Syracuse.com - DEC announces 12 new campsites open to the public on Hunt's Pond State Forest

[HuntingNY-News]

Hunt’s Pond State Forest offers numerous recreational opportunities including 50-acre Hunts Pond, a warm water fishery with largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, chain pickerel and rock bass.

The following is a press release:

Twelve designated campsites at Hunt’s Pond State Forest are now available for public use, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation announced today.

Campers must obtain a permit from the DEC’s Sherburne office, 2715 State Route 80, Sherburne, New York, in order to use the primitive campsites. The permits are free and may be obtained between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m

“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to take advantage of Hunt’s Pond State Forest, which offers numerous recreational opportunities including 50-acre Hunts Pond, a warm water fishery with largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, chain pickerel and rock bass,” DEC Regional Director Ken Lynch said

Hunts Pond State Forest is located in the town of New Berlin, Chenango County, and is accessed from Hunt’s Pond Road. The forest is 1,383 acres and includes the former Hunts Pond State Park, which DEC acquired several years ago from the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).

In prior years, OPRHP managed the campsites; this is the first year that DEC has provided camping at the forest since acquiring the land.

Camping is permitted through Sept. 30, and the maximum length of stay on any one site or combination of sites is 14 nights. Fires are allowed only in fire pits provided by DEC. Only dead and downed wood may be used for campfires. No burning of scrap wood from construction or demolition is allowed.

A potable source of water is not available at Hunt’s Pond. All rubbish must be carried out by campers. No more than two vehicles are allowed per campsite, and no more than eight people are allowed per campsite. A free boat launch for canoes, kayaks and boats with electric motors only is another feature of Hunts Pond.

Remember not to move or transport firewood more than 50 miles. You could be spreading pests and diseases that kill forests. A firewood regulation is in place to protect forests and to prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases.

A self-issued Certificate for Transport and Possession of New York-Sourced Untreated Firewood for Personal Use form must be completed and carried with you if you plan on bringing firewood to your camp. Tickets can be issued if the proper paperwork is not completed to clarify the origin of your firewood.

General information on Hunts Pond State Forest, including a map, and directions to the forest can be found on the DEC website.

A pamphlet showing the campsites and describing the rules for camping at Hunts’ Pond is available on this page as well. For further information, contact DEC’s Sherburne office at 607-674-4036.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog