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State forest · central New York
What hunters need to know about Tuller Hill State Forest
Rules, WMU 7R season dates, maps and neighbors for a state forest in Cortland County.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Tuller Hill State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Tuller Hill State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Hoxie Gorge Road ParkingParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Finger Lakes Trail – Babcock Hollow Road TrailheadParking · 5.1 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.
What Tuller Hill State Forest is
Tuller Hill State Forest is a DEC state forest in Cortland County. The DEC page names Virgil as the town it falls in. It is a Region 7 property, in central New York. Size: 2,498 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES). 81 others of the 409 state forests are larger. Management direction comes from the Virgil Mountain unit plan.
From DEC tuller 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 Tuller Hill State Forest
Tuller Hill State Forest hunting rules for 2026-27
The DEC rules for using state forest land, applied to Tuller Hill State Forest:
- Cutting or damaging trees on Tuller Hill State Forest is prohibited, which rules out screw-in steps and cleared lanes.
- A portable stand or blind that does not injure the tree may stay up during the season if it carries your name and address or license number, and it comes down when the season ends.
- Tuller Hill State Forest is not a place to leave equipment: cameras and gear go home with you.
- Keep trucks on the maintained roads; an ATV needs a designated trail.
- A camping permit applies when the stay or group size calls for it.
Statewide rules that follow you onto Tuller Hill State Forest
- In firearm deer and bear seasons, wear the required orange or pink above the waist.
- Setbacks from occupied buildings: firearm 500 feet, crossbow 250 feet, bow 150 feet.
- Do not hunt over bait; New York bans it for big game, turkey, upland birds and waterfowl.
- Sunday hunting is legal everywhere in New York unless a property rule says otherwise.
From DEC tuller hill state forest, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Tuller Hill State Forest, and when
This calendar is cut down to Tuller Hill State Forest: its WMU (7R), duck zone and goose area decide which of the 2026-27 rows appear.
| Game | Hunt | Unit or zone | From | To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 7R | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 7R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 7R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 7R | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 7R | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 7R | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 7R | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 7R | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7R | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7R | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 7R | 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 | 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 | 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 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 7R | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 7R | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 7R | 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.
Tuller Hill State Forest: WMU 7R numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 7R, 739 square miles in the Southern Zone covering parts of Tompkins, Tioga and Cortland. There is no cap on DMPs in 7R in 2026. The bear area for 7R is Southern Zone. Fall turkey in 7R: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7R | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 9.3% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Calculated deer take, 7R
In 2022, 7R produced 5,336 deer by DEC's estimate (5,023 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5,023 | 2,025 |
| 2017 | 4,322 | 1,891 |
| 2018 | 5,328 | 2,094 |
| 2019 | 4,851 | 2,203 |
| 2020 | 5,716 | 2,355 |
| 2021 | 4,863 | 2,086 |
| 2022 | 5,336 | 2,140 |
Bear harvest in 7R for 2025 was 4, or 0.5 per 100 square miles.
The bear objective DEC lists for 7R is to 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.
Maps and parking around Tuller Hill State Forest
DEC lists 1 parking or access point for Tuller Hill State Forest.
| Where to park | Link |
|---|---|
| Clute Road: 42.5307, -76.1331 | Get there |
Map in print form: Tuller Hill State Forest Map
Parking points and maps from DEC tuller hill state forest; checked October 27, 2026.
