The Migrants are coming!

[elmer fudge]

Good morning everyone. 

 

You have some NJ migrants heading your way for hunting season. Please don't shoot me when I cross the border. 

 

Anyways, I am planning a trip this fall to go deer hunting and camping in NY state. I used to spend a lot of time in Walton as a kid so im pretty familiar with bear spring and the west branch. I want to go up for a long weekend and camp out of a tent or my truck and do some deer hunting during the day. The issue im having is that I dont see alot of info on the legality of camping in state parks or forest. I know WMA is not allowed. 

 

Bear spring mentions on their website that camping is closed September 2nd. until may, So i assume there is no option for camping in Walton. Can anyone recommend any spots where its legal to camp and you can walk to WMA state park of forest to hunt? 

 

 

[mowin]

3 minutes ago, elmer fudge said:

Good morning everyone. 

 

You have some NJ migrants heading your way for hunting season. Please don't shoot me when I cross the border. 

 

Anyways, I am planning a trip this fall to go deer hunting and camping in NY state. I used to spend a lot of time in Walton as a kid so im pretty familiar with bear spring and the west branch. I want to go up for a long weekend and camp out of a tent or my truck and do some deer hunting during the day. The issue im having is that I dont see alot of info on the legality of camping in state parks or forest. I know WMA is not allowed. 

 

Bear spring mentions on their website that camping is closed September 2nd. until may, So i assume there is no option for camping in Walton. Can anyone recommend any spots where its legal to camp and you can walk to WMA state park of forest to hunt? 

 

 

I won't shoot, lol. 

Not familiar with those areas, but hopefully someone will chime in shortly.  Welcome to the site.. 

[blackbeltbill]

No Problem. I see every year- great numbers of New Jersey Hunters traveling just over the Border into Sterling Forest State Park as well as Stewart State Forest.

[broomeguy]

Hey Elmer, there are no wabbits in NY. 😀 Not familiar with that area but I'm sure someone will let you know. 

[NYRturkeycall]

Here's a start. I would definitely do some research on your own to know the regs.  Good luck.

https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/camping/state-land-rules#:~:text=Camping%20is%20prohibited%20within%20150,Ranger%20responsible%20for%20the%20area.

Backcountry Camping

Backcountry or primitive camping is allowed on Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondacks and Catskills as well as State Forest lands outside the Preserve. Backcountry camping is prohibited on Unique Areas, Wildlife Management Areas and a few other categories of state land.

For information on DEC's 52 campgrounds in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, visit DEC Campground Information.

190.6 Open camps.

(a) Open camps (lean-tos) may not be occupied by the same person or persons for more than three successive nights or for more than 10 nights in any one calendar year, provided others wish to use such camps.

(b) The enclosure of the fronts of open camps is prohibited, except by tying canvas or nylon tarpaulins in place or erecting snow walls. The use of wood, nails, screws or other fasteners is prohibited.

(c) The erection of tents in open camps is prohibited.

6 CRR-NY 190.6

Current through October 15, 2021

[virgil]

I think there are a few campgrounds in the Roscoe area. 

[crappyice]

Check out Russell Brook. First place I ever deer hunted - snowed like crazy night before we went out and was whipping wind all day. Where I got my frostbite on my feet that still bothers me unusually early when it gets cold..

not sure about tent camping but they often have campers on that ground ..but again, not sure of when they are open for camping. 

[Belo]

Please don't eat our pets, otherwise you're welcome across the border 

[Caveman]

Your best bet is to call the NYS Forest Rangers for that region and ask where you can camp. Forest Rangers are the primary public land stewards in NY and on many parcels they are authorized to issue camping permits. 

[DirtTime]

I don't know how far into NY you want to go, Schodack Island is a state campground that allows hunting in the surrounding woods with bow, ML, and I think shotgun. It's in the Albany area and there's a lot of deer around them there parts.

 

Also, any actual state forest in NY is open to primitive/dispersed camping and hunting. So there's about 10,000 places in the Catskills to camp and hunt.

 

EDIT to add:

You can camp up to three nights on state forest land without a permit if you have less than 10 people. More than 3 nights and/or more then 10 people you need a permit. The permits are free if you do need one.

 

There are no deer in the Adirondacks.

Edited September 12 by DirtTime
added data