Public Land Chart

French explorer Samuel de Champlain described Oswego County’s landscape as “a very pleasing and fine country, watered by numerous small streams, two small rivers which empty into said lake [Ontario] and a number of ponds and prairies..” His description still holds true four centuries later. 

Explore our great outdoors with the activities listed below. 

Hunting and trapping are permitted on 20 designated New York State forests and wildlife management areas (WMAs). Hunting in Upstate NY is more dynamic as Oswego County falls in both the Northern and Southern hunting zones as designated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). This extends the hunting season in Upstate NY and provides more opportunities for a wide variety of game.

Other permitted uses include fishing, paddling, primitive camping and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter months.

NYSDEC primitive camping regulations apply and snowmobile access is restricted to town roads in most WMAs. 

Go to www.dec.ny.gov  for more information about the state’s Motorized Access Program for people with disabilities.