Tuller Hill State Forest and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Tuller Hill State Forest, starting with Hoxie Gorge State Forest. Combined: 14,995 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoxie Gorge | State forest | 2,118 | 7M | 2.6 mi | east |
| James Kennedy | State forest | 4,507 | 7R | 4.1 mi | southwest |
| Baker School House | State forest | 1,264 | 7M | 6.3 mi | northeast |
| Griggs Gulf | State forest | 2,344 | 7R | 7.7 mi | south |
| Papish Pond | Multiple use area | 191 | 7M | 8.6 mi | east |
| Dryden Lake | Multiple use area | 198 | 7R | 9.0 mi | southwest |
| Michigan Hill | State forest | 1,199 | 7R | 9.4 mi | southwest |
| Beaver Dam State Forest, | State forest | 1,151 | 7R | 9.6 mi | south |
| Gee Brook | State forest | 865 | 7M | 9.7 mi | east |
| Donahue Woods | State forest | 1,158 | 7M | 10 mi | northeast |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Tuller Hill State Forest
Virgil logged 321 deer in 2019; DEC stopped publishing town tables after that season.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks, 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil | Cortland | 267 | 348 | 237 | 337 | 321 | 125 |
Recent bear reports from the same towns: Virgil (2020) 1.
The 2025 deer take for Cortland County was 2,550.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,484 | 1,137 | 1,061 |
| 2022 | 2,963 | 1,343 | 1,194 |
| 2023 | 2,354 | 1,231 | 838 |
| 2024 | 2,631 | 1,387 | 942 |
| 2025 | 2,550 | 1,343 | 986 |
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.
Tuller Hill State Forest: nearby towns and services
Blodgett Mills sits 3.1 mi from Tuller Hill State Forest, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blodgett Mills | Cortland | 3.1 mi | – | 15,903 |
| Virgil | Cortland | 4.3 mi | – | 21,230 |
| McGraw | Cortland | 5.0 mi | 977 | 16,778 |
| Cortland | Cortland | 6.2 mi | 17,459 | 14,301 |
Open the county guide for Tuller Hill State Forest: Cortland County.
Tuller Hill State Forest: businesses close by
Cortland County is home to 3 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Tuller 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.
Tuller Hill State Forest and nearby events
NWTF chapter banquet and Whitetails Unlimited banquet: 2 upcoming events, on site or a few miles off.
Still ahead
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Whitetails Unlimited Cortland County Chapter Banquet · Whitetails Unlimited banquet | 6 | Cortland Country Music Park | Event details | Source |
| Feb 27, 2027 | Cortland Limbhangers NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 6 | Cortland | Get tickets | Source |
Tuller Hill State Forest: nearest firing lines
Skyline Pistol Club, Inc., 5 miles away, is the nearest range to Tuller Hill State Forest; check its access rule before going.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Tuller Hill State Forest: first and last legal light
The DEC guide prints sunrise and sunset for Albany only. The times here are worked out for the centre of Tuller Hill State Forest and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:56 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:00 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:27 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:26 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:34 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:00 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 5:30 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. | 5:30 a.m. to 8:02 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.
Tuller Hill State Forest in pictures
Tuller Hill State Forest questions, answered from the record
What is the bowhunting window on Tuller Hill State Forest?
Archery runs Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 to start.
When does turkey season open on Tuller Hill State Forest?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Tuller Hill State Forest?
WMU 7R is open for bears Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
How far is Tuller Hill State Forest from a town?
Blodgett Mills is 3.1 mi away.
Can I leave a tree stand on Tuller Hill State Forest?
Yes, a portable one that harms no tree, labeled with your name and address or license or DEC ID, removed at season end.
Does the orange law apply on Tuller Hill State Forest?
During firearm deer and bear hunting, for you and anyone with you.
When does legal light start at Tuller Hill State Forest?
Big game from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; ducks stop at sunset.
Is Tuller Hill State Forest closed on Sundays?
Not closed by state law; check any park rule.
Is Tuller Hill State Forest open to public hunting?
It is public DEC land: carry your hunting license and follow the season dates.
What does Tuller Hill State Forest measure?
The record lists 2,498 acres.
What zone and WMU is Tuller Hill State Forest?
The DEC WMU layer gives 7R (Southern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Tuller Hill State Forest?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 7R.
Tuller Hill State Forest: what to double-check
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Tuller Hill State Forest.
Sources: DEC tuller 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: generalising (CC BY-SA 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).