Home › New York › Public land › Texas School House State Forest
State forest · 2026-27
Texas School House State Forest hunting rules, seasons and access
State forest of 1,252 acres in Otsego County, hunted under WMU 4F dates, for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse.
Photo: ldifranza (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Texas School House State Forest
Texas School House State Forest at a glance
Hunters find Texas School House State Forest, a DEC state forest, in Otsego County. DEC places it in the town of New Lisbon. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 4, which spans the Capital District and northern Catskills. The acreage used here is 1,252, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 191 by size out of 409 state forests. DEC plans it under the Leatherstocking unit management plan.
Hunting section, quoted: Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbits, squirrels, and coyotes.
From DEC texas school house state forest; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Texas School House State Forest
Texas School House State Forest: access and site rules
These state land rules from DEC cover Texas School House State Forest:
- Trees on Texas School House 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 Texas School House 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 Texas School House 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 Texas School House 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 texas school house state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Texas School House State Forest: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Texas School House State Forest (4F); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4F | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4F | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4F | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4F | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4F | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4F | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4F | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4F | 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 | East Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| 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 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4F | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4F | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4F | 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.
Texas School House State Forest and WMU 4F: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Texas School House State Forest is WMU 4F ground (Southern Zone, 1,161 sq. mi. across Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware). The 2026 DMP target in 4F is 10,000, with 16.9% average success and high odds for a resident first permit. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4F | Southern | 10,000 | 16.9% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 4F deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 4F 7,002 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,790 | 4,112 |
| 2017 | 7,764 | 4,313 |
| 2018 | 8,042 | 4,136 |
| 2019 | 7,068 | 3,988 |
| 2020 | 7,683 | 3,822 |
| 2021 | 6,469 | 3,754 |
| 2022 | 7,002 | 3,680 |
Recent bear numbers for 4F: 2022: 0, 2023: 9, 2024: 17, 2025: 16.
Objective for bears in 4F: 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.
Texas School House State Forest: species list
Hunters come to Texas School House State Forest for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse above all.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ruffed grouse
Oct 1–Feb 28
Rabbit and hare
Oct 1–Feb 28
Squirrel
Sep 1–Feb 28
Coyote
Oct 1–Mar 28
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Species from DEC texas school house state forest; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Texas School House State Forest access points
The DEC directions name 1 place to leave a truck at Texas School House State Forest.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Lena Road: 42.6493, -75.1195 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Texas School House State Forest Map
Open Texas School House State Forest in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC texas school house state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Texas School House State Forest pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Texas School House State Forest and 10 neighbors; Gilbert Lake State Park sits 4.2 mi off. The tracts listed total 11,939 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert Lake | State park | 1,590 | 4F | 4.2 mi | south |
| Hartwick | State forest | 1,242 | 4F | 4.5 mi | north |
| Arnold Lake | State forest | 1,253 | 4F | 6.3 mi | southeast |
| Milford | State forest | 512 | 4F | 6.9 mi | southeast |
| Basswood Pond | State forest | 716 | 4F | 7.5 mi | north |
| Calhoun Creek | State forest | 723 | 4F | 9.7 mi | southwest |
| Susquehanna | State forest | 426 | 4F | 11 mi | southeast |
| Plainfield | State forest | 1,862 | 4F | 11 mi | north |
| Exeter | State forest | 1,966 | 4F | 12 mi | north |
| Wagner Farm and General | State forest | 1,649 | 4F | 12 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Texas School House State Forest
The town of New Lisbon, where Texas School House State Forest lies, produced 287 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Lisbon | Otsego | 210 | 264 | 287 | 336 | 287 | 178 |
DEC puts the 2025 Otsego County deer take at 4,668.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,519 | 3,178 | 1,941 |
| 2022 | 6,123 | 3,135 | 2,430 |
| 2023 | 4,989 | 2,909 | 1,681 |
| 2024 | 5,021 | 2,942 | 1,654 |
| 2025 | 4,668 | 2,648 | 1,583 |
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.
Texas School House State Forest: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Cooperstown, about 10 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooperstown | Otsego | 10 mi | 1,844 | 6,983 |
| South Edmeston | Otsego | 10 mi | – | 15,426 |
| Bridgewater | Oneida | 17 mi | – | 14,176 |
| Norwich | Chenango | 22 mi | 6,608 | 18,811 |
Season tables by county for Texas School House State Forest: Otsego County.
Texas School House State Forest: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 15 licensed guides in Otsego County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Texas School House 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.
Scheduled near Texas School House State Forest
1 upcoming event held on this property or within about 10 miles (NWTF chapter banquet). Checked October 27, 2026.
Next on the list
| Dates | What | Miles | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2027 | Otsego County Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 8 | Edmeston | Get tickets | Source |
Nearest public range for Texas School House State Forest hunters
Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range, 58 miles off, is the public range nearest Texas School House State Forest. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Texas School House 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 Texas School House State Forest.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:58 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:22 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:30 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:56 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:26 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:26 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.
Texas School House State Forest in pictures
Answers on Texas School House State Forest access and seasons
Which WMU rules apply on Texas School House State Forest?
Southern Zone, WMU 4F.
Is Texas School House State Forest a large property?
1,252 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Texas School House State Forest?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Texas School House State Forest?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
What game does the source list for Texas School House State Forest?
White-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbit and hare, squirrel and coyote.
Are antlerless permits issued for Texas School House State Forest?
Yes. DMPs are issued by WMU, and 4F gets 10,000 in 2026.
When is bear season at Texas School House State Forest?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 4F).
When is spring turkey season at Texas School House State Forest?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Can I use screw-in steps on Texas School House State Forest?
No screw-in steps or other hardware; a labeled portable stand may stay until season end.
How far is Texas School House State Forest from a town?
Cooperstown, about 10 mi away.
How does access work on Texas School House State Forest?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
Do I need orange or pink on Texas School House State Forest?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Texas School House State Forest: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Texas School House State Forest can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC texas school house 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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0).