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New York wilderness
Slide Mountain Wilderness for hunters
Public hunting ground in Ulster County: access rules, WMU 3A seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: daveclausen (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Slide Mountain Wilderness
Parking, trailheads and gates near Slide Mountain Wilderness
- Giant Ledge TrailheadParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Slide Mountain Parking AreaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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.
Slide Mountain Wilderness at a glance
The records class Slide Mountain Wilderness as a Forest Preserve wilderness in Ulster County. Town lines: Shandaken, Denning and Olive. Regional staff for the lower Hudson Valley (Region 3) look after it. Its 50,718 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 7th of the 23 wilderness areas on our New York list. Its unit management plan: Slide Mountain.
What DEC writes about hunting here: Hunting is a traditional use that is encouraged within the Forest Preserve. This area supports a thriving black bear population and stable white-tail deer population, both of which are hunted in the fall. The eastern wild turkey is hunted in both spring and fall. Furbearers, including beaver, fisher and coyote, are harvested annually.
From DEC slide mountain wilderness; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Slide Mountain Wilderness
Open seasons on Slide Mountain Wilderness this year
48 dated seasons for 32 species reach Slide Mountain Wilderness, matched to WMU 3A, the Southeastern duck zone and the South goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 3A | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 3A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 3A | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 3A | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Firearms Season | WMU 3A | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 3A | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 3A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 3A | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 3A | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 3A | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 3A | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 3A | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3A | 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 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 3A | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 3A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 3A | 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.
Slide Mountain Wilderness: access and site rules
The Forest Preserve land use rules apply in full on Slide Mountain Wilderness:
- Seasons on Slide Mountain Wilderness follow the WMU rules; posted areas are the exception.
- Tree cutting and tree hardware are both banned on Slide Mountain Wilderness.
- Pitch camp 150 feet back from water, roads and trails, or at a marked site.
Rules from the state guide, on Slide Mountain Wilderness
- Pink counts the same as orange; firearm deer and bear hunters need 250 square inches or a qualifying hat.
- Keep 500 feet from occupied houses and farm buildings with a gun (250 feet with a crossbow, 150 feet with a bow) unless the owner consents.
- Feeding deer or bear is prohibited at any time, and baited areas are off limits.
- Sunday is a hunting day under state law.
From DEC slide mountain wilderness, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Slide Mountain Wilderness
Access to Slide Mountain Wilderness starts at 5 DEC parking points.
| Access point, GPS | Link |
|---|---|
| Peekamoose Road Parking Area is located on NYS Route 42, 9.8 miles west of its intersection with NYS Route 28A. Provides access to the Peekamoose Table Trail: 41.9157, -74.4264 | Route |
| Oliverea Road South Parking Area (Slide Mountain Parking Area) is located on Oliverea Road, 9.4 miles south of its intersection with NYS Route 28. Provides access to the Burroughs Range Trail and the southern section of the Phoenicia East Branch Trail: 42.0078, -74.4269 | Route |
| Oliverea Road North Parking Area is located on Oliverea Road, 7.5 miles south of its intersection with NYS Route 28. Provides access to the Giant Ledge, Panther Mountain, Fox hollow Trail and the northern section of the of the Phoenicia East Branch Trail: 42.0266, -74.4039 | Route |
| Denning Road Parking Area is located on Denning Road, 3.5 miles north east of its intersection with New Road: 41.9690, -74.4487 | Route |
| Lane Street (Romer Mountain Trailhead) Parking Area is located at the end of the Lane Street, which is off of High Street just outside the village of Phoenicia: 42.0789, -74.3184 | Route |
Paper map to print: Slide Mountain Wilderness Map
Parking points and maps from DEC slide mountain wilderness; checked October 27, 2026.
Slide Mountain Wilderness: species list
Game listed for Slide Mountain Wilderness: white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, coyote and furbearers.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Black bear
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Coyote
Oct 1–Mar 28
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC slide mountain wilderness; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Slide Mountain Wilderness
3A is the Wildlife Management Unit over Slide Mountain Wilderness; it covers 694 square miles in Ulster, Greene and Sullivan. 3A has a 2026 DMP target of 175; DEC prints no average success, and resident first-permit odds show as "LO/DV". Antler point rules apply in 3A: 3 points on one side minimum. For bears, 3A falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 3A: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3A | Southern | 175 | – | LO/DV | Yes | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
3A deer numbers
Deer take in 3A: 774 in 2016, 915 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 774 | 652 |
| 2017 | 803 | 662 |
| 2018 | 912 | 775 |
| 2019 | 897 | 749 |
| 2020 | 1,077 | 893 |
| 2021 | 935 | 812 |
| 2022 | 915 | 715 |
Bears taken in 3A: 80 in 2020, 101 in 2021, 58 in 2022, 70 in 2023, 56 in 2024, 95 in 2025.
