkey: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7R | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 9.3% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer reported from 7R
DEC calculated 5,336 deer taken in 7R in 2022, against 5,023 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5,023 | 2,025 |
| 2017 | 4,322 | 1,891 |
| 2018 | 5,328 | 2,094 |
| 2019 | 4,851 | 2,203 |
| 2020 | 5,716 | 2,355 |
| 2021 | 4,863 | 2,086 |
| 2022 | 5,336 | 2,140 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 7R with 4 (2023), 2 (2024), 4 (2025).
Bear management goal in 7R: 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.
Michigan Hill State Forest season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 7R and the waterfowl zones over Michigan Hill State Forest are listed: 47 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 7R | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7R | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7R | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7R | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7R | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Western Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Western Zone | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | South goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | South goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 11, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Western Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Western Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7R | 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.
Pheasant hunting on Michigan Hill State Forest
Pheasant release site: 747 birds are scheduled for Michigan Hill State Forest across 11 stocking events.
| Site | Access | Town | Fields | Stocked for | Releases | Total birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Hill State Forest | Public – open access | Richford | 56 | youth, regular | 11 | 747 |
| Release week | Birds |
|---|---|
| 10/05 | 51 |
| 10/12 | 51 |
| 10/19 | 102 |
| 10/26 | 102 |
| 11/02 | 102 |
| 11/09 | 70 |
| 12/07 | 51 |
| 12/14 | 43 |
| 12/21 | 35 |
| 12/28 | 35 |
| 01/05 | 35 |
| 01/19 | 35 |
| 01/26 | 35 |
Pheasant rule here: Do not block driveway with vehicles
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
Michigan Hill State Forest: species list
1 species group lead the list for Michigan Hill State Forest, each linked to its species page.
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 17–Feb 28
Species from DEC michigan hill state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Michigan Hill State Forest: lots, pull-offs and map files
2 parking locations serve Michigan Hill State Forest, each with coordinates.
| Parking area, lat and lon | Link |
|---|---|
| Michigan Hill Road: 42.3978, -76.1722 | Map it |
| Fishing Access Parking: 42.3949, -76.1921 | Map it |
Map on file: Michigan Hill State Forest Map · DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC michigan hill state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Michigan Hill State Forest
Town-level numbers for Michigan Hill State Forest: Richford gave up 220 deer in 2019 (108 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richford | Tioga | 147 | 221 | 205 | 266 | 220 | 108 |
County-wide, Tioga produced 3,508 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,187 | 1,546 | 1,283 |
| 2022 | 3,586 | 1,664 | 1,404 |
| 2023 | 3,153 | 1,587 | 1,147 |
| 2024 | 3,519 | 1,840 | 1,259 |
| 2025 | 3,508 | 1,813 | 1,369 |
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.
Michigan Hill State Forest: first and last legal light
Deer and bear may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese close at sunset, and small game runs sunrise to sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:01 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:27 a.m. | 6:12 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:02 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:26 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:34 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:02 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 5:32 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 5:32 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.
Michigan Hill State Forest trip planning
The quickest town stop is Slaterville Springs (7.9 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slaterville Springs | Tompkins | 7.9 mi | – | 26,297 |
| Virgil | Cortland | 8.1 mi | – | 21,230 |
| Marathon | Cortland | 8.5 mi | 883 | 19,481 |
| Brooktondale | Tompkins | 11 mi | – | 22,196 |
Read Michigan Hill State Forest alongside its county page: Tioga County.
Michigan Hill State Forest: businesses close by
DEC lists 9 licensed guides with an address in Tioga County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Michigan Hill State Forest: the nearest DEC offices
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.
Michigan Hill State Forest: nearest firing lines
The three listed ranges closest to Michigan Hill State Forest follow; Berkshire Rod & Gun Club leads at 5 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Michigan Hill State Forest in pictures
Michigan Hill State Forest questions, answered from the record
When does archery open near Michigan Hill State Forest?
WMU 7R: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Michigan Hill State Forest?
Regular Season: Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 7R).
What are the spring turkey dates for Michigan Hill State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
Which animals are named for Michigan Hill State Forest?
Listed: ring-necked pheasant.
Does DEC stock pheasants on Michigan Hill State Forest?
Yes, 747 birds in 2026.
What bear season covers Michigan Hill State Forest?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 7R.
How do stands work on Michigan Hill State Forest?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
How far is Michigan Hill State Forest from a town?
Slaterville Springs, 7.9 mi straight-line.
Who may hunt Michigan Hill State Forest?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
Is fluorescent pink legal at Michigan Hill State Forest?
Yes, pink counts the same as orange for the firearm deer and bear rule.
What zone and WMU is Michigan Hill State Forest?
It is 7R ground, Southern Zone.
What does Michigan Hill State Forest measure?
1,199 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
Michigan Hill State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Michigan Hill State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC michigan hill 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).