Nick Searor with his first turkey, Scriba 2012
Oswego County’s 15 state forests and wildlife management areas, combined with vast tracts of undeveloped private land, offer prime habitat for wild turkey, white-tailed deer, waterfowl, ruffed grouse and other small game.
Check out Hunting Services for a list of Private Hunting Preserves.
Additional information about State Forests and Wilderness Management Areas (WMA’s) areas can be obtained by calling the DEC Region 7 Cortland office at 607-753-3095 or by visiting www.dec.ny.gov
State Forests:
Altmar State Forest, Albion: 926 acres – Located between NYS Rte. 13 and Co. Rte. 28. Access from Towsley Rd., Albion Cross Rd., Hasto Rd., and Co. Rte. 48
Battle Hill State Forest, Redfield: 1,562 acres – Bounded by North Branch Salmon River, Mad River, and Co. Rte. 17.
Chateaugay State Forest, Orwell: 3,346 acres – Located off Co. Rte. 2, next to Salmon River Falls Unique Area. Access from Vorea Rd., Carpenter Rd., Waggoner Rd., New Scriba Dr., and Beecherville Rd. Cross-country skiing, hiking.
Hall Island State Forest, Orwell: Around the Salmon River Reservoir
Kasoag State Forest, Williamstown: 955 acres – Next to Kasoag Lake, off of Co. Rte. 30, and intersected by CC Rd.
Klondike State Forest, Amboy: 875 acres – South of NYS Rte. 69 on Starks Rd. Surrounded by numerous ponds.
O’Hara State Forest, Orwell/Redfield: 1,014 acres – Access from Co. Rte 17, Dam Rd., Co. Rte 27, and O’Hara Rd. Bordering south side of the Salmon River Reservoir.
Orton Hollow State Forest, Williamstown/Amboy: 504 acres – Intersected by NYS Rte. 13. Bounded by Fish Creek and Oneida County.
Salmon River State Forest, Redfield: 2,033 acres – Surrounding Co. Rte 2 and Co. Rte 17. Bordering north side of Salmon River Reservoir
Sandy Creek State Forest, Sandy Creek/Richland: 538 acres – Bounded by Cummings Rd. and Orton Rd.
Stone Hill State Forest, Amboy/Williamstown: 869 acres – South of NYS Rte. 13. Bounded by Stone Hill Rd. and Little Pond Rd.
Trout Brook State Forest, Boylston/Orwell: 622 acres – Intersected by John Platt Rd. Access from Bremm Rd., Van Auken Rd., Nemier Rd., and Waggoner Rd.
West Osceola State Forest, Osceola/Redfield: 1,900 acres – Part of Oswego, Oneida, and Lewis Counties. Access from Co. Rte. 27, Co. Rte. 39, Lower Redfield Rd., and Fox Rd.
Winona State Forest Recreation Area, Boylston: 9,233 acres – Center Rd., off of Co. Rte. 22 in Lacona Parking areas are on north side of Center Rd. at Wart Rd. intersection and Bargy Rd. intersection. Western edge of Tug Hill Plateau, surrounding the Little Sandy Creek. 315-298-6993. Contains 31 miles or trails through unplowed roads and state and county forests. Skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, trapping, dog sledding, birding, horseback riding. Site of Tug Hill Tourathon cross-country skiing events.
Wildlife Management Areas:
Curtiss-Gale Wildlife Management Area, Granby: 45 acres – East side of the Oswego River. 1 mile south of Fulton. Birding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing.
Deer Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Richland: 1,195 acres – Located on Rainbow Shores Rd. between Lake Ontario and NYS Rte. 3. Uplands and Wetlands. Viewing tower, parking area, boat access, handicapped access, scenic vistas, birding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, trapping.
Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area, Albion/Williamstown/Parish/Amboy: 8,645 acres – Bounded by NYS Rte. 104, Co. Rte. 22, and Co. Rte. 26. Uplands, wetlands, and ponds. Hiking, birding, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, trapping. No off-road motor vehicles allowed. Primitive camping by permit only.
Littlejohn State Wildlife Management Area, Boylston/Redfield: 8,020 acres – Bounded by Co. Rte. 17, Mad River, and Little John Dr. Uplands and wetlands. 18.8 miles of trails. Hiking, birding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, trapping. Primitive camping by permit only.
Three Mile Bay/Big Bay State Wildlife Management Area, West Monroe/Constantia: 3,500 acres – Off NYS Rte. 49., bordering Oneida Lake. Bounded by Toad Harbor Rd., Lower Rd., Wheeler Rd., and West Rd. Wetlands area. Hiking, boat access, birding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, trapping.
