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What hunters need to know about Watson's East Triangle Complex
Rules, WMU 6J season dates, maps and neighbors for a forest preserve unit in Lewis County and 1 more.
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Watson’s East Triangle Complex
Parking, trailheads and gates near Watson’s East Triangle Complex
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 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 Watson's East Triangle Complex is
Watson's East Triangle Complex is a Forest Preserve complex or unit in Herkimer and Lewis counties. The DEC page names Webb, Croghan, Watson and Diana as the towns it falls in. It is a Region 6 property, in the western Adirondacks, Tug Hill and the St. Lawrence Valley. Size: 13,461 acres (DEC Lands layer ACRES). 5 others of the 11 Forest Preserve units are larger. DEC's own page says 43,000 acres. Management direction comes from the Watson East Triangle unit plan.
From the DEC page for Watson's East Triangle Complex: Hunting is allowed in accordance with DEC rules and regulations. White-tailed deer and black bear are commonly found here. Fur-bearers include beaver, coyote, fisher, otter, red fox and bobcat. Pine marten have also recently become established in the general area.
Check note: Acreage conflict: DEC page text says 43,000 acres; DEC Lands layer 13,461 acres (layer value used; the page may describe a larger complex or an older boundary).
From DEC watsons east triangle complex; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Watson’s East Triangle Complex
Watson's East Triangle Complex hunting rules for 2026-27
Forest Preserve land such as Watson's East Triangle Complex follows 6 NYCRR Part 190:
- Hunting and trapping are allowed on Watson's East Triangle Complex during open seasons unless an area is posted.
- On Watson's East Triangle Complex a saw, a nail or a screw-in step all break the Part 190 rules.
- Tents go 150 feet or more from any road, trail or water, except at designated sites.
Open for recreation: Generally year-round; please see
Statewide rules that follow you onto Watson's East Triangle Complex
- 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 watsons east triangle complex, DEC state land use rules, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Watson's East Triangle Complex, and when
This calendar is cut down to Watson's East Triangle Complex: its WMU (6J), duck zone and goose area decide which of the 2026-27 rows appear.
| Game | Hunt | Unit or zone | From | To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 6J | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 6J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading | WMU 6J | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 6J | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | WMU 6J | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 6J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 6J | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 6J | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 6J | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 6J | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 6J | 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 | WMU 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 6J | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 6J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 6J | 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.
Watson's East Triangle Complex: WMU 6J numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 6J, 1,576 square miles in the Northern Zone covering parts of Lewis, Herkimer and Hamilton. By law no DMPs are issued in 6J, an Adirondack unit. The bear area for 6J is Adirondacks. Fall turkey in 6J: Oct. 1-14.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6J | Northern | Not authorized by law | NA | – | No | All | Adirondacks | Oct. 1-14 |
Calculated deer take, 6J
In 2022, 6J produced 1,304 deer by DEC's estimate (1,007 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,007 | 901 |
| 2017 | 1,034 | 965 |
| 2018 | 1,065 | 972 |
| 2019 | 1,099 | 1,005 |
| 2020 | 1,051 | 907 |
| 2021 | 1,028 | 846 |
| 2022 | 1,304 | 1,075 |
Bear harvest in 6J for 2025 was 91, or 5.8 per 100 square miles.
The bear objective DEC lists for 6J is to maintain moderate 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.
Watson's East Triangle Complex game species
Expect white-tailed deer, black bear, coyote and furbearers on Watson's East Triangle Complex.
Species from DEC watsons east triangle complex; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Maps and parking around Watson's East Triangle Complex
DEC lists 15 parking or access points for Watson's East Triangle Complex.
| Where to park | Link |
|---|---|
| Pepperbox Wilderness: 43.9946, -75.1793 | Get there |
| leading to accessible features at Buck Pond: 43.9956, -75.0619 | Get there |
| is located on the Main Haul Road: 43.9498, -75.1653 | Get there |
| Pepperbox Wilderness: 43.9430, -75.1594 | Get there |
| Pepperbox Wilderness: 43.9606, -75.1532 | Get there |
| 4 car capacity: 43.9801, -75.2161 | Get there |
| 2 car capacity: 43.9771, -75.2322 | Get there |
| 2 car capacity (1 accessible: 44.0703, -75.1542 | Get there |
| Entrance to the Oswegatchie CE provides access to the middle of the easement. There is no designated parking: 44.0464, -75.2102 | Get there |
| Entrance to the Oswegatchie CE provides access to the southern part of the easement. There is no designated parking: 44.0014, -75.1684 | Get there |
| is located on Clear Pond Road off of Long Pond Road: 43.9824, -75.2255 | Get there |
| on Bald Mountain Road: 43.9940, -75.2008 | Get there |
| on the south side of the pond off of Prentice Road: 43.9757, -75.1962 | Get there |
| off Long Pond Road, on north end of Mud Pond – 5 car capacity: 43.9804, -75.2159 | Get there |
Map in print form: Watson's East Triangle Wild Forest Map · Croghan Tract Conservation Easement Map · Oswegatchie Conservation Easement Map
Parking points and maps from DEC watsons east triangle complex; checked October 27, 2026.
