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State forest · the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley
Sears Pond State Forest: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
Seasons and access for hunting in Lewis County.
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Sears Pond State Forest
Sears Pond State Forest: size, towns and manager
Listed as a DEC state forest, Sears Pond State Forest lies in Lewis County. On the ground it lies within Montague. The DEC region is Region 6 (the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley). It measures 5,723 acres, per DEC Lands layer ACRES. Size rank: 22nd of 409 state forests. DEC groups it in the Tug Hill North planning unit.
From DEC sears pond state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Sears Pond State Forest
Sears Pond State Forest hunting calendar
Season windows for Sears Pond State Forest, filtered from the 2026-27 guide by WMU 6N and the Northeastern waterfowl zone.
| Species | Segment | Where | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6N | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 6N | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6N | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 6N | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6N | Sep 19, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 6N | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6N | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Western Periphery) | WMU 6N | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 6N | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 6N | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 6N | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6N | 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 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 6N | 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 Sears Pond State Forest
DEC state land rules for state forests, multiple use areas and similar tracts apply on Sears Pond State Forest:
- A stand on Sears Pond State Forest cannot be fixed to a tree with nails or bolts, and lanes may not be cut.
- Label any portable stand on Sears Pond State Forest with your name and address or hunting license number; it can stay through the season but must be gone at its close.
- Leaving gear, cameras included, on Sears Pond State Forest breaks the state land rules.
- No motor vehicle leaves the maintained roads on Sears Pond State Forest unless DEC designates the route.
- Camping is allowed under the state land rules, with a permit when one is required.
New York rules that apply on Sears Pond State Forest 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 sears pond state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Parking and maps for Sears Pond State Forest
Sears Pond State Forest has 2 listed parking spots on the DEC page.
| Lot or pull-off | Map |
|---|---|
| Culpepper Road unpaved parking lot: 43.7163, -75.7251 | Directions |
| Sears Pond unpaved parking area: 43.7403, -75.7140 | Directions |
Boundary map file: Sears Pond State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC sears pond state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 6N rules that reach Sears Pond State Forest
WMU 6N is the unit that counts for Sears Pond State Forest: Northern Zone, 491 square miles, in Lewis, Oswego and Jefferson. 6N is one of the Adirondack WMUs where DMPs cannot be issued. Bear rules in 6N follow the Western Periphery area. 6N fall turkey season: Oct. 1-14.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 DMPs | Avg success | 1st DMP odds | 3-point rule | Deer | Bear area | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6N | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Western Periphery | Oct. 1-14 |
6N: deer by season
The 6N deer take moved from 982 (2016) to 947 (2022).
| Year | Deer taken | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 982 | 764 |
| 2017 | 900 | 739 |
| 2018 | 782 | 558 |
| 2019 | 823 | 670 |
| 2020 | 997 | 810 |
| 2021 | 905 | 778 |
| 2022 | 947 | 783 |
6N bear take by year: 2020 15; 2021 28; 2022 16; 2023 21; 2024 24; 2025 15.
6N bear objective: 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.
Sears Pond State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Around Sears Pond State Forest lie 10 more public tracts; Tug Hill State Forest is the closest (2.9 mi). Combined: 67,179 acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | WMU | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tug Hill | State forest | 12,268 | 6K, 6N | 2.9 mi | northwest |
| Grant Powell | State forest | 8,337 | 6N | 4.1 mi | east |
| Lookout | State forest | 3,983 | 6K | 5.6 mi | north |
| Tug Hill | WMA | 5,081 | 6N | 5.6 mi | southeast |
| Granger | State forest | 737 | 6K | 5.9 mi | north |
| Cobb Creek | State forest | 2,203 | 6K | 6.8 mi | northeast |
| Little John | WMA | 7,921 | 6K, 6N | 7.9 mi | southwest |
| Pinckney | State forest | 2,100 | 6K | 8.6 mi | north |
| East Branch Fish Creek | Easement tract | 22,484 | 6N | 9.5 mi | southeast |
| Gould Corners | State forest | 2,065 | 6K | 9.5 mi | west |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Sears Pond State Forest: nearby towns and services
Head to Lorraine, 10 mi off, for supplies.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorraine | Jefferson | 10 mi | – | 34,980 |
| Copenhagen | Lewis | 11 mi | 660 | 21,231 |
| Lowville | Lewis | 13 mi | 3,336 | 16,235 |
| Watertown | Jefferson | 17 mi | 24,038 | 10,230 |
County pages that list Sears Pond State Forest: Lewis County.
Sears Pond State Forest: businesses close by
The DEC licensed guide list counts 10 in Lewis County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Sears Pond 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.
Sears Pond State Forest: town and county harvest
Deer take for the town of Montague reached 52 in 2019, per DEC.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montague | Lewis | 55 | 104 | 85 | 50 | 52 | 49 |
Black bears by town: Montague, 2020, 1; Montague, 2021, 1; Montague, 2022, 2.
Across Lewis County, DEC counted 3,638 deer taken in 2025.
| Season | Total | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,399 | 2,324 | 927 |
| 2022 | 3,709 | 2,453 | 959 |
| 2023 | 3,541 | 2,393 | 843 |
| 2024 | 3,705 | 2,484 | 1,032 |
| 2025 | 3,638 | 2,244 | 1,097 |
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.
Sears Pond State Forest: nearest firing lines
Mad River Club is the closest listed range to Sears Pond State Forest, about 14 miles away; no public range lies within 60 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Sears Pond State Forest: 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 | 6:53 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:28 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:36 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:55 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:03 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.
Sears Pond State Forest in pictures
Sears Pond State Forest: short answers
Is there a spring gobbler season at Sears Pond State Forest?
It opens May 1, 2027 and ends May 31, 2027.
Why are there no DMPs at Sears Pond State Forest?
State law keeps DMPs out of 6N.
How far is Sears Pond State Forest from a town?
Lorraine is 10 mi away.
Is Sears Pond State Forest in a bear hunting area?
Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 (regular Season (Western Periphery)).
Does the orange law apply on Sears Pond State Forest?
Yes, for big game with a gun.
Are tree stands allowed on Sears Pond State Forest?
Only portable stands: no hardware in trees, label it, take it out when the season closes.
What do I need to hunt Sears Pond State Forest?
Open in season to anyone with a New York hunting license.
How early can I shoot deer on Sears Pond State Forest?
Half an hour before sunrise for deer and bear; spring turkey ends at noon.
Which unit sets deer dates for Sears Pond State Forest?
6N, a Northern Zone unit.
What does Sears Pond State Forest measure?
5,723 acres on file.
When does bow season start on Sears Pond State Forest?
Early Bowhunting: Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026.
When does the main deer season run on Sears Pond State Forest?
The regular Season runs Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026.
Sears Pond State Forest: what to double-check
Confirm access and permits for Sears Pond State Forest before the drive.
Sources: DEC sears pond 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: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); OhLizz (CC BY-SA 2.0).