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WMA · the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain
Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
Seasons and access for hunting in Saratoga County: ring-necked pheasant.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Old Gick Farm TrailheadParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Neilmann Preserve ParkingParking · 1.9 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.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: size, towns and manager
Listed as a DEC wildlife management area, Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area lies in Saratoga County. On the ground it lies within Northumberland and Wilton. The DEC region is Region 5 (the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain). It measures 1,148 acres, per DEC Lands layer ACRES. Size rank: 41st of 119 WMAs. Page text and map differ: the page prints 1,000 acres.
In DEC's words: Note: Hunting is NOT permitted on Nature Conservancy lands or Town of Wilton lands. Also, weapons and firearms are NOT permitted on Town of Wilton lands.
From DEC saratoga sand plains wildlife manageme; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA hunting calendar
Season windows for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA, filtered from the 2026-27 guide by WMU 5J and the Northeastern waterfowl zone.
| Species | Segment | Where | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5J | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 5J | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5J | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5J | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5J | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 5J | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5J | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5J | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5J | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Northeastern Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Northeast goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Northeast goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Northeast goose area | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 19, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Feb 26, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5J | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 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.
How you may hunt Saratoga Sand Plains WMA
Expect the standard WMA rules (6 NYCRR Part 51) on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA:
- Target shooting needs a posted exception on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA.
- Camping on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA is by written permission only.
- Off-road travel by vehicle requires a permit or a posted route.
- Hardware in trees, permanent blinds and cut vegetation are all prohibited.
- Take your belongings out each day (trail cameras too), except a stand marked with your name and address or DEC ID, which may stay until season end.
- Areas posted "No Trespassing" need written DEC permission to enter.
- Fires are limited to cooking and warmth, and boats cannot stay moored overnight.
New York rules that apply on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA too
- Firearm deer and bear hunters, and anyone with them, wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist, or a hat that is at least half orange or pink.
- Mind the 500-foot firearm setback from dwellings and farm buildings near the boundary.
- Bait, salt licks and mineral attractants are illegal for deer and bear, and feeding them is banned year-round.
- Sundays are open statewide; only a site rule can close them.
From DEC saratoga sand plains wildlife manageme, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Parking and maps for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA has 4 listed parking spots on the DEC page.
| Lot or pull-off | Map |
|---|---|
| Take Ballard Road east to Edie Road, just past the northbound exit ramps. Turn right onto Edie Road. Take Edie Road south 1.1 miles to Scout Road. Turn left onto Scout Road. Take Scout Road east 0.7 miles to a parking area on the left: 43.1636, -73.7030 | Directions |
| Take Ballard Road east 0.6 mile to parking area on the right: 43.1682, -73.7105 | Directions |
| Take Ballard Road east 2.1 miles to State Route 50 (Ballards Corner). Turn right onto State Route 50. Take State Route 50 south 0.75 mile. The parking area is on the right: 43.1450, -73.6930 | Directions |
| Take Ballard Road east 2.3 miles to Ruggles Road. Turn right onto Ruggles Road. Take Ruggles Road south 1.3 miles and the parking area is on the right: 43.1335, -73.6820 | Directions |
Boundary map file: Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Map · Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Camp – Saratoga Map · Saratoga Sand Plains WMA – Old Gick Farm Map
Parking points and maps from DEC saratoga sand plains wildlife manageme; checked October 27, 2026.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA game species
1 game group is named for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA; each card shows the main 2026-27 window for its WMU.
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from DEC saratoga sand plains wildlife manageme; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA pheasant releases for 2026
DEC stocks pheasants on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: 3 releases in 2026 adding up to 404 birds.
| Site | Access rule | Town | Field acres | Stocking | Events | Birds released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saratoga Sand Plains WMA | Public – special rules | Gansevoort | 89 | Youth, regular | 3 | 404 |
| Week | Pheasants released |
|---|---|
| 09/21 | 104 |
| 09/28 | 94 |
| 10/12 | 103 |
| 10/26 | 103 |
| NA | – |
Note for bird hunters: Hunting is NOT permitted on Nature Conservancy lands or Town of Wilton lands. Weapons and firearms are NOT permitted on Town of Wilton lands. Please be sure to abide by all game laws.
