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DEC Region 5 town
Witherbee, NY hunting base
How far Witherbee sits from state forests, WMAs and Forest Preserve land, which WMUs set the dates in Essex County, and where to take a deer.
Photo: Public ground 6.6 mi from Witherbee, High Peaks Wilderness Complex (nearby stand-in). drsmith7383 (CC BY 2.0)
Witherbee is a hamlet (a Census-designated place) in Essex County, whose seat is Elizabethtown. Witherbee made the list as the base for Giant Mountain Wilderness, whose closest line lies 7 miles out. 5 public tracts come within 10 miles, together about 47,851 acres. For the shortest drive, start with Hammond Pond Wild Forest, its nearest boundary 1 mile out.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 miles are a GIS measure over DEC Lands, Finger Lakes National Forest and USFWS boundaries (places.json). Closed areas from the guide closed big game areas. Checked October 27, 2026.
Witherbee state land ranked by miles
Ground that reaches the 10-mile ring around Witherbee comes first. A base-area tag marks the tract this town was chosen for.
The largest tract touching the ring is High Peaks Wilderness Complex at 275,351 acres. Hammond Pond Wild Forest brings Forest Preserve hunting within easy reach of Witherbee. State forests and multiple use areas nearby: Dix Mountain Tract.
| Land | Kind | Managed by | WMU | Boundary | Middle | Acreage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond Pond Wild Forest 1.3 mi SW | Wild forest | DEC | 5G, 5F | 1.3 mi | 9.0 mi | 46,850 | Pheasants stocked |
| Dix Mountain Tract 6.6 mi W | DEC state land | DEC | 5F | 6.6 mi | 6.5 mi | 45,208 | – |
| Giant Mountain Wilderness 6.6 mi NW Base area | Wilderness | DEC | 5F | 6.6 mi | 10.0 mi | 23,753 | – |
| High Peaks Wilderness Complex 6.6 mi W | Wilderness | DEC | – | 6.6 mi | 25 mi | 275,351 | – |
| Taylor Pond Wild Forest 9.9 mi NW | Wild forest | DEC | – | 9.9 mi | 37 mi | 39,698 | deer, bear |
| Putts Creek Wildlife Management Area 10 mi SE | WMA | DEC | 5G | outside ring | 10 mi | 112 | Waterfowl area |
| Split Rock Mountain Wild Forest 14 mi NE | Wild forest | DEC | 5G | outside ring | 14 mi | 3,542 | Pheasants stocked |
| Hurricane Mountain Wilderness 15 mi NW | Wilderness | DEC | – | outside ring | 15 mi | 14,235 | – |
| Jay Mountain Wilderness 17 mi NW | Wilderness | DEC | 5F | outside ring | 17 mi | 7,864 | – |
| Pharaoh Lake Wilderness 19 mi S | Wilderness | DEC | 5G | outside ring | 19 mi | 46,814 | deer, bear |
Parking and rules near Witherbee
- Hammond Pond Wild Forest (1.3 mi). It lies in the towns of Crown Point, Elizabethtown, Horicon, Keene, Moriah, North Hudson, Schroon, Ticonderoga, and Westport, Essex County. DEC gives 16 parking locations and 2 property maps for planning. DEC notes: “Hunters may obtain camping permits for the full hunting season from the local Forest Ranger .”
- Dix Mountain Tract (6.6 mi). Look for it in the towns of Keene, North Hudson & Elizabethtown, Essex County. The DEC page lists 14 parking areas and 14 maps.
- Giant Mountain Wilderness (6.6 mi). Its DEC page puts it in the towns of Elizabethtown and Keene, Essex County. Parking areas listed: 11; maps: 7.