Watson's East Triangle Complex and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Watson's East Triangle Complex, starting with Aldrich Pond Wild Forest. Combined: 215,025 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldrich Pond | Wild forest | 26,586 | 6J | 6.2 mi | north |
| Five Ponds and Pepperbox | Wilderness | 157,632 | 6J | 8.9 mi | east |
| Balsam Creek | State forest | 561 | 6J | 9.3 mi | southwest |
| Stillwater Reservoir | DEC state land | 6,700 | 6J | 10 mi | southeast |
| Frank E. Jadwin Memorial | State forest | 20,550 | 6C, 6J | 11 mi | west |
| Diana | Detached parcel | 461 | 6C, 6J | 11 mi | northwest |
| Pitcairn | Detached parcel | 174 | 6C, 6J | 12 mi | northwest |
| Greenwood Creek | State forest | 1,022 | 6J | 13 mi | north |
| Hogsback | State forest | 630 | 6C | 15 mi | west |
| Toothaker Creek | State forest | 709 | 6C | 15 mi | northwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Watson's East Triangle Complex
Webb logged 133 deer in 2019; DEC stopped publishing town tables after that season.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks, 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webb | Herkimer | 136 | 133 | 171 | 145 | 133 | 127 |
| Croghan | Lewis | 287 | 408 | 379 | 441 | 434 | 308 |
| Watson | Lewis | 161 | 135 | 106 | 160 | 191 | 155 |
| Diana | Lewis | 107 | 157 | 123 | 190 | 164 | 138 |
Recent bear reports from the same towns: Webb (2020) 6, Webb (2021) 6, Webb (2022) 8, Croghan (2020) 30, Croghan (2021) 15, Croghan (2022) 21.
The 2025 deer take for Lewis County was 3,638.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Watson's East Triangle Complex: nearby towns and services
Star Lake sits 11 mi from Watson's East Triangle Complex, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Lake | St. Lawrence | 11 mi | – | 90,185 |
| Croghan | Lewis | 16 mi | 640 | 19,330 |
| Cranberry Lake | St. Lawrence | 17 mi | – | 94,643 |
| Natural Bridge | Jefferson | 19 mi | – | 27,229 |
Open the county guide for Watson's East Triangle Complex: Herkimer County, Lewis County.
Watson's East Triangle Complex: businesses close by
Lewis County is home to 10 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Watson's East Triangle Complex: 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.
Watson's East Triangle Complex: nearest firing lines
Beaver River Fish and Game Club, 13 miles away, is the nearest range to Watson's East Triangle Complex; check its access rule before going.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Watson's East Triangle Complex: 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 Watson's East Triangle Complex and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Watson's East Triangle Complex in pictures
Watson's East Triangle Complex questions, answered from the record
What is the bowhunting window on Watson's East Triangle Complex?
Archery runs Sep 27 to Oct 23, 2026 to start.
Does Watson's East Triangle Complex have Deer Management Permits?
No DMPs exist for 6J.
What species go with Watson's East Triangle Complex?
You will find white-tailed deer, black bear, coyote and furbearers on the list.
When does turkey season open on Watson's East Triangle Complex?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Watson's East Triangle Complex?
WMU 6J is open for bears Sep 19 to Dec 6, 2026.
How far is Watson's East Triangle Complex from a town?
Star Lake is 11 mi away.
Can I leave a tree stand on Watson's East Triangle Complex?
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 Watson's East Triangle Complex?
During firearm deer and bear hunting, for you and anyone with you.
Is Watson's East Triangle Complex open to public hunting?
It is public DEC land: carry your hunting license and follow the season dates.
What does Watson's East Triangle Complex measure?
The record lists 13,461 acres.
What zone and WMU is Watson's East Triangle Complex?
The DEC WMU layer gives 6J (Northern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Watson's East Triangle Complex?
Oct 24 to Dec 6, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 6J.
Watson's East Triangle Complex: what to double-check
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Watson's East Triangle Complex.
Sources: DEC watsons east triangle complex · 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. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); cazalegg (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0).