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Wilderness · 2026-27
Silver Lake Wilderness hunting rules, seasons and access
Wilderness of 109,774 acres in Hamilton County, hunted under WMU 5H dates, for big game.
Photo: ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Silver Lake Wilderness
Parking, trailheads and gates near Silver Lake Wilderness
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 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.
Acres and location of Silver Lake Wilderness
Hunters find Silver Lake Wilderness, a Forest Preserve wilderness, in Hamilton County. DEC places it in the towns of Lake Pleasant, Arietta, Benson, Wells and Hope. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 5, which spans the eastern Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. The acreage used here is 109,774, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 5 by size out of 23 wilderness areas. DEC plans it under the Silver Lake unit management plan.
Hunting section, quoted: Hunters may use the parking areas , roads, seasonal access roads, trailheads, and trails used by hikers, boat launches and hand launches used by paddlers to access the lands and waters in this area. Hunters can park on the shoulders of seasonal access roads provided vehicles are out of the travel lane. A majority of the big game hunting use occurs along the West River Road, also known as the Whitehouse Road. Due to its large size, general lack of facilities and plentiful access, hunters appreciate the high degree …
From DEC silver lake wilderness; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Silver Lake Wilderness
Silver Lake Wilderness: access and site rules
Forest Preserve regulations (6 NYCRR Part 190) shape a hunt on Silver Lake Wilderness:
- Unless posted, every part of Silver Lake Wilderness is open in the regular seasons.
- Forest Preserve rules forbid cutting trees or putting hardware in them on Silver Lake Wilderness.
- The 150-foot camping setback from water, trails and roads applies outside designated sites.
Laws every Silver Lake Wilderness 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 silver lake wilderness, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Silver Lake Wilderness: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Silver Lake Wilderness (5H); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 5H | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 5H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 5H | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 5H | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 5H | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 5H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 5H | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 5H | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 5H | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 5H | 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 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 5H | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 5H | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 5H | 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.
Silver Lake Wilderness and WMU 5H: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Silver Lake Wilderness is WMU 5H ground (Northern Zone, 3,046 sq. mi. across Hamilton, Herkimer and Warren). State law bars DMPs in 5H. Bear area: Adirondacks. Fall turkey here: Oct. 1-14.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5H | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
WMU 5H deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 5H 2,794 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,312 | 1,921 |
| 2017 | 2,346 | 1,944 |
| 2018 | 2,512 | 2,060 |
| 2019 | 2,603 | 2,222 |
| 2020 | 2,630 | 2,070 |
| 2021 | 2,381 | 2,053 |
| 2022 | 2,794 | 2,244 |
Recent bear numbers for 5H: 2022: 118, 2023: 89, 2024: 143, 2025: 93.
Objective for bears in 5H: 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.
Silver Lake Wilderness: species list
Hunters come to Silver Lake Wilderness for big game above all.
Big game
Oct 24–Dec 6
Species from DEC silver lake wilderness; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Silver Lake Wilderness access points
The DEC directions name 10 places to leave a truck at Silver Lake Wilderness.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| is located near the community of Piseco: 43.4296, -74.4952 | Navigate |
| is located at the end of the road: 43.3726, -74.4334 | Navigate |
| provides access to the NPT via what is now a spur trail: 43.2548, -74.3451 | Navigate |
| is located a short distance east of the former Woods Lake Trailhead: 43.2486, -74.3069 | Navigate |
| is also along State Route 10 and is used by hunters to access the wilderness: 43.3480, -74.5333 | Navigate |
| is located off State Route 30: 43.3130, -74.2561 | Navigate |
| is located off the West River (aka Whitehouse Road) and is mainly used for access by hunters: 43.3617, -74.3263 | Navigate |
| is located along State Route 10: 43.2514, -74.5176 | Navigate |
| is also located along State Route 10 on either side of the bridge: 43.2553, -74.5353 | Navigate |
| is located on West Branch Sacandaga River on the east side of State Route 10: 43.3243, -74.5303 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Silver Lake Wilderness Map
Open Silver Lake Wilderness in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC silver lake wilderness; checked October 27, 2026.
