Home › New York › Public land › Shindagin Hollow State Forest
State forest · 2026-27
Shindagin Hollow State Forest hunting rules, seasons and access
State forest of 5,378 acres in Tioga County and 1 more, hunted under WMU 7R dates.
Photo: generalising (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Shindagin Hollow State Forest
Shindagin Hollow State Forest at a glance
Hunters find Shindagin Hollow State Forest, a DEC state forest, in Tioga and Tompkins counties. DEC places it in the towns of Candor and Caroline. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 7, which spans central New York. The acreage used here is 5,378, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 27 by size out of 409 state forests. DEC plans it under the Rapid Waters unit management plan.
From DEC shindagin hollow state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Shindagin Hollow State Forest
Shindagin Hollow State Forest: access and site rules
These state land rules from DEC cover Shindagin Hollow State Forest:
- Trees on Shindagin Hollow State Forest stay unharmed, so no hardware, no cleared shooting lanes and no blinds built from brush.
- Your stand may remain in place for the season on Shindagin Hollow State Forest as long as it is tag-marked with your details and harms no tree.
- Trail cameras and other gear may not be left on Shindagin Hollow State Forest as storage.
- Motor vehicles stay on maintained roads, and ATVs need a designated route.
- Camping needs a DEC permit where the rules require one.
Laws every Shindagin Hollow State Forest hunter carries in
- Gun hunters after deer or bear wear orange or pink: 250 square inches above the waist or a mostly orange or pink hat.
- The discharge setback is 500 feet for guns, 250 feet for crossbows and 150 feet for bows from homes, farm buildings, schools and churches.
- Hunting over bait is illegal; scents and lures are allowed.
- There is no Sunday ban in New York; some parks set their own.
From DEC shindagin hollow state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Shindagin Hollow State Forest (7R); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 7R | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7R | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7R | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7R | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7R | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Western Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Western Zone | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| 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 | Western Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Western Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7R | 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.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest and WMU 7R: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Shindagin Hollow State Forest is WMU 7R ground (Southern Zone, 739 sq. mi. across Tompkins, Tioga and Cortland). DEC lists 7R as unlimited for DMPs this year. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7R | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 9.3% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 7R deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 7R 5,336 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5,023 | 2,025 |
| 2017 | 4,322 | 1,891 |
| 2018 | 5,328 | 2,094 |
| 2019 | 4,851 | 2,203 |
| 2020 | 5,716 | 2,355 |
| 2021 | 4,863 | 2,086 |
| 2022 | 5,336 | 2,140 |
Recent bear numbers for 7R: 2022: 0, 2023: 4, 2024: 2, 2025: 4.
Objective for bears in 7R: 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.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest access points
The DEC directions name 2 places to leave a truck at Shindagin Hollow State Forest.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Brearley Hill Road: 42.3451, -76.3499 | Navigate |
| Mountain biking trailhead parking lot: 42.3299, -76.3508 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Shindagin Hollow State Forest Map
Open Shindagin Hollow State Forest in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC shindagin hollow state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Shindagin Hollow State Forest and 10 neighbors; Potato Hill State Forest sits 4.2 mi off. The tracts listed total 20,822 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potato Hill | State forest | 900 | 7R | 4.2 mi | northeast |
| Fairfield | State forest | 810 | 7R | 4.8 mi | southeast |
| Andersen Hill | State forest | 550 | 7R | 5.6 mi | east |
| Robinson Hollow | State forest | 2,106 | 7R | 6.2 mi | northeast |
| Jenksville | State forest | 1,345 | 7R | 6.4 mi | southeast |
| Hammond Hill | State forest | 3,702 | 7R | 7.0 mi | north |
| Danby | State forest | 7,705 | 7R | 7.2 mi | west |
| Michigan Hill | State forest | 1,199 | 7R | 8.8 mi | northeast |
| Yellow Barn | State forest | 1,386 | 7R | 8.8 mi | north |
| Turkey Hill | State forest | 1,119 | 7R | 9.2 mi | east |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Shindagin Hollow State Forest
The town of Candor, where Shindagin Hollow State Forest lies, produced 531 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candor | Tioga | 559 | 603 | 546 | 598 | 531 | 255 |
| Caroline | Tompkins | 269 | 323 | 257 | 324 | 313 | 159 |
DEC bear tables list 1 for Candor (2020), 1 for Caroline (2020).
DEC puts the 2025 Tioga County deer take at 3,508.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,187 | 1,546 | 1,283 |
| 2022 | 3,586 | 1,664 | 1,404 |
| 2023 | 3,153 | 1,587 | 1,147 |
| 2024 | 3,519 | 1,840 | 1,259 |
| 2025 | 3,508 | 1,813 | 1,369 |
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.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Slaterville Springs, about 5.0 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slaterville Springs | Tompkins | 5.0 mi | – | 26,297 |
| Brooktondale | Tompkins | 5.1 mi | – | 22,196 |
| West Danby | Tompkins | 10 mi | – | 23,452 |
| Ithaca | Tompkins | 12 mi | 33,768 | 8,461 |
Season tables by county for Shindagin Hollow State Forest: Tioga County, Tompkins County.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 9 licensed guides in Tioga County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Shindagin Hollow 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.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest: nearest firing lines
Hunters on Shindagin Hollow State Forest can sight in at Berkshire Rod & Gun Club (7 miles), the nearest listing; public ranges are all more than 60 miles off.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest shooting hours by key date
East and west matter: sunrise in Buffalo comes about 20 minutes after sunrise in Albany, so use local times for Shindagin Hollow State Forest.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:01 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:27 a.m. | 6:12 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:02 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:26 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:34 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:02 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 5:32 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 5:32 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.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest in pictures
Answers on Shindagin Hollow State Forest access and seasons
Can I use screw-in steps on Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is Shindagin Hollow State Forest from a town?
Slaterville Springs, about 5.0 mi away.
What hours apply on Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
Sunrise minus 30 minutes for big game; the hours table above has local times.
Do I need orange or pink on Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
How does access work on Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Does New York allow Sunday hunting at Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
Sundays are open under state law.
Which WMU rules apply on Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
Southern Zone, WMU 7R.
Is Shindagin Hollow State Forest a large property?
5,378 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
When is bear season at Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 7R).
When is spring turkey season at Shindagin Hollow State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Shindagin Hollow State Forest can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC shindagin hollow 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: seabamirum (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).