New York's North Country Offers Extensive Public Hunting Grounds for Deer, Bear, and Small Game
Hunters in New York's northern counties, specifically Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Franklin counties, have access to a wide array of public lands for hunting. These areas include Lake Ontario marshes, Tug Hill forests, St. Lawrence River wetlands, working conservation-easement tracts, and large sections of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) identifies these regions as popular for hunting white-tailed deer and black bear, with opportunities for small game such as ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, and waterfowl. Hunters can utilize public parking areas, seasonal roads, trailheads, hiking trails, and boat or hand launches to access these interior areas. For those planning extended camps during big-game season, DEC permits may be available for stays beyond the ordinary time limits. Advance scouting is recommended for large areas like the Debar Mountain Wild Forest, where hunters should focus on specific drainages, road systems, or trailheads rather than treati... 
