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Summer Hill State Forest for hunters
Public hunting ground in Cayuga County: access rules, WMU 7J seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: Eric Kilby (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Summer Hill State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Summer Hill State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.8 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.
Summer Hill State Forest at a glance
The records class Summer Hill State Forest as a DEC state forest in Cayuga County. Town lines: Sempronius, Summerhill and Locke. Regional staff for central New York (Region 7) look after it. Its 4,421 acres come from DEC Lands layer ACRES. That ranks 37th of the 409 state forests on our New York list. Its unit management plan: Hewitt-Cayuga Highlands.
What DEC writes about hunting here: The heavily wooded landscape of Summer Hill State Forest makes it ideal for hunting.
From DEC summer hill state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Summer Hill State Forest
Open seasons on Summer Hill State Forest this year
47 dated seasons for 31 species reach Summer Hill State Forest, matched to WMU 7J, the Western duck zone and the West Central goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 7J | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7J | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7J | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7J | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7J | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7J | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7J | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7J | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7J | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7J | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7J | 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 | West Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | West Central goose area | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| 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 7J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7J | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7J | 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.
Summer Hill State Forest: access and site rules
Hunters on Summer Hill State Forest work under the DEC state land use regulations:
- DEC bars permanent stands on Summer Hill State Forest, along with cut shooting lanes and blinds made from living cover.
- DEC lets a marked, tree-safe portable stand sit on Summer Hill State Forest during the open season; take it home afterwards.
- Do not leave a trail camera or other belongings stashed on Summer Hill State Forest.
- Drive only on maintained roads on Summer Hill State Forest; ATVs are limited to routes DEC designates.
- Check whether your stay needs a camping permit before you pitch a tent.
Rules from the state guide, on Summer Hill State Forest
- 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 summer hill state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Summer Hill State Forest
Access to Summer Hill State Forest starts at 1 DEC parking point.
| Access point, GPS | Link |
|---|---|
| Route 90 and Locke Summerhill Townline Road: 42.6454, -76.3660 | Route |
Paper map to print: Summer Hill State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC summer hill state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Summer Hill State Forest
7J is the Wildlife Management Unit over Summer Hill State Forest; it covers 839 square miles in Onondaga, Madison and Cayuga. DMPs are unlimited in 7J for 2026. For bears, 7J falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 7J: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7J | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 9.7% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
7J deer numbers
Deer take in 7J: 6,164 in 2016, 5,977 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 6,164 | 2,385 |
| 2017 | 5,477 | 2,250 |
| 2018 | 6,364 | 2,413 |
| 2019 | 5,814 | 2,573 |
| 2020 | 6,431 | 2,490 |
| 2021 | 5,437 | 2,227 |
| 2022 | 5,977 | 2,454 |
DEC's bear objective for 7J: maintain infrequent bear presence.
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.
Summer Hill State Forest and the public land around it
Summer Hill State Forest gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Fillmore Glen State Park, 2.2 mi northwest. The listed neighbors hold 33,364 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fillmore Glen | State park | 1,137 | 7J | 2.2 mi | northwest |
| Owasco Flats | WMA | 153 | 7H, 7J | 5.9 mi | northwest |
| Bear Swamp | State forest | 3,541 | 7J | 6.5 mi | northeast |
| Hewitt | State forest | 937 | 7J | 8.1 mi | northeast |
| Frozen Ocean | State forest | 753 | 7J | 8.8 mi | northwest |
| Dryden Lake | Multiple use area | 198 | 7R | 15 mi | south |
| Cayuga Shores | WMA | 282 | 7H | 15 mi | west |
| Yellow Barn | State forest | 1,386 | 7R | 15 mi | south |
| Tuller Hill | State forest | 2,498 | 7R | 16 mi | southeast |
| Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area | Co-op area | 22,479 | 7H | 16 mi | west |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Summer Hill State Forest trip planning
From Summer Hill State Forest, Moravia is 4.6 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moravia | Cayuga | 4.6 mi | 1,241 | 8,921 |
| Cortland | Cortland | 10.0 mi | 17,459 | 14,301 |
| Blodgett Mills | Cortland | 13 mi | – | 15,903 |
| Virgil | Cortland | 13 mi | – | 21,230 |
The county guide covering Summer Hill State Forest: Cayuga County.
Summer Hill State Forest: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Cayuga County: 22, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Summer Hill 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.
Local deer numbers for Summer Hill State Forest
In 2019, the final year DEC printed town totals, Sempronius came in at 245 deer.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 adult bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sempronius | Cayuga | 279 | 199 | 198 | 289 | 245 | 94 |
| Summerhill | Cayuga | 159 | 204 | 175 | 192 | 200 | 88 |
| Locke | Cayuga | 208 | 229 | 258 | 246 | 238 | 117 |
Cayuga County as a whole recorded 4,243 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,393 | 2,014 | 1,859 |
| 2022 | 5,182 | 2,192 | 2,206 |
| 2023 | 4,155 | 1,987 | 1,595 |
| 2024 | 4,441 | 2,140 | 1,730 |
| 2025 | 4,243 | 2,042 | 1,792 |
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.
Close to Summer Hill State Forest on the calendar
On the ground itself or nearby: 2 upcoming events, covering NWTF chapter banquet and Whitetails Unlimited banquet.
On the way
| Held on | Event | Distance | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Whitetails Unlimited Cortland County Chapter Banquet · Whitetails Unlimited banquet | 10 | Cortland Country Music Park | Event details | Source |
| Feb 27, 2027 | Cortland Limbhangers NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 10 | Cortland | Get tickets | Source |
Summer Hill State Forest: nearest firing lines
It is about 6 miles from Summer Hill State Forest to Cortland Field Archers, the closest range on the list.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Summer Hill State Forest shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Summer Hill State Forest 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 | 6:58 a.m. | 6:57 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:02 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:06 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:30 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:37 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:01 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. | 5:31 a.m. to 8:35 p.m. | 5:31 a.m. to 8:05 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.
Summer Hill State Forest in pictures
Summer Hill State Forest FAQ for 2026-27
Which WMU rules apply on Summer Hill State Forest?
WMU 7J; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Summer Hill State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Summer Hill State Forest?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
What are the spring turkey dates for Summer Hill State Forest?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at Summer Hill State Forest?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 7J.
How far is Summer Hill State Forest from a town?
Moravia (4.6 mi).
May I hang a stand for the season on Summer Hill State Forest?
Portable and labeled, never nailed or screwed in; remove it after the season.
What are the blaze orange rules at Summer Hill State Forest?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
What hours apply on Summer Hill State Forest?
Big game 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; migratory birds end at sunset.
Does New York allow Sunday hunting at Summer Hill State Forest?
Yes, unless the property says otherwise.
Can I hunt Summer Hill State Forest 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 Summer Hill State Forest?
Its size is 4,421 acres.
Summer Hill State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Summer Hill State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC summer hill 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: simonov (CC BY-SA 2.0); generalising (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).