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State forest · WMU 6K
Tug Hill State Forest for hunters
Everything we could verify about this state forest in Lewis County and 1 more (12,268 acres).
Photo: philmofresh (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Tug Hill State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Tug Hill State Forest
- Tug Hill State ForestParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.7 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 Tug Hill State Forest
Tug Hill State Forest counts as a DEC state forest; its ground is in Jefferson and Lewis counties. It reaches into Rodman, Worth and Pinckney, per the DEC page. DEC handles it from Region 6, the office for the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley. Recorded size: 12,268 acres, from DEC Lands layer ACRES. By acres it places 4th among 409 state forests. The Tug Hill North plan covers it.
DEC page text: Wildlife Management Units : 6G, 6K and 6N
From DEC tug 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 Tug Hill State Forest
Tug Hill State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Tug Hill State Forest, starting with Sears Pond State Forest. Together they add 47,384 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sears Pond | State forest | 5,723 | 6N | 2.9 mi | southeast |
| Granger | State forest | 737 | 6K | 4.0 mi | north |
| Lookout | State forest | 3,983 | 6K | 4.8 mi | northeast |
| Grant Powell | State forest | 8,337 | 6N | 6.5 mi | east |
| Gould Corners | State forest | 2,065 | 6K | 6.7 mi | west |
| Pinckney | State forest | 2,100 | 6K | 6.9 mi | north |
| Cobb Creek | State forest | 2,203 | 6K | 7.4 mi | northeast |
| Little John | WMA | 7,921 | 6K, 6N | 7.4 mi | southwest |
| Tug Hill | WMA | 5,081 | 6N | 8.5 mi | southeast |
| Winona | State forest | 9,234 | 6K, 6N | 10 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Tug Hill State Forest
Tug Hill State Forest follows the rules DEC sets for state forest land:
- Leave every tree on Tug Hill State Forest as you found it: hardware, trimmed lanes and built blinds are not allowed.
- Seasonal stands on Tug Hill State Forest need an ID tag (name and address or license number) and must be pulled when the season closes.
- Storing personal items on Tug Hill State Forest is not allowed; trail cameras count.
- Off-road driving is not allowed on Tug Hill State Forest unless a route is designated, and that covers ATVs.
- Overnight camps follow the state land permit rules.
Also on file: Wildlife Management Units : 6G, 6K and 6N DEC State Forest rules (DEC Places to Hunt page): no cutting or injuring trees (no permanent stands, natural blinds, shooting lanes or hardware in trees); tree stands/blinds that do not injure trees and are tagged with the owner's name and address or hunting license number may be placed during the season but must be removed at season end; no storing personal property (incl. trail cameras); no motor vehicles off maintained roads or ATVs unless designated; camping permit when required.
Beyond the site rules: state law on Tug Hill State Forest
- The orange-or-pink rule covers firearm deer and bear hunters and their companions.
- Boundary houses matter: no gun discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling without consent.
- Bait piles and mineral blocks are not allowed for deer or bear.
- State law no longer limits Sunday hunting anywhere.
From DEC tug hill state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Tug Hill State Forest
Tug Hill State Forest lies in WMU 6K (and 6N and 6G), a Northern Zone unit of 1,161 square miles reaching Oneida, Oswego and Lewis. Antlerless permits: 6,500 DMPs targeted for 6K in 2026, 18.0% average success, resident first-permit chance med. 6K bear hunting: Western Periphery. 6K fall turkey: Oct. 1-14.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6K | Northern | 6,500 | 18.0% | med | No | All | Western Periphery | Oct. 1-14 |
| 6N | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Western Periphery | Oct. 1-14 |
| 6G | Northern | 21,000 | 12.8% | high | No | All | Western Periphery | Oct. 1-14 |
Deer reported from 6K
DEC calculated 5,072 deer taken in 6K in 2022, against 3,960 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,960 | 2,358 |
| 2017 | 3,580 | 2,248 |
| 2018 | 4,271 | 2,530 |
| 2019 | 4,483 | 2,968 |
| 2020 | 5,300 | 2,854 |
| 2021 | 4,613 | 2,974 |
| 2022 | 5,072 | 2,892 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 6K with 13 (2023), 17 (2024), 18 (2025).
