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State forest · central New York
What hunters need to know about Pharsalia Woods State Forest
Rules, WMU 7M season dates, maps and neighbors for a state forest in Chenango County.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Pharsalia Woods State Forest
What Pharsalia Woods State Forest is
Pharsalia Woods State Forest is a DEC state forest in Chenango County. The DEC page names Pharsalia and Plymouth as the towns it falls in. It is a Region 7 property, in central New York. Size: 9,390 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES). 6 others of the 409 state forests are larger. DEC's own page says 90 acres. Management direction comes from the Pharsalia Woods unit plan.
Check note: Acreage conflict: DEC page text says 90 acres; DEC Lands layer 9,390 acres (layer value used; the page may describe a larger complex or an older boundary).
From DEC pharsalia woods state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Pharsalia Woods State Forest
Pharsalia Woods State Forest hunting rules for 2026-27
The DEC rules for using state forest land, applied to Pharsalia Woods State Forest:
- Cutting or damaging trees on Pharsalia Woods State Forest is prohibited, which rules out screw-in steps and cleared lanes.
- A portable stand or blind that does not injure the tree may stay up during the season if it carries your name and address or license number, and it comes down when the season ends.
- Pharsalia Woods State Forest is not a place to leave equipment: cameras and gear go home with you.
- Keep trucks on the maintained roads; an ATV needs a designated trail.
- A camping permit applies when the stay or group size calls for it.
Statewide rules that follow you onto Pharsalia Woods State Forest
- In firearm deer and bear seasons, wear the required orange or pink above the waist.
- Setbacks from occupied buildings: firearm 500 feet, crossbow 250 feet, bow 150 feet.
- Do not hunt over bait; New York bans it for big game, turkey, upland birds and waterfowl.
- Sunday hunting is legal everywhere in New York unless a property rule says otherwise.
From DEC pharsalia woods state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Pharsalia Woods State Forest, and when
This calendar is cut down to Pharsalia Woods State Forest: its WMU (7M), duck zone and goose area decide which of the 2026-27 rows appear.
| Game | Hunt | Unit or zone | From | To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7M | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7M | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7M | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7M | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7M | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7M | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7M | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7M | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7M | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7M | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7M | 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 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7M | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7M | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7M | 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.
Pharsalia Woods State Forest: WMU 7M numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 7M, 1,242 square miles in the Southern Zone covering parts of Chenango, Madison and Cortland. For 7M, DEC aims to issue 20,200 DMPs in 2026; success averages 14.4% and residents' first-DMP odds are high. The bear area for 7M is Southern Zone. Fall turkey in 7M: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7M | Southern | 20,200 | 14.4% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Calculated deer take, 7M
In 2022, 7M produced 7,666 deer by DEC's estimate (7,919 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,919 | 3,953 |
| 2017 | 7,717 | 4,041 |
| 2018 | 8,952 | 4,135 |
| 2019 | 8,159 | 4,077 |
| 2020 | 8,285 | 3,607 |
| 2021 | 6,858 | 3,371 |
| 2022 | 7,666 | 3,675 |
Bear harvest in 7M for 2025 was 1, or 0.1 per 100 square miles.
The bear objective DEC lists for 7M is to 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.
Maps and parking around Pharsalia Woods State Forest
DEC lists 2 parking or access points for Pharsalia Woods State Forest.
| Where to park | Link |
|---|---|
| State Highway 23 and North Road access point to the western end of the property: 42.6081, -75.7265 | Get there |
| Round Pond Parking Area on Reservoir Hill Road: 42.5873, -75.6231 | Get there |
Map in print form: Pharsalia Woods State Forest Map
DEC accessible recreation note: From the Round Pond Parking Area on Reservoir Road , wheelchair accessible features include the: Viewing platform The viewing platform is approximately 150 feet from the parking area.
