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New York state park
Wonder Lake State Park for hunters
Public hunting ground in Putnam County: access rules, WMU 3G seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: Skellig2008 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Wonder Lake State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Wonder Lake State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- I-84 Exit 61 Park & RideParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- I-84 Exit 58 (Old Exit 17) Ludingtonville Rd Park & RideParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Pawling Trailhead Accessible ParkingParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Pawling TrailheadParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 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.
Wonder Lake State Park at a glance
The records class Wonder Lake State Park as a state park with a hunting program in Putnam County. Regional staff for the lower Hudson Valley (Region 3) look after it. The managing agency is the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Its 1,188 acres come from NY State Parks Property layer. That ranks 32nd of the 83 state parks on our New York list.
From NYS Parks wonder lake state park; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Wonder Lake State Park
Open seasons on Wonder Lake State Park this year
48 dated seasons for 33 species reach Wonder Lake State Park, matched to WMU 3G, the Southeastern duck zone and the South goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 3G | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 3G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 3G | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 3G | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 3G | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 3G | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 3G | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 3G | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 3G | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 3G | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 3G | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 3G | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 3G | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 3G | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 3G | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 3G | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 3G | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Hunting | Orange and Putnam | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 3G | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3G | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3G | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3G | 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 | 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 | 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 3G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 3G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 3G | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 3G | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 3G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 3G | 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.
Wonder Lake State Park: access and site rules
Park hunting on Wonder Lake State Park runs under the OPRHP statewide hunting rules (6 NYCRR 372.7(q)):
- A NYS Parks regional hunting permit for this park is required, and only the designated hunting areas are open.
- Species, hunting areas, legal implements and dates all come from the permit.
- Tree damage, permanent blinds and permanent stands are all off limits.
- Respect posted Restricted Areas and answer park harvest requests.
Rules from the state guide, on Wonder Lake State Park
- 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 NYS Parks wonder lake state park, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Wonder Lake State Park: what the park permit covers
Species and implements mapped for the hunting areas of Wonder Lake State Park:
| Quarry | Implements |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery, Crossbow |
| Turkey (spring) | Archery, Crossbow, Shotgun |
Park layer remarks on Wonder Lake State Park
- Big game deer hunting is archery, and crossbow only. Spring Turkey hunting is shotgun, archery, and crossbow only. No small game rabbits, and no waterfowl hunting. Contact park office for additional information.
Park page text: Whether you enjoy hiking, fishing, birding or hunting, Wonder Lake has it all.
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Wonder Lake State Park
Paper map to print: Hunting Map
Parking points and maps from NYS Parks wonder lake state park; checked October 27, 2026.
Wonder Lake State Park: species list
Game listed for Wonder Lake State Park: white-tailed deer and wild turkey.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Species from NYS Parks wonder lake state park; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Wonder Lake State Park
3G is the Wildlife Management Unit over Wonder Lake State Park; it covers 457 square miles in Dutchess and Putnam. 3G gets 5,200 DMPs in 2026. Hunters fill about 6.9% of them, and first-choice resident odds are high. For bears, 3G falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 3G: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3G | Southern | 5,200 | 6.9% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
3G deer numbers
Deer take in 3G: 1,178 in 2016, 1,125 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,178 | 706 |
| 2017 | 1,130 | 704 |
| 2018 | 1,284 | 815 |
| 2019 | 1,326 | 878 |
| 2020 | 1,673 | 825 |
| 2021 | 1,138 | 670 |
| 2022 | 1,125 | 668 |
Bears taken in 3G: 14 in 2020, 25 in 2021, 10 in 2022, 18 in 2023, 17 in 2024, 18 in 2025.
DEC's bear objective for 3G: 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.
Wonder Lake State Park and the public land around it
Wonder Lake State Park gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Great Swamp WMA, 2.6 mi east. The listed neighbors hold 3,743 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Swamp | WMA | 560 | 3G | 2.6 mi | east |
| Horse Pound Brook | Watershed unit | 1,029 | 3N | 2.6 mi | west |
| North Putnam | Watershed unit | 32 | 3N | 3.2 mi | west |
| Dean Pond | Watershed unit | 199 | 3N | 3.2 mi | southwest |
| Big Buck Mountain | Multiple use area | 181 | 3N | 3.4 mi | west |
| Adams | Watershed unit | 176 | 3N | 3.7 mi | southwest |
| White Pond | Multiple use area | 263 | 3N | 4.0 mi | west |
| White Pond | Watershed unit | 197 | 3N | 4.3 mi | west |
| Nimham Mountain | Multiple use area | 1,020 | 3N | 4.5 mi | southwest |
| Mount Nimham | Watershed unit | 86 | 3N | 4.5 mi | southwest |
Points: NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer (hunting-area polygons) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Wonder Lake State Park trip planning
From Wonder Lake State Park, Lake Carmel is 2.2 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Carmel | Putnam | 2.2 mi | – | 4,976 |
| Putnam Lake | Putnam | 5.2 mi | – | 4,017 |
| Carmel | Putnam | 6.5 mi | – | 4,139 |
| Wingdale | Dutchess | 11 mi | – | 3,034 |
The county guide covering Wonder Lake State Park: Putnam County.
Wonder Lake State Park: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Putnam County: 4, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Wonder Lake State Park
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 Wonder Lake State Park
Putnam County as a whole recorded 524 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 460 | 295 | 144 |
| 2022 | 588 | 333 | 210 |
| 2023 | 444 | 293 | 129 |
| 2024 | 509 | 330 | 143 |
| 2025 | 524 | 342 | 144 |
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.
Nearest public range for Wonder Lake State Park hunters
Coyne Park Rifle and Pistol Range is the nearest public range to Wonder Lake State Park, about 42 miles away. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Wonder Lake State Park shooting hours by key date
Big game legal light at Wonder Lake State Park 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 | 6:46 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:02 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:50 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:13 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:21 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:53 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 8:21 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 7:51 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.
Wonder Lake State Park in pictures
Wonder Lake State Park FAQ for 2026-27
Which WMU rules apply on Wonder Lake State Park?
WMU 3G; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Wonder Lake State Park?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Wonder Lake State Park?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
What is the 2026 DMP target for Wonder Lake State Park?
3G target: 5,200 DMPs.
Which animals are named for Wonder Lake State Park?
The list names white-tailed deer and wild turkey.
What are the spring turkey dates for Wonder Lake State Park?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at Wonder Lake State Park?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 3G.
How far is Wonder Lake State Park from a town?
Lake Carmel (2.2 mi).
Where do I get the hunting permit for Wonder Lake State Park?
From the park office or the NYS Parks regional permit system; the permit sets areas, species, implements and dates.
What are the blaze orange rules at Wonder Lake State Park?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
Can I hunt Wonder Lake State Park with just a hunting license?
Through the park's hunting permit and only in designated areas.
What size do the sources give Wonder Lake State Park?
Its size is 1,188 acres.
Wonder Lake State Park: confirm these before you go
Print the Wonder Lake State Park map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: NYS Parks wonder lake state park · NYS Parks state parks · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · NYS Parks StatewideHuntingRegulationsinNYStatePa; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); OhLizz (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0).