Bear management goal in 6K: 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.
Tug Hill State Forest season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 6K, 6N, 6G and the waterfowl zones over Tug Hill State Forest are listed: 48 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6N | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMUs 6G, 6K | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 6G | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 6G | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 19, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Muzzleloading | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Western Periphery) | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | 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 | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N | 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.
Tug Hill State Forest: lots, pull-offs and map files
Map on file: Tug Hill State Forest Map – North · Tug Hill State Forest Map – South · View a map of ski trails in Tug Hill State Forest
Accessibility on the DEC page: From the Williams Road Trailhead Parking Area , wheelchair accessible features include the: Hiking trail to viewing area The John Link Trail to the Gulf Stream canyon is 0.3 mile one way with a gentle grade (max. slope 10%), wide tread (max. width 3 feet), and firm compacted stone surface.
Parking points and maps from DEC tug hill state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Tug Hill State Forest
Town-level numbers for Tug Hill State Forest: Rodman gave up 432 deer in 2019 (272 adult bucks).
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodman | Jefferson | 322 | 457 | 347 | 379 | 432 | 272 |
| Worth | Jefferson | 70 | 83 | 73 | 65 | 63 | 51 |
| Pinckney | Lewis | 129 | 31 | 27 | 138 | 158 | 119 |
By town, bears taken: 1 in Worth in 2022; 2 in Pinckney in 2020; 1 in Pinckney in 2021.
County-wide, Lewis produced 3,638 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,399 | 2,324 | 927 |
| 2022 | 3,709 | 2,453 | 959 |
| 2023 | 3,541 | 2,393 | 843 |
| 2024 | 3,705 | 2,484 | 1,032 |
| 2025 | 3,638 | 2,244 | 1,097 |
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.
Tug Hill State Forest: first and last legal light
Deer and bear may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese close at sunset, and small game runs sunrise to sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:53 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:28 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:36 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:55 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 5:25 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.
Tug Hill State Forest trip planning
The quickest town stop is Lorraine (7.5 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorraine | Jefferson | 7.5 mi | – | 34,980 |
| Copenhagen | Lewis | 10 mi | 660 | 21,231 |
| Watertown | Jefferson | 15 mi | 24,038 | 10,230 |
| Lowville | Lewis | 16 mi | 3,336 | 16,235 |
Read Tug Hill State Forest alongside its county page: Jefferson County, Lewis County.
Tug Hill State Forest: businesses close by
DEC lists 10 licensed guides with an address in Lewis County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Tug Hill State Forest: the nearest DEC offices
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.
Tug Hill State Forest: nearest firing lines
The three listed ranges closest to Tug Hill State Forest follow; Watertown Sportsmen Inc leads at 12 miles.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Tug Hill State Forest in pictures
Tug Hill State Forest questions, answered from the record
When does archery open near Tug Hill State Forest?
WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N: Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Tug Hill State Forest?
Regular Season: Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 (WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N).
What are the spring turkey dates for Tug Hill State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
How likely is a DMP for Tug Hill State Forest?
Resident first DMP odds in 6K: med; average success 18.0%.
How far is Tug Hill State Forest from a town?
Lorraine, 7.5 mi straight-line.
What bear season covers Tug Hill State Forest?
Bear season runs Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 in WMUs 6G, 6K, 6N.
Is fluorescent pink legal at Tug Hill State Forest?
Yes, pink counts the same as orange for the firearm deer and bear rule.
How do stands work on Tug Hill State Forest?
A tagged portable stand is fine for the season; nothing permanent.
Who may hunt Tug Hill State Forest?
Any licensed hunter may use it during open seasons; no extra permit is listed.
What are legal shooting hours on Tug Hill State Forest?
Deer and bear: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; small game sunrise to sunset.
What zone and WMU is Tug Hill State Forest?
It is 6K ground, Northern Zone, with 6N, 6G at the edges.
What does Tug Hill State Forest measure?
12,268 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES).
Tug Hill State Forest: confirm these before you go
Print the Tug Hill State Forest map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: DEC tug 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: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Fyn Kynd (CC BY 2.0).