Silver Lake Wilderness pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Silver Lake Wilderness and 10 neighbors; Shaker Mountain Wild Forest sits 9.4 mi off. The tracts listed total 591,517 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaker Mountain | Wild forest | 45,312 | 5H, 5J | 9.4 mi | south |
| Jessup River | Wild forest | 48,456 | 5H | 11 mi | north |
| Ferris Lake | Wild forest | 147,936 | 5H, 5J | 14 mi | west |
| Perkins Clearing And Speculator | Easement tract | 40,476 | 5H | 15 mi | north |
| Wilcox Lake | Wild forest | 127,860 | 5H, 5J | 16 mi | northeast |
| Peck Hill | State forest | 2,744 | 5H, 5J | 18 mi | south |
| Johnstown | Detached parcel | 135 | 5H | 19 mi | south |
| West Canada Lake | Wilderness | 177,527 | 5H | 19 mi | northwest |
| Rockwood | State forest | 864 | 5J, 6R | 20 mi | south |
| Fulton | Detached parcel | 207 | 5J | 21 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Silver Lake Wilderness
The town of Lake Pleasant, where Silver Lake Wilderness lies, produced 106 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Pleasant | Hamilton | 82 | 85 | 87 | 108 | 106 | 89 |
| Arietta | Hamilton | 107 | 65 | 88 | 65 | 76 | 72 |
| Benson | Hamilton | 34 | 64 | 66 | 92 | 62 | 58 |
| Wells | Hamilton | 146 | 161 | 189 | 232 | 164 | 148 |
| Hope | Hamilton | 63 | 87 | 88 | 84 | 81 | 73 |
DEC bear tables list 2 for Lake Pleasant (2020), 1 for Lake Pleasant (2021), 3 for Lake Pleasant (2022), 1 for Arietta (2020), 8 for Arietta (2021), 1 for Arietta (2022).
DEC puts the 2025 Hamilton County deer take at 959.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 872 | 786 | 79 |
| 2022 | 968 | 831 | 111 |
| 2023 | 1,037 | 933 | 76 |
| 2024 | 1,012 | 909 | 91 |
| 2025 | 959 | 864 | 75 |
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.
Silver Lake Wilderness: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Wells, about 6.6 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | Hamilton | 6.6 mi | – | 151,936 |
| Caroga Lake | Fulton | 15 mi | – | 91,506 |
| Northville | Fulton | 15 mi | 994 | 49,241 |
| Speculator | Hamilton | 17 mi | 400 | 136,031 |
Season tables by county for Silver Lake Wilderness: Hamilton County.
Silver Lake Wilderness: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 9 licensed guides in Hamilton County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Silver Lake Wilderness
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 Silver Lake Wilderness hunters
Saratoga Sand Plains WMA Archery Range, 37 miles off, is the public range nearest Silver Lake Wilderness. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Silver Lake Wilderness: first and last legal light
East and west matter: sunrise in Buffalo comes about 20 minutes after sunrise in Albany, so use local times for Silver Lake Wilderness.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:49 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:54 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:22 a.m. | 6:02 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:59 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:24 a.m. | 4:22 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:22 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:31 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:52 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 7:58 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.
Silver Lake Wilderness in pictures
Answers on Silver Lake Wilderness access and seasons
Which WMU rules apply on Silver Lake Wilderness?
Northern Zone, WMU 5H.
Is Silver Lake Wilderness a large property?
109,774 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Silver Lake Wilderness?
Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Silver Lake Wilderness?
It opens Oct 24, 2026 and closes Dec 6, 2026 (regular Season).
What game does the source list for Silver Lake Wilderness?
Big game.
Are DMPs issued for Silver Lake Wilderness?
No. 5H is an Adirondack unit where state law bars DMPs.
When is bear season at Silver Lake Wilderness?
Yes: regular Season (Adirondacks) Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026 (WMU 5H).
When is spring turkey season at Silver Lake Wilderness?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Can I use screw-in steps on Silver Lake Wilderness?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is Silver Lake Wilderness from a town?
Wells, about 6.6 mi away.
How does access work on Silver Lake Wilderness?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Do I need orange or pink on Silver Lake Wilderness?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Silver Lake Wilderness: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Silver Lake Wilderness can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC silver lake wilderness · 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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0); ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0).