New York offers a wide range of hunting opportunities. Knowing the season dates and regulations is key to a successful hunt. This guide covers the basics for hunting in New York State.
New York Deer Hunting Seasons
Deer hunting is popular across New York. Seasons vary by weapon type and region. New York is divided into Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). These units guide specific season dates and bag limits.
| Season Type | Opens | Closes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Antlerless | September 12, 2026 | September 20, 2026 | Southern Zone early antlerless season in select WMUs (firearms and bows in most; bow-only in WMUs 1C and 3S). Antlerless deer only. |
| Early Bowhunting | October 1, 2026 | November 20, 2026 | Southern Zone early bowhunting season. Bows and crossbows (bowhunting privilege required). Northern Zone early bowhunting runs Sept. 27 - Oct. 23, 2026. |
| Early Bowhunting Northern Zone | September 27, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | Northern Zone early bowhunting season. Bows and crossbows. |
| Youth | October 10, 2026 | October 12, 2026 | Youth firearms deer hunt, Columbus Day weekend, both zones (not in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J or 8C). Junior hunters ages 12-15 accompanied by a licensed adult. |
| Regular Firearms | November 21, 2026 | December 13, 2026 | Southern Zone regular season. Rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader, bow, or crossbow per WMU rules. Northern Zone regular season runs Oct. 24 - Dec. 6, 2026. |
| Regular Firearms Northern Zone | October 24, 2026 | December 6, 2026 | Northern Zone regular season. |
| Muzzleloader | December 14, 2026 | December 22, 2026 | Southern Zone late muzzleloading season (not in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J or 8C); also Dec. 26, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027. Northern Zone early muzzleloading runs Oct. 17-23, 2026, with a late season Dec. 7-13, 2026 in WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G and 6H only. |
| Muzzleloader Northern Zone | October 17, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | Northern Zone early muzzleloading season. Late muzzleloading Dec. 7-13, 2026 in WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G and 6H only. |
| Late Bowhunting | December 14, 2026 | December 22, 2026 | Southern Zone late bowhunting season, plus Dec. 26, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027. Northern Zone late bowhunting Dec. 7-13, 2026 in WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G and 6H only. Suffolk County (WMU 1C) bow-only season runs Oct. 1, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027; Westchester (WMU 3S) Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2026. |
| Special Firearms Suffolk | January 3, 2027 | January 31, 2027 | Suffolk County (WMU 1C) January special firearms season; permit required. |
2026-2027 seasonVerified against New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide on September 5, 2026.Source: dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/deer-bear/seasons Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.
Archery Season
Archery season for deer is generally the longest. It typically opens in late September or early October. It runs through mid-November in many areas. In the Southern Zone, it often includes a late archery season in December. Broadheads must meet specific criteria. Crossbows also have specific regulations and seasons.
Regular Firearm Season
The regular firearm season for deer is split by zone.
- Northern Zone: This zone typically opens in late October and runs for about six weeks into early December.
- Southern Zone: The Southern Zone season usually starts in late November and continues for about three weeks.
These seasons are for rifles, shotguns, and muzzleloaders depending on the WMU. Check your specific WMU for weapon restrictions.
Muzzleloader Season
Muzzleloader seasons provide additional hunting time.
- Early Muzzleloader: This often precedes the regular firearm season in parts of the Northern Zone.
- Late Muzzleloader: This season typically follows the regular firearm season in the Southern Zone. It usually runs for a week or two in December.
Hunters must use approved muzzleloaders. Specific bullet types may be required.
New York Bear Hunting Seasons
Bear hunting is available in specific parts of New York. Bear seasons often overlap with deer seasons.
| Season Type | Opens | Closes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | September 12, 2026 | September 27, 2026 | Southern Zone early bear season (green-shaded WMUs on DEC map). Firearms, bows and crossbows. |
| Bowhunting | October 1, 2026 | November 20, 2026 | Southern Zone bowhunting bear season, plus Dec. 14-22, 2026. Northern Zone (orange-shaded area) bowhunting Sept. 19 - Oct. 23, 2026. |
| Youth | October 10, 2026 | October 12, 2026 | Youth firearms bear hunt, both zones (not in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J or 8C). |
| Regular | November 21, 2026 | December 13, 2026 | Southern Zone regular bear season, concurrent with the regular deer season. Northern Zone regular season runs Sept. 19 - Dec. 6, 2026 in the Adirondack (yellow-shaded) area and Oct. 24 - Dec. 6, 2026 in the western periphery (orange-shaded) area. |
| Regular Northern Zone | September 19, 2026 | December 6, 2026 | Northern Zone regular bear season, Adirondack (yellow-shaded) area. Western periphery (orange-shaded) area opens Oct. 24, 2026. |
| Muzzleloader | December 14, 2026 | December 22, 2026 | Southern Zone late muzzleloading bear season. Northern Zone (orange-shaded area) muzzleloading Oct. 17-23, 2026. |
2026-2027 seasonVerified against New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide on September 5, 2026.Source: dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/deer-bear/seasons Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.
