Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area is 1,000 acres (DEC) managed by DEC in the towns of Wilton and Northumberland, Saratoga County, in WMU 5J (Northern Zone). DEC lists 4 parking areas with coordinates.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landNational Park ServiceOther state landSaratoga Sand Plains WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 1,000 acres (DEC) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Towns of Wilton and Northumberland, Saratoga County |
| WMU | WMU 5J |
| Zone | Northern Zone |
| DEC region | Region 5 |
| Open | Year-round |
| Fee | Free |
| Parking areas (DEC) | 4 |
| Activities DEC lists | Hiking, Hunting, Trapping, Freshwater Fishing and Watchable Wildlife |
| Nearest towns | Victory (4 mi), Schuylerville (4 mi) and Saratoga Springs (6 mi) |
Where do you park at Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
DEC lists 4 parking areas for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA:
| DEC's description | Latitude, longitude |
|---|---|
| Take Ballard Road east to Edie Road, just past the northbound exit ramps. Turn right onto Edie Road. Take Edie Road south 1.1 miles to Scout Road. Turn left onto Scout Road. Take Scout Road east 0.7 miles to a parking area on the left | 43.16359, -73.70301 |
| Take Ballard Road east 0.6 mile to parking area on the right | 43.16819, -73.71055 |
| Take Ballard Road east 2.1 miles to State Route 50 | 43.14499, -73.69301 |
| Take Ballard Road east 2.3 miles to Ruggles Road. Turn right onto Ruggles Road. Take Ruggles Road south 1.3 miles and the parking area is on the right | 43.13348, -73.68196 |
From DEC's page for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA.
What can you hunt on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA, and when?
DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks the area open to hunting. DEC lists these activities for the area: hiking, hunting, trapping, freshwater fishing and watchable wildlife. Hunting on a WMA follows the seasons of the WMU the ground is in. In WMU 5J, the 2026 regular firearms deer season runs October 24 to December 6.
| WMU | WMA acres in it | Deer harvested (whole WMU) | Adult bucks | Bears (whole WMU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 5J | 2,333 | 1,468 (2025) | 1,097 | 20 (2025) |
Harvest: DEC 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; DEC 2025 Bear Harvest Summary. Seasons: DEC, 2026 big game hunting seasons in October.
What DEC says about each activity here
- Hunting. "Note: Hunting is NOT permitted on Nature Conservancy lands or Town of Wilton lands."
- Trapping. "Note: Hunting is NOT permitted on Nature Conservancy lands or Town of Wilton lands."
- Watchable Wildlife. "Opportunities abound here for people to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the biology and ecology of plant and animal species; the functioning of natural communities and ecosystems; and human interaction with, and use of, nature."
From DEC's page for Saratoga Sand Plains WMA.
How do you get to Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-87, NY 32, US 9, NY 50, NY 29 and US 4. Nearest towns: Victory (4 miles), Schuylerville (4 miles), Saratoga Springs (6 miles) and Fort Edward (8 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Lincoln Mountain State Forest and Parcel 45 WMA.
Which other WMAs are near Saratoga Sand Plains?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County Grasslands WMA | 10 | 5T | 478 |
| Carters Pond WMA | 14 | 5S | 446.5 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Saratoga Sand Plains WMA lies in WMU 5J, and seasons follow the WMU's: in 2026 the regular firearms deer season there runs October 24 to December 6.
Where do you park at Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
DEC lists 4 parking areas: Take Ballard Road east to Edie Road, just past the northbound exit ramps. Turn right onto Edie Road. Take Edie Road south 1.1 miles to Scout Road. Turn left onto Scout Road. Take Scout Road east 0.7 miles to a parking area on the left (43.1636, -73.7030), Take Ballard Road east 0.6 mile to parking area on the right (43.1682, -73.7105) and Take Ballard Road east 2.1 miles to State Route 50 (43.1450, -73.6930), and more in the table on this page.
What WMU is Saratoga Sand Plains WMA in?
All of Saratoga Sand Plains WMA is in WMU 5J. DEC estimates 1,468 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
Victory, about 4 miles away, by the Census map of places. Schuylerville is 4 miles away.
How big is Saratoga Sand Plains WMA?
DEC gives 1,000 acres.
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Where these facts come from
- Area facts, habitat, parking and plans: DEC, Saratoga Sand Plains WMA.
- Boundary: DEC Wildlife Management Areas. Public land around it: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
- WMU harvest: DEC 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; DEC 2025 Bear Harvest Summary. Seasons: DEC, 2026-27 early big game hunting seasons in September; DEC, 2026 big game hunting seasons in October.
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