Lands, acreage, WMUs and access from DEC property pages, the DEC WMU layer, NYS Parks, NYC DEP and federal pages (lands.json); boundary distances inside 10 miles from places.json; center distances are straight lines from the Census point for Witherbee. Checked October 27, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Opening and closing days around Witherbee
Waterfowl rows follow the duck zones and goose areas that DEC maps across Witherbee; upland and big game rows follow WMUs 5F, 5G, 5H and 5C.
| Game | Segment | WMU or zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | All WMUs here | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | All WMUs here | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloading (deer of either sex) | All WMUs here | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | All WMUs here | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 5G | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 5G | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season (Adirondacks) | All WMUs here | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | All WMUs here | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | All WMUs here | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | All WMUs here | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | All WMUs here | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Lake Champlain Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Southeastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Lake Champlain Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 27, 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 | Southeastern Zone | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Lake Champlain Zone | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Lake Champlain goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Northeast goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Lake Champlain goose area | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 23, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Northeast goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Lake Champlain goose area | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 4, 2027 | |
| 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 | Lake Champlain Zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Feb 26, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Lake Champlain Zone | Feb 26, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Northeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Lake Champlain Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Lake Champlain Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Northeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Muskrat | Hunting (Lake Champlain only) | Lake Champlain | Nov 1, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | |
| Snapping turtle | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Frogs | Hunting | Statewide | Jun 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
From the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation), WMU lists as printed, checked October 27, 2026.
Witherbee big game units, dates and permits
Season dates around Witherbee follow WMU lines, not county lines; 5F, 5G, 5H and 5C cover Essex County. Most hunts from Witherbee start in WMU 5G, home to Hammond Pond Wild Forest. Do not plan on a DMP in 5F, 5G, 5H and 5C; none are issued there. Earn-a-2nd-Buck starts in 2026: report an antlerless deer on a DMP, Bow/Muzz or DMAP tag and DEC issues another buck tag. For waterfowl, Essex County uses the Northeastern, Lake Champlain and Southeastern duck zones and the Northeast, Lake Champlain and South goose areas.
| Unit | County share | Zone | Archery | Regular | Muzzleloader | Bear dates | Fall turkey | DMPs | Odds | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5F | 49% | Northern | Sept 27–Oct 23 | Oct 24–Dec 6 | Oct 17–Oct 23 | Sept 19–Dec 6 | Oct. 1-14 | None by law | NA | – |
| 5G Local | 33% | Northern | Sept 27–Oct 23 | Oct 24–Dec 6 | Oct 17–Oct 23 Dec 7–Dec 13 | Sept 19–Dec 6 | Oct. 1-14 | None by law | NA | – |
| 5H | 16% | Northern | Sept 27–Oct 23 | Oct 24–Dec 6 | Oct 17–Oct 23 | Sept 19–Dec 6 | Oct. 1-14 | None by law | NA | – |
| 5C | 2% | Northern | Sept 27–Oct 23 | Oct 24–Dec 6 | Oct 17–Oct 23 | Sept 19–Dec 6 | Oct. 1-14 | None by law | NA | – |
WMU shares and 2026-27 dates from the DEC WMU season layer (counties.json); DMP targets and odds from the DEC 2026 DMP table; antler, bowhunting-only and rifle rules from the 2026-27 guide; bear areas and fall turkey from the guide bear pages. Checked October 27, 2026.
Witherbee hunter services, nearest first
The table counts each trade inside 15 and 35 miles of Witherbee and shows the closest few businesses below it. Donated deer go to Rozell Deer Processing, the nearest coalition processor (39 mi).
| Category | Count, 15 mi | Count, 35 mi | First stop | How far | Located in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxidermy | 0 | 3 | Styx River Taxidermy | 23 mi NW | Jay |
| Gun and archery stores | 1 | 4 | Norm's Bait & Tackle | 7.7 mi SE | Crown Point |
| Clerks selling licenses | 6 | 23 | Town of Moriah | 4.6 mi SE | Port Henry |
Taxidermy
Gun and archery stores
Clerks selling licenses
Licensed hunting guides in Essex County: 20, per the DEC dataset. Licensed guide dataset
Processors from the DEC 2026 deer and bear processor list and Yellow Pages; bear cooperators from the DEC cooperating bear taxidermists and processors list; clerks from the DEC license issuing agents dataset; shops from Yellow Pages and store locators. Checked October 27, 2026; hours were not checked.