DEC's bear objective for 3A: reduce 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.
Slide Mountain Wilderness and the public land around it
Slide Mountain Wilderness gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Woodland Valley DEP unit, 4.1 mi northeast. The listed neighbors hold 1,006 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland Valley | Watershed unit | 19 | 3A | 4.1 mi | northeast |
| Traver Hollow | Watershed unit | 145 | 3A | 4.9 mi | east |
| Oak Ridge | Watershed unit | 25 | 3A | 5.1 mi | southeast |
| Romer Mountain | Watershed unit | 15 | 3A | 5.2 mi | northeast |
| Oliverea | Watershed unit | 78 | 3A | 5.5 mi | northwest |
| Watson Hollow | Watershed unit | 23 | 3C | 5.7 mi | southeast |
| South Hollow | Watershed unit | 99 | 3A, 3C | 5.8 mi | southeast |
| Herdman Road | Watershed unit | 18 | 3A | 6.0 mi | north |
| Bushkill | Watershed unit | 476 | 3A, 3C | 6.1 mi | east |
| Sheridan Mountain | Watershed unit | 108 | 3A | 6.3 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Slide Mountain Wilderness trip planning
From Slide Mountain Wilderness, Phoenicia is 6.0 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenicia | Ulster | 6.0 mi | – | 109,393 |
| Pine Hill | Ulster | 9.4 mi | – | 86,733 |
| West Kill | Greene | 14 mi | – | 54,676 |
| Grahamsville | Sullivan | 14 mi | – | 47,226 |
The county guide covering Slide Mountain Wilderness: Ulster County.
Slide Mountain Wilderness: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Ulster County: 25, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Slide Mountain 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.
Local deer numbers for Slide Mountain Wilderness
In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Shandaken came in at 105 deer.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 adult bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shandaken | Ulster | 110 | 74 | 87 | 126 | 105 | 90 |
| Denning | Ulster | 106 | 100 | 104 | 123 | 108 | 89 |
| Olive | Ulster | 196 | 216 | 207 | 217 | 183 | 123 |
Town bear take: Shandaken 2020: 14, Shandaken 2021: 20, Shandaken 2022: 12, Denning 2020: 14, Denning 2021: 32, Denning 2022: 10.
Ulster County as a whole recorded 3,423 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,647 | 1,633 | 857 |
| 2022 | 3,423 | 2,081 | 1,110 |
| 2023 | 3,062 | 2,049 | 825 |
| 2024 | 3,565 | 2,190 | 1,114 |
| 2025 | 3,423 | 2,083 | 1,062 |
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.
Nearest public range for Slide Mountain Wilderness hunters
Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range is the nearest public range to Slide Mountain Wilderness, about 50 miles away. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Slide Mountain Wilderness shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Slide Mountain Wilderness brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:48 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:04 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:54 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:17 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:25 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:54 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 7:54 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.
Slide Mountain Wilderness in pictures
Slide Mountain Wilderness FAQ for 2026-27
Which WMU rules apply on Slide Mountain Wilderness?
WMU 3A; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Slide Mountain Wilderness?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Slide Mountain Wilderness?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
What is the 2026 DMP target for Slide Mountain Wilderness?
3A target: 175 DMPs.
Which animals are named for Slide Mountain Wilderness?
The list names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, coyote and furbearers.
What are the spring turkey dates for Slide Mountain Wilderness?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at Slide Mountain Wilderness?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 3A.
How far is Slide Mountain Wilderness from a town?
Phoenicia (6.0 mi).
May I hang a stand for the season on Slide Mountain Wilderness?
Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.
What are the blaze orange rules at Slide Mountain Wilderness?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
Can I hunt Slide Mountain Wilderness with just a hunting license?
Yes. It is open to licensed hunters in season, and the fee is free.
What size do the sources give Slide Mountain Wilderness?
Its size is 50,718 acres.
Slide Mountain Wilderness: confirm these before you go
Print the Slide Mountain Wilderness map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC slide mountain 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: Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0); ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0).