Home › New York › Public land › Johnny Brook DEP unit
New York watershed unit
Planning a hunt on Johnny Brook (NYC DEP watershed unit)
Public hunting ground in Delaware County: access rules, WMU 4O seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Johnny Brook (NYC DEP watershed unit)
Johnny Brook DEP unit at a glance
The records class Johnny Brook (NYC DEP watershed unit) as a New York City DEP watershed recreation unit in Delaware County. Look for it in the town of Tompkins (the Cannonsville reservoir basin). Regional staff for the Capital District and northern Catskills (Region 4) look after it. The managing agency is the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Its 3,806 acres come from NYC DEP Recreation Units layer GIS_Acres. That ranks 1st of the 374 watershed units on our New York list.
From DEP GIS; acreage NYC DEP Recreation Units layer GIS_Acres; checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Johnny Brook (NYC DEP watershed unit)
Open seasons on Johnny Brook DEP unit this year
47 dated seasons for 32 species reach Johnny Brook DEP unit, matched to WMU 4O, the Southeastern duck zone and the South goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4O | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4O | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4O | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4O | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4O | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4O | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4O | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4O | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4O | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4O | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4O | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4O | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4O | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4O | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4O | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4O | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4O | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4O | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4O | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4O | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4O | 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 4O | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4O | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4O | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4O | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4O | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4O | 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.
Johnny Brook DEP unit: access and site rules
DEP requires its Access Permit on Johnny Brook DEP unit; the permit is free, and a New York license is also needed. Trapping is not allowed on this unit.
Rules from the state guide, on Johnny Brook DEP unit
- Pink counts the same as orange; firearm deer and bear hunters need 250 square inches or a qualifying hat.
- Keep 500 feet from occupied houses and farm buildings with a gun (250 feet with a crossbow, 150 feet with a bow) unless the owner consents.
- Feeding deer or bear is prohibited at any time, and baited areas are off limits.
- Sunday is a hunting day under state law.
From DEP GIS, DEC Places to Hunt (DEP lands), DEP Access Permit, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Johnny Brook DEP unit
Paper map to print: Johnny Brook recreation area map (DEP)
Parking points and maps from DEP GIS; checked October 27, 2026.
The quarry at Johnny Brook DEP unit
Game listed for Johnny Brook DEP unit: white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and small game.
Species from DEP GIS; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Johnny Brook DEP unit
4O is the Wildlife Management Unit over Johnny Brook DEP unit; it covers 760 square miles in Delaware, Broome and Chenango. 4O gets 2,100 DMPs in 2026. Hunters fill about 25.1% of them, and first-choice resident odds are PP Req. Antler point rules apply in 4O: 3 points on one side minimum. For bears, 4O falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 4O: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4O | Southern | 2,100 | 25.1% | PP Req | Yes | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
4O deer numbers
Deer take in 4O: 2,528 in 2016, 2,779 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,528 | 1,677 |
| 2017 | 2,463 | 1,607 |
| 2018 | 2,709 | 1,888 |
| 2019 | 3,016 | 1,969 |
| 2020 | 3,163 | 1,812 |
| 2021 | 2,664 | 1,777 |
| 2022 | 2,779 | 1,751 |
Bears taken in 4O: 37 in 2020, 35 in 2021, 30 in 2022, 34 in 2023, 38 in 2024, 58 in 2025.
DEC's bear objective for 4O: maintain moderate 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.
Nearby public land, measured from Johnny Brook DEP unit
Johnny Brook DEP unit gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Speedwell Mountain DEP unit, 1.9 mi northeast. The listed neighbors hold 11,419 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedwell Mountain | Watershed unit | 3,711 | 4O | 1.9 mi | northeast |
| Tompkins | Detached parcel | 511 | 4O, 4W | 2.3 mi | east |
| Barbour Brook | Watershed unit | 421 | 4O | 2.4 mi | north |
| Michigan Hill State Forest, | State forest | 594 | 4O | 2.8 mi | northwest |
| Sands Creek | Watershed unit | 1,662 | 4O, 4W | 2.9 mi | southeast |
| Barbour Brook | State forest | 759 | 4O | 2.9 mi | north |
| Roods Creek | Watershed unit | 339 | 4W | 3.0 mi | south |
| Wagon Wheel | Watershed unit | 71 | 4O | 3.7 mi | north |
| Fletcher Hollow | Watershed unit | 403 | 4O | 4.4 mi | east |
| Arctic-China | State forest | 2,948 | 4O | 4.7 mi | northwest |
Points: NYC DEP Recreation Units layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Where to stay and shop for Johnny Brook DEP unit
From Johnny Brook DEP unit, Deposit is 5.6 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Broome | 5.6 mi | 1,413 | 15,497 |
| Afton | Chenango | 13 mi | 785 | 21,701 |
| Sidney | Delaware | 14 mi | 3,613 | 17,702 |
| Downsville | Delaware | 17 mi | – | 31,805 |
The county guide covering Johnny Brook DEP unit: Delaware County.
Gear and processing near Johnny Brook DEP unit
Licensed guides based in Delaware County: 11, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Johnny Brook DEP unit
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.
Local deer numbers for Johnny Brook DEP unit
In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Tompkins came in at 255 deer.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 adult bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tompkins | Delaware | 171 | 175 | 229 | 219 | 255 | 174 |
Town bear take: Tompkins 2020: 3, Tompkins 2021: 8, Tompkins 2022: 3.
Delaware County as a whole recorded 5,279 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,330 | 3,488 | 1,578 |
| 2022 | 5,347 | 3,415 | 1,579 |
| 2023 | 5,343 | 3,520 | 1,452 |
| 2024 | 5,715 | 3,715 | 1,620 |
| 2025 | 5,279 | 3,393 | 1,477 |
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.
Johnny Brook (NYC DEP Recreation Unit): nearest firing lines
It is about 17 miles from Johnny Brook (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) to NY State Shooting Sports, the closest range on the list.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Johnny Brook DEP unit shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Johnny Brook DEP unit brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 6:55 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:22 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:57 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:20 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:28 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:57 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 5:27 a.m. to 8:27 p.m. | 5:27 a.m. to 7:57 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.
Country like Johnny Brook DEP unit
Johnny Brook DEP unit FAQ for 2026-27
When is bear season at Johnny Brook DEP unit?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 4O.
Which town is nearest Johnny Brook DEP unit?
Deposit (5.6 mi).
Does DEP still issue hunting tags?
No. DEP stopped issuing hunting tags; the Access Permit is what counts on permit-only units.
What are the blaze orange rules at Johnny Brook DEP unit?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
Can I hunt Johnny Brook DEP unit with just a hunting license?
Carry a valid DEP Access Permit along with your New York license.
What size do the sources give Johnny Brook DEP unit?
Its size is 3,806 acres.
Which WMU rules apply on Johnny Brook DEP unit?
WMU 4O; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Johnny Brook DEP unit?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Johnny Brook DEP unit?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
What is the 2026 DMP target for Johnny Brook DEP unit?
4O target: 2,100 DMPs.
What can I hunt on Johnny Brook DEP unit?
The list names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and small game.
Can I hunt gobblers on Johnny Brook DEP unit in May?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
Last checks before a trip to Johnny Brook DEP unit
Use this page to plan, then check the official map and notices for Johnny Brook DEP unit the week you go.
Sources: DEP GIS · NYC Open Data 8qgy ka3v · DEC; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).