Witherbee deer and bear counts
Essex County deer take, 2025: 1,788 in all, 1,418 adult bucks. The record in this run is 1,864 deer, in 2022. WMU 5G take in 2022: 1,742 deer. DEC’s county bear tables show 35 bears for Essex County in 2022, the latest year with a Essex County row. The 2025 bear summary lists 43 for WMU 5G. Spring 2026: 605 turkeys in the Champlain Valley and Transition group of units.
| Year | Deer taken | Bucks | Does | Fawns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,559 | 1,302 | 203 | 54 |
| 2024 | 1,524 | 1,251 | 247 | 26 |
| 2025 | 1,788 | 1,418 | 275 | 95 |
Deer take from DEC deer reports (latest county table); bear from the DEC bear take by town and county and the 2025 bear harvest summary; spring turkey from the DEC turkey WMU aggregate layer. Figures are DEC calculated take, printed as DEC labels them. Checked October 27, 2026.
Witherbee shooters: nearest ranges
Fort Ticonderogoa Muzzle is the closest, about 19 miles from Witherbee.
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 27, 2026.
Witherbee DEC contacts
The two DEC offices closest to Witherbee, straight-line miles. Call ahead; offices close on state holidays.
NYSDEC Region 5 Headquarters (Ray Brook), 30 mi away
NYSDEC Region 5 Warrensburg Sub-Office, 42 mi south
From the DEC statewide office list (services.json; Region 9 phones from the DEC permit administrators page), checked October 27, 2026.
Witherbee sunrise, sunset and shooting time
Sun times below are calculated for Witherbee; the game column adds the big game half hour and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:46 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:16 a.m.–7:16 p.m. | 6:16 a.m.–6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:51 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:21 a.m.–7:08 p.m. | 6:21 a.m.–6:38 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:20 a.m. | 5:59 p.m. | 6:50 a.m.–6:29 p.m. | 6:50 a.m.–5:59 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:58 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:28 a.m.–4:55 p.m. | 6:28 a.m.–4:25 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:22 a.m. | 4:17 p.m. | 6:52 a.m.–4:47 p.m. | 6:52 a.m.–4:17 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:30 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 7:00 a.m.–4:56 p.m. | 7:00 a.m.–4:26 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:48 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 5:18 a.m.–8:27 p.m. | 5:18 a.m.–7:57 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.
Witherbee hunters ask
What are the DMP odds in WMU 5G?
State law allows no DMPs in WMU 5G.
Is bear hunting open near Witherbee?
Bear hunting in WMU 5G falls under the Adirondacks area, with the regular season Sept. 19 – Dec. 6.
When is fall turkey season near Witherbee?
In the fall, 5G is Oct. 1-14. Spring hunting starts May 1 and stops at noon each day.
How do Witherbee hunters report a deer, bear or turkey?
Deer, bear and turkey all must be reported; e-tag users report at once, paper tag users within 48 hours, by app, online or phone.
Are Sundays open for hunting near Witherbee?
Sunday is a regular hunting day across the state.
What must Witherbee gun hunters wear?
Firearm deer and bear hunters need 250 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink, visible from all sides, or an orange or pink hat.
How do I get a New York hunting license near Witherbee?
Buy online or by phone, or at a clerk or agent. Town of Moriah sells them, 4.6 mi away.
Can a deer from near Witherbee be processed locally?
Closest is Rozell Deer Processing (Whitehall). The 35-mile circle around Witherbee holds 0 processors in all.
Do I need to test deer from Essex County for CWD?
There is no CWD containment area in 2026. Feeding deer is banned year-round and out-of-state carcasses must be processed before entry.
What is the discharge setback around Witherbee?
Firearms may not be discharged within 500 feet of a dwelling, school, playground or church without consent; crossbows 250 feet and bows 150 feet.
What public hunting land sits nearest Witherbee, NY?
On the DEC and federal list, Hammond Pond Wild Forest, its nearest boundary 1 mile out comes first. Hunters wanting a backup can try Dix Mountain Tract, the next tract out.
What does the 10-mile acreage come to for Witherbee?
Mapped public land inside 10 miles adds up to about 47,851 acres on 5 tracts.
When can bowhunters start near Witherbee?
Bows open Sept. 27 – Oct. 23 and guns Oct. 24 – Dec. 6 in WMU 5G. Dates differ in 5F, 5H and 5C.
Answers drawn from the sources in each section above; reporting from the guide reporting page; orange and Sunday rules from the guide big game page; setbacks from ECL 11-0931; CWD from DEC CWD page. Checked October 27, 2026.
Ready to leave Witherbee for state land?
DEC can change rules between guides. Re-check the Essex County page and HuntFishNY before the trip.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Bobolink (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public domain); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).