This forest is in the Mohawk Valley southwest of Amsterdam. Take Exit 29 from the Thruway (I-90), to Route 162 south to the hamlet of Rural Grove. Continue on Logtown Road (Route 110) to Shibley Road, which leads to the main tract.

Anderson Road (Route 106), also off Logtown Road, leads to the Yatesville Falls parcel.

MORGAN HILL STATE FOREST
Classified as an "upland forest" by the DEC, Morgan Hill's 5,560 acres range in elevation from 1,200 to 2,000 feet. Roughly half the property is covered with old coniferous plantations that get thinned on an irregular schedule, with the rest of the forest featuring hardwoods and hemlocks.

Nearly 14 miles of roads and five miles of marked foot trails provide hunter access.

Morgan Hill SF straddles the Onondaga-Courtland county line and is popular with Syracuse-area hunters. To reach the forest, take the Tully exit off I-81. Continue east on Route 80 for about six miles, and then turn south on Herlihy Road, which leads to the property. Shackham Road, between routes 80 and 91, also crosses the forest, as does Morgan Hill Road.

SHINDAGIN HOLLOW STATE FOREST
Typical of the Appalachian Plateau hill country, Shindagin Hollow's 5,266 acres lie east of Route 96B and south of Route 79 in southeast Tompkins County.

Hunters should have a dozen favorite areas in mind because a typical day's hunt normally requires hit-and- run tactics that include several destinations.

This forest was also created as a reforestation area many years ago with conifer plantations and natural seedings of hardwood species. It's a noted deer and turkey hotspot, with plenty of prime grouse habitat.

To reach Shindagin Hollow from Ithaca, proceed south on Route 79 to the crossroads communities of Bessemer, West Slaterville and Slaterville Springs, where local roads lead south to the state property.

Shindagin Hollow Road runs through the center of the forest. South Road, Brearley Hill Road, Honey Pot Road and Smith Road also provide access.

SUGAR HILL STATE FOREST
Sugar Hill's 9,085 acres were accumulated in small tracts over time, which explains its complicated boundary and out-parcels of private property. Currently, the forest is about two-thirds hardwoods and one-third conifer plantation.

A horse-snowmobile trail is maintained for access. The Finger Lakes Trail, a hiking path, also crosses the property. The eastern tip of Sugar Hill nearly reaches the outskirts of Watkins Glen, with county routes 21 and 22 providing access. Several local roads include Evergreen Hill, Donovan Hill and Templar.

The southern border of Sugar Hill is close to Goundary Hill State Forest (at 2,112 acres) and Coon Hollow State Forest (2,456 acres). Both are nearly identical in terrain and habitat to Sugar Hill. These and other nearby tracts of state land deserve a good look by November grouse hunters.

NORTH HARMONY STATE FOREST
Located in the gently rolling hills of Chautauqua County west of Jamestown, North Harmony State Forest offers 2,561 acres of public hunting along with timber production and watershed protection. The forest is only a couple of long grouse flights away from Edward J. Whalen State Forest, which offers an additional 1,325 acres.

To reach these properties, take Exit 6 south from Route 17 to the hamlet of North Clymer, and then travel east on Route 474 to the southern tip of North Harmony. A small parking lot is about a mile west of Panama.

Local roads providing access to these properties include Wiltsie, Warner, Eggleston Hill, Stebbins, Elden and Wall Street.