Home › New York › Public land › Mount Hayden State Forest
State forest · Region 4
Mount Hayden State Forest: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this state forest in Greene County, 844 acres.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Mount Hayden State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Mount Hayden State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.8 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 Mount Hayden State Forest is and who runs it
Mount Hayden State Forest sits in Greene County, filed as a DEC state forest. Its towns are Windham and Durham. Region 4 of DEC covers it, along with the rest of the Capital District and northern Catskills. 844 acres are on record from DEC Lands layer ACRES. Sorted by acreage, the 409 state forests put it 271st. Unit plan on file: Mt. Pisgah.
The property page says: The area is a popular destination for hunting small game and big game. Ruffed grouse, wild turkey and woodcock are popular species pursued by upland game hunters. White-tail deer and black bear are hunted during the archery and firearms seasons.
From DEC mount hayden state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Mount Hayden State Forest
Mount Hayden State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
The nearest public land to Mount Hayden State Forest is Lake Heloise DEP unit, 0.9 mi away to the south. Combined: 2,276 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Heloise | Watershed unit | 321 | 4R | 0.9 mi | south |
| Jennie Notch | Watershed unit | 389 | 4R | 1.8 mi | southeast |
| Mitchell Hollow | Watershed unit | 39 | 4R | 2.3 mi | southwest |
| Mount Pisgah | State forest | 652 | 4R | 2.6 mi | northwest |
| Richmond | Watershed unit | 297 | 4R | 2.8 mi | west |
| East Windham | Watershed unit | 104 | 3A, 4R | 2.9 mi | southeast |
| Old Road | Watershed unit | 63 | 4R | 3.2 mi | south |
| Bump Mountain | Watershed unit | 220 | 4R | 3.2 mi | west |
| High Peak | Watershed unit | 105 | 3A | 3.3 mi | southeast |
| South Mountain Extension | Watershed unit | 86 | 4R | 3.6 mi | west |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Mount Hayden State Forest regulations, plainly
On Mount Hayden State Forest the DEC state land use rules set the ground rules:
- Nothing may be nailed, screwed or cut on Mount Hayden State Forest: no permanent stands, natural blinds or shooting lanes.
- Tagged portable stands are fine on Mount Hayden 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 Mount Hayden 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 Mount Hayden 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 mount hayden state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 4R facts for Mount Hayden State Forest
The WMU map puts Mount Hayden State Forest in 4R; 4R spans 290 square miles of Greene, Delaware and Schoharie. DEC set a 2026 target of 1,900 Deer Management Permits for 4R; average DMP success there runs 16.8%, and a resident's first DMP chance is rated high. 4R carries the antler point restriction: an antlered buck needs at least 3 points on one side (junior hunters excepted). Southern Zone bear rules cover 4R. The fall turkey window for 4R is Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Deer zone | DMP goal | Success rate | Odds (resident) | APR | Implements | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4R | Southern | 1,900 | 16.8% | high | Yes | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer take in WMU 4R
4R yielded 1,099 deer in 2022; the WMU tables stop at 2022.
| Year | Total | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 837 | 546 |
| 2017 | 853 | 574 |
| 2018 | 944 | 581 |
| 2019 | 842 | 555 |
| 2020 | 1,031 | 614 |
| 2021 | 1,123 | 736 |
| 2022 | 1,099 | 622 |
The 2025 bear harvest in 4R came to 57.
DEC's bear plan for 4R reads "Reduce 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 Mount Hayden State Forest
32 species have open dates on Mount Hayden State Forest this license year; the table holds 48 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Firearms Season | WMU 4R | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4R | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4R | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4R | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4R | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4R | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4R | 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 | 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 | 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 4R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4R | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4R | 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.
Mount Hayden State Forest game species
The source names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and ruffed grouse and more on Mount Hayden State Forest.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Black bear
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ruffed grouse
Oct 1–Feb 28
Woodcock
Oct 1–Nov 14
Small game
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from DEC mount hayden state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Getting into Mount Hayden State Forest: parking and maps
Map download: Mount Hayden State Forest Map · DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC mount hayden state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Mount Hayden State Forest: town and county harvest
DEC's last take-by-town table (2019) credits the town of Windham with 84 deer, 67 of them adult bucks.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windham | Greene | 90 | 80 | 92 | 115 | 84 | 67 |
| Durham | Greene | 188 | 252 | 221 | 290 | 213 | 127 |
Bears reported by town: Windham 6 in 2020; Windham 1 in 2021; Windham 10 in 2022; Durham 6 in 2020; Durham 3 in 2021; Durham 1 in 2022.
Greene County deer, 2025: 2,318.
| Year | County deer | Adult bucks | Adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,079 | 1,348 | 639 |
| 2022 | 2,318 | 1,272 | 866 |
| 2023 | 1,898 | 1,266 | 515 |
| 2024 | 2,078 | 1,299 | 639 |
| 2025 | 2,318 | 1,461 | 672 |
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.
Mount Hayden State Forest hunting-hour table
Sun times below are calculated for Mount Hayden 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 | 6:48 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:03 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:54 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:18 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:25 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:53 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 7:54 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.
Mount Hayden State Forest: nearby towns and services
Windham is the nearest town with its own page, 3.5 mi from Mount Hayden State Forest.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windham | Greene | 3.5 mi | – | 32,259 |
| Preston-Potter Hollow | Albany | 5.5 mi | – | 24,490 |
| Hunter | Greene | 10 mi | 409 | 79,112 |
| Tannersville | Greene | 12 mi | 565 | 66,878 |
Mount Hayden State Forest falls inside these county guides: Greene County.
Mount Hayden State Forest: businesses close by
13 licensed guides are registered in Greene County, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Mount Hayden 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 Mount Hayden State Forest hunters
From Mount Hayden State Forest, Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range is the nearest DEC or government-run range (24 miles). Nearby rod and gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Mount Hayden State Forest in pictures
Mount Hayden State Forest: short answers
How does access work on Mount Hayden State Forest?
No special permit is listed; a valid license and the open seasons are what count.
What does Mount Hayden State Forest measure?
About 844 acres by the source used here.
Which WMU rules apply on Mount Hayden State Forest?
WMU 4R, in the Southern Zone.
When does the main deer season run on Mount Hayden State Forest?
WMU 4R: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
When can I bowhunt deer on Mount Hayden State Forest?
Bowhunting opens Oct 1, 2026 (WMU 4R).
What are the DMP odds near Mount Hayden State Forest?
Resident first-permit odds in 4R are high; the target is 1,900.
What game is found on Mount Hayden State Forest?
White-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock and small game top the list.
How long is spring turkey on Mount Hayden State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, with shooting until noon.
When does bear hunting open near Mount Hayden State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Which town page is closest to Mount Hayden State Forest?
Windham, about 3.5 mi away.
What are the stand rules on Mount Hayden State Forest?
No permanent stands or screw-in steps; a labeled portable stand may stay during the season.
What colors are required at Mount Hayden State Forest in gun season?
Orange or pink, 250 square inches, when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
Mount Hayden State Forest: what to double-check
After a deer, bear or turkey on Mount Hayden State Forest, report it: paper tags within 48 hours, e-tags right away in HuntFishNY.
Sources: DEC mount hayden 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: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); David A Mitchell (CC BY 2.0); tr.robinson (CC BY-SA 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0).