Archery Bear Season
Archery bear season aligns with the archery deer season. It typically starts in late September. This provides an early opportunity for bear hunters.
Regular Bear Season
Bear season with firearms usually coincides with the regular firearm deer season. Bear hunting takes place in designated bear hunting zones. These are primarily in the Adirondack and Catskill regions. Bag limits for bear are generally one per hunter per year.
New York Turkey Hunting Seasons
New York has both spring and fall turkey seasons. These seasons are distinct from big game hunting.
| Season Type | Opens | Closes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | October 1, 2026 | October 14, 2026 | Fall season segments per DEC's fall turkey zone map: Oct. 1-14 (Northern Zone), Oct. 17-30 (Southern Zone) and Nov. 21 - Dec. 4, 2026 (Suffolk County); closed elsewhere. Bag limit 1 bird of either sex; hours sunrise to sunset. Shotgun, bow or crossbow only. |
| Fall Southern Zone | October 17, 2026 | October 30, 2026 | Southern Zone fall turkey season. Bag limit 1 bird of either sex. |
| Spring | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | Spring gobbler season in all open areas. Two bearded birds per season, no more than one per day (no more than one in WMU 1C). Hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to noon. |
| Youth Spring | April 24, 2027 | April 25, 2027 | Youth spring turkey hunt for junior hunters ages 12-15 with a licensed adult mentor. One bearded bird; open areas same as regular spring season. |
2026-2027 seasonVerified against New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide on September 5, 2026.Source: dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/htgturkey.pdf Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.
Spring Turkey Season
Spring turkey season is a popular time to hunt. It typically opens May 1st. It runs for about four weeks. Hunting is often limited to morning hours. Hunters may take one bearded bird per day, up to two per season.
Fall Turkey Season
Fall turkey season dates vary by zone. It starts in October. It runs for two weeks in each zone, with a late-November season on Long Island. Hunters can take one bird of either sex per season.
New York Small Game and Furbearer Seasons
New York offers many opportunities for small game and furbearers.
Common Small Game
Squirrel: Squirrel season often opens in September. It runs through February.
Rabbit and Hare: These seasons typically open in October. They continue through February or March.
Pheasant season dates, 2026-2027 season Season Type Opens Closes Notes General October 1, 2026 February 28, 2027 Ring-necked pheasant. Regular season dates vary by region on DEC's pheasant map: Oct. 1 - Feb. 28, Oct. 17 - Feb. 28, Oct. 17 - Dec. 31, and Nov. 1 - Dec. 31 (Long Island). Daily bag 2 (Long Island: 2 cocks or 4 cocks and hens, 30-bird season limit). Youth pheasant weekends Sept. 26-27, Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 24-25, 2026 by region. Hours sunrise to sunset. 2026-2027 seasonVerified against New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide on September 5, 2026.Source: dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/htgsmallgamehunting.p … Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.
Pheasant: Pheasant season usually opens in October and runs into winter, with dates varying by region. It may require a special permit or be limited to stocked areas.
Ruffed Grouse: Grouse season often opens in September. It continues into February. Dates vary by region.
Furbearers
- Coyote: Coyote season runs from October through late March in most areas. Specific regulations apply to night hunting.
- Fox: Red and gray fox seasons typically open in October. They run into February or March.
- Raccoon and Opossum: These species have very long seasons. They often start in October and extend through March.
Trapping seasons for furbearers also exist. They have separate regulations.
Licensing and Permits in New York
| License/Permit | Residency | Fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting License (ages 16-69) | Resident | $22.00 | hunting, antlered deer tag, regular season bear tag |
| Non-Resident Hunting License (ages 16+) | Nonresident | $100.00 | hunting, antlered deer tag, regular season bear tag |
| Lifetime Sportsman License (ages 12-69) | Resident | $765.00 | lifetime hunting, lifetime fishing, turkey permits |
| Junior Hunting License (ages 12-15) | Resident | $5.00 | hunting |
| Non-Resident Junior Hunting License (ages 12-15) | Nonresident | $5.00 | hunting |
| Resident Hunting License (ages 70+) | Resident | $5.00 | hunting, antlered deer tag, regular season bear tag |
| Bowhunting Privilege (ages 16-69) | Any | $15.00 | bow/muzz antlerless deer tag |
| Muzzleloading Privilege (ages 14-69) | Any | $15.00 | bow/muzz antlerless deer tag |
| Turkey Permit (