Parking points and maps from DEC pharsalia woods state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Pharsalia Woods State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Pharsalia Woods State Forest, starting with Pharsalia WMA. Combined: 28,788 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharsalia | WMA | 4,676 | 7M | 3.7 mi | north |
| Pigeon Hill | State forest | 736 | 7M | 4.3 mi | northeast |
| Perkins Pond | State forest | 1,953 | 7M | 4.4 mi | northwest |
| Bowman Lake | State park | 960 | 7M | 4.5 mi | south |
| McDonough | State forest | 6,913 | 7M | 4.5 mi | south |
| Pitcher Springs | State forest | 1,836 | 7M | 6.2 mi | west |
| Balsam Swamp | State forest | 2,679 | 7M | 6.6 mi | southwest |
| Otselic | State forest | 1,041 | 7M | 7.0 mi | north |
| Beaver Meadow | State forest | 5,816 | 7M | 7.3 mi | north |
| Bucks Brook | State forest | 2,178 | 7M | 8.7 mi | northwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Pharsalia Woods State Forest
Pharsalia logged 242 deer in 2019; DEC stopped publishing town tables after that season.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks, 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharsalia | Chenango | 155 | 150 | 175 | 207 | 242 | 90 |
| Plymouth | Chenango | 232 | 297 | 244 | 249 | 259 | 138 |
Recent bear reports from the same towns: Plymouth (2021) 2.
The 2025 deer take for Chenango County was 5,123.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,514 | 2,465 | 1,642 |
| 2022 | 5,478 | 2,897 | 1,926 |
| 2023 | 5,234 | 2,940 | 1,690 |
| 2024 | 5,528 | 3,121 | 1,829 |
| 2025 | 5,123 | 2,757 | 1,918 |
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.
Pharsalia Woods State Forest: nearby towns and services
Norwich sits 9.4 mi from Pharsalia Woods State Forest, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich | Chenango | 9.4 mi | 6,608 | 18,811 |
| Oxford | Chenango | 11 mi | 1,329 | 21,141 |
| Earlville | Madison | 13 mi | 771 | 20,050 |
| Smithville Flats | Chenango | 14 mi | – | 22,393 |
Open the county guide for Pharsalia Woods State Forest: Chenango County.
Pharsalia Woods State Forest: businesses close by
Chenango County is home to 4 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Pharsalia Woods 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.
Pharsalia Woods State Forest: nearest firing lines
Oxford Rod & Gun Club, 8 miles away, is the nearest range to Pharsalia Woods State Forest; check its access rule before going.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Pharsalia Woods State Forest: first and last legal light
The DEC guide prints sunrise and sunset for Albany only. The times here are worked out for the centre of Pharsalia Woods State Forest and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:54 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:25 a.m. | 6:08 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:00 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:24 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:32 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:58 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 5:28 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 5:28 a.m. to 8:00 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.
Pharsalia Woods State Forest in pictures
Pharsalia Woods State Forest questions, answered from the record
Does the orange law apply on Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
During firearm deer and bear hunting, for you and anyone with you.
When does legal light start at Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
Big game from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; ducks stop at sunset.
Is Pharsalia Woods State Forest open to public hunting?
It is public DEC land: carry your hunting license and follow the season dates.
What does Pharsalia Woods State Forest measure?
The record lists 9,390 acres.
What zone and WMU is Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
The DEC WMU layer gives 7M (Southern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 7M.
What is the bowhunting window on Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
Archery runs Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 to start.
Can I get a Deer Management Permit for Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
Yes: WMU 7M has a 2026 target of 20,200 DMPs, and resident first-permit odds are high.
When does turkey season open on Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
WMU 7M is open for bears Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
How far is Pharsalia Woods State Forest from a town?
Norwich is 9.4 mi away.
Can I leave a tree stand on Pharsalia Woods State Forest?
Yes, a portable one that harms no tree, labeled with your name and address or license or DEC ID, removed at season end.
Pharsalia Woods State Forest: what to double-check
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Pharsalia Woods State Forest.
Sources: DEC pharsalia woods 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: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0).