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State forest · Region 4
Rensselaerville State Forest: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this state forest in Schoharie County and 1 more, 2,830 acres.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Rensselaerville State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Rensselaerville State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.5 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 Rensselaerville State Forest is and who runs it
Rensselaerville State Forest sits in Albany and Schoharie counties, filed as a DEC state forest. Its towns are Rensselaerville and Broome. Region 4 of DEC covers it, along with the rest of the Capital District and northern Catskills. 2,830 acres are on record from DEC Lands layer ACRES. Sorted by acreage, the 409 state forests put it 68th. On the property page the figure is 2,572 acres. Unit plan on file: Albany.
The property page says: Hunting is permitted on this property in accordance with all game regulations, unless otherwise posted.
From DEC rensselaerville state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Rensselaerville State Forest
Rensselaerville State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
The nearest public land to Rensselaerville State Forest is Dutton Ridge State Forest, 3.2 mi away to the west. Combined: 15,705 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutton Ridge | State forest | 1,229 | 4G, 4H | 3.2 mi | west |
| Scott Patent | State forest | 1,415 | 4G | 3.5 mi | southwest |
| Partridge Run | State forest | 935 | 4H | 4.5 mi | north |
| Stone Store | State forest | 723 | 4G | 4.7 mi | west |
| Franklinton Vlaie | WMA | 226 | 4G | 5.2 mi | northwest |
| Partridge Run | WMA | 4,592 | 4H | 5.7 mi | northeast |
| Bates | State forest | 1,137 | 4G | 6.1 mi | southwest |
| Leonard Hill And High | State forest | 2,981 | 4G | 6.6 mi | southwest |
| Keyserkill State Forest Complex | State forest | 2,431 | 4G | 7.4 mi | west |
| Steenburg Mountain | Watershed unit | 36 | 4R | 7.5 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rensselaerville State Forest regulations, plainly
On Rensselaerville State Forest the DEC state land use rules set the ground rules:
- Nothing may be nailed, screwed or cut on Rensselaerville State Forest: no permanent stands, natural blinds or shooting lanes.
- Tagged portable stands are fine on Rensselaerville 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 Rensselaerville 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 Rensselaerville 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 rensselaerville state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 4H facts for Rensselaerville State Forest
The WMU map puts Rensselaerville State Forest in 4H; 4H spans 290 square miles of Albany, Schoharie and Greene. DEC set a 2026 target of 2,200 Deer Management Permits for 4H; average DMP success there runs 20.6%, and a resident's first DMP chance is rated high. Southern Zone bear rules cover 4H. The fall turkey window for 4H is Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Deer zone | DMP goal | Success rate | Odds (resident) | APR | Implements | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4H | Southern | 2,200 | 20.6% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer take in WMU 4H
4H yielded 1,718 deer in 2022; the WMU tables stop at 2022.
| Year | Total | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,495 | 985 |
| 2017 | 1,274 | 850 |
| 2018 | 1,384 | 916 |
| 2019 | 1,238 | 846 |
| 2020 | 1,639 | 965 |
| 2021 | 1,616 | 1,095 |
| 2022 | 1,718 | 1,011 |
The 2025 bear harvest in 4H came to 20.
DEC's bear plan for 4H reads "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.
Every season window on Rensselaerville State Forest
32 species have open dates on Rensselaerville State Forest this license year; the table holds 47 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4H | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4H | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4H | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4H | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4H | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4H | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4H | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4H | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4H | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4H | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4H | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4H | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4H | 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 4H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4H | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4H | 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.
Stocked pheasants at Rensselaerville State Forest
Rensselaerville State Forest is on the 2026 DEC pheasant stocking list with 421 birds over 0 stockings.
| Release site | Access | Town | Field acres | Stocking | Releases | Birds 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rensselaerville State Forest | Public – open access | Rensselaerville | 155 | Youth, regular | – | 421 |
| Week of | Birds |
|---|---|
| 09/21 | 81 |
| 09/28 | 59 |
| 10/05 | 52 |
| 10/12 | 37 |
| 10/19 | 37 |
| 10/26 | 37 |
| 11/02 | 45 |
| 01/05 | 73 |
| NA | – |
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
Rensselaerville State Forest game species
The source names ring-necked pheasant on Rensselaerville State Forest.
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from DEC rensselaerville state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Getting into Rensselaerville State Forest: parking and maps
Park at one of the 10 access points DEC gives for Rensselaerville State Forest.
| Access and location | Map |
|---|---|
| Northern most parking area off Gulf Road Ext: 42.5281, -74.2210 | Open map |
| The eastern most parking area off Kenyon Road: 42.4960, -74.1769 | Open map |
| Cheese Hill Road parking area just north of CCC Road intersection: 42.4998, -74.1906 | Open map |
| Scutt Road parking area just south of intersection with CCC Road: 42.4950, -74.2172 | Open map |
| CCC Road parking area located north of Scutt Road (largest parking lot: 42.5018, -74.2183 | Open map |
| Gordon Road parking area South, .3 mile north of intersection with Riverburg Road: 42.4985, -74.2306 | Open map |
| Primitive Campsite at intersection of CCC Road and Cheese Hill Road: 42.4993, -74.1925 | Open map |
| Primitive Campsite along CCC Road: 42.4995, -74.1948 | Open map |
| Primitive Campsite on CCC Road, north of intersection with Scutt Road on left side of road: 42.5017, -74.2178 | Open map |
| Primitive Campsite on CCC Road, north of intersection with Scutt Road on right side of road: 42.5014, -74.2175 | Open map |
Map download: Rensselaerville State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC rensselaerville state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Rensselaerville State Forest: town and county harvest
DEC's last take-by-town table (2019) credits the town of Rensselaerville with 291 deer, 201 of them adult bucks.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rensselaerville | Albany | 275 | 308 | 275 | 322 | 291 | 201 |
| Broome | Schoharie | 155 | 189 | 166 | 134 | 108 | 62 |
Bears reported by town: Rensselaerville 1 in 2020; Rensselaerville 6 in 2021; Rensselaerville 4 in 2022; Broome 5 in 2020; Broome 3 in 2021; Broome 1 in 2022.
Schoharie County deer, 2025: 2,960.
| Year | County deer | Adult bucks | Adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,150 | 1,974 | 1,013 |
| 2022 | 3,476 | 1,901 | 1,286 |
| 2023 | 2,899 | 1,708 | 973 |
| 2024 | 2,793 | 1,658 | 928 |
| 2025 | 2,960 | 1,749 | 953 |
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.
Rensselaerville State Forest hunting-hour table
Sun times below are calculated for Rensselaerville 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 | 6:49 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:03 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:56 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:20 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:27 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:54 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 8:26 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 7:56 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.
Rensselaerville State Forest: nearby towns and services
Preston-Potter Hollow is the nearest town with its own page, 4.5 mi from Rensselaerville State Forest.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston-Potter Hollow | Albany | 4.5 mi | – | 24,490 |
| Middleburgh | Schoharie | 9.1 mi | 1,161 | 25,598 |
| North Blenheim | Schoharie | 12 mi | – | 27,014 |
| Schoharie | Schoharie | 13 mi | 950 | 10,282 |
Rensselaerville State Forest falls inside these county guides: Albany County, Schoharie County.
Rensselaerville State Forest: businesses close by
9 licensed guides are registered in Schoharie County, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Rensselaerville 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 Rensselaerville State Forest hunters
From Rensselaerville State Forest, Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range is the nearest DEC or government-run range (17 miles). Nearby rod and gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Rensselaerville State Forest in pictures
Rensselaerville State Forest: short answers
How does access work on Rensselaerville State Forest?
No special permit is listed; a valid license and the open seasons are what count.
What does Rensselaerville State Forest measure?
About 2,830 acres by the source used here.
Which WMU rules apply on Rensselaerville State Forest?
WMU 4H, in the Southern Zone.
When does the main deer season run on Rensselaerville State Forest?
WMU 4H: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
When can I bowhunt deer on Rensselaerville State Forest?
Bowhunting opens Oct 1, 2026 (WMU 4H).
What are the DMP odds near Rensselaerville State Forest?
Resident first-permit odds in 4H are high; the target is 2,200.
What game is found on Rensselaerville State Forest?
Ring-necked pheasant top the list.
How long is spring turkey on Rensselaerville State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, with shooting until noon.
When does bear hunting open near Rensselaerville State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Can I hunt stocked pheasants on Rensselaerville State Forest?
Yes; DEC stocks it (421 birds this year).
Which town page is closest to Rensselaerville State Forest?
Preston-Potter Hollow, about 4.5 mi away.
What are the stand rules on Rensselaerville State Forest?
No permanent stands or screw-in steps; a labeled portable stand may stay during the season.
Rensselaerville State Forest: what to double-check
After a deer, bear or turkey on Rensselaerville State Forest, report it: paper tags within 48 hours, e-tags right away in HuntFishNY.
Sources: DEC rensselaerville 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).