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
WMU 5J rules that reach Saratoga Sand Plains WMA
WMU 5J is the unit that counts for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: Northern Zone, 674 square miles, in Saratoga, Fulton and Warren. 5J is one of the Adirondack WMUs where DMPs cannot be issued. Bear rules in 5J follow the Adirondacks area. 5J fall turkey season: Oct. 1-14.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 DMPs | Avg success | 1st DMP odds | 3-point rule | Deer | Bear area | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5J | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
5J: deer by season
The 5J deer take moved from 1,457 (2016) to 1,494 (2022).
| Year | Deer taken | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,457 | 1,072 |
| 2017 | 1,258 | 965 |
| 2018 | 1,464 | 1,011 |
| 2019 | 1,394 | 1,040 |
| 2020 | 1,511 | 1,075 |
| 2021 | 1,277 | 992 |
| 2022 | 1,494 | 1,114 |
5J bear take by year: 2020 30; 2021 10; 2022 25; 2023 11; 2024 22; 2025 20.
5J bear objective: 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.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA pinned with nearby tracts
Around Saratoga Sand Plains WMA lie 10 more public tracts; Daniel's Road State Forest is the closest (5.1 mi). Combined: 12,578 acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | WMU | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel's Road | State forest | 524 | 5J | 5.1 mi | southwest |
| Moreau Lake | State park | 6,640 | 5J | 5.3 mi | northwest |
| Lincoln Mountain | State forest | 1,219 | 5J | 5.3 mi | west |
| Victory Mills | WMA | 47 | 5R | 7.5 mi | southeast |
| Washington County Grasslands | WMA | 468 | 5T | 9.0 mi | northeast |
| Ralph Road | State forest | 544 | 5J | 9.5 mi | northwest |
| Saratoga Spa | State park | 1,983 | 5R | 10 mi | southwest |
| Daketown | State forest | 506 | 5J | 12 mi | west |
| Lake Desolation State Forest | Easement tract | 610 | 5J | 13 mi | west |
| Washington | Detached parcel | 37 | 5S | 13 mi | southeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: nearby towns and services
Head to Victory, 7.1 mi off, for supplies.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory | Saratoga | 7.1 mi | 676 | 1,475 |
| Fort Edward | Washington | 9.8 mi | 3,138 | 1,482 |
| Ballston Spa | Saratoga | 13 mi | 4,930 | 1,997 |
| Lake George | Warren | 19 mi | 1,007 | 16,127 |
County pages that list Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: Saratoga County.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: businesses close by
The DEC licensed guide list counts 17 in Saratoga County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Saratoga Sand Plains WMA
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.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: town and county harvest
Deer take for the town of Northumberland reached 78 in 2019, per DEC.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | Saratoga | 46 | 64 | 55 | 70 | 78 | 61 |
| Wilton | Saratoga | 101 | 92 | 92 | 98 | 108 | 75 |
Black bears by town: Wilton, 2020, 2; Wilton, 2022, 2.
Across Saratoga County, DEC counted 2,554 deer taken in 2025.
| Season | Total | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,371 | 1,483 | 765 |
| 2022 | 2,810 | 1,518 | 1,050 |
| 2023 | 2,287 | 1,410 | 711 |
| 2024 | 2,362 | 1,440 | 758 |
| 2025 | 2,554 | 1,539 | 781 |
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.
Practice with a bow at Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area
The DEC archery range here: Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range.
- DEC keeps this range archery only.
- What it costs: Free
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: first and last legal light
Spring turkey hunting ends at noon, fall turkey and upland birds run sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the half hour on each end.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:47 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:00 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:55 a.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:19 a.m. | 4:21 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:21 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:27 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:50 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 8:25 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 7:55 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.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA in pictures
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: short answers
What do I need to hunt Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
Open in season to anyone with a New York hunting license.
Are tree stands allowed on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
Only portable stands: no hardware in trees, label it, take it out when the season closes.
Which unit sets deer dates for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
5J, a Northern Zone unit.
What does Saratoga Sand Plains WMA measure?
1,148 acres on file.
When does bow season start on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
Early Bowhunting: Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026.
When does the main deer season run on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
The regular Season runs Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026.
What species go with Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
Named game: ring-necked pheasant.
Why are there no DMPs at Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
State law keeps DMPs out of 5J.
Is Saratoga Sand Plains WMA in a bear hunting area?
Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026 (regular Season (Adirondacks)).
Is there a spring gobbler season at Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
It opens May 1, 2027 and ends May 31, 2027.
How far is Saratoga Sand Plains WMA from a town?
Victory is 7.1 mi away.
Can I hunt stocked pheasants on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
404 birds are scheduled for 2026.
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA: what to double-check
Confirm access and permits for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA before the drive.
Sources: DEC saratoga sand plains wildlife manageme · 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); z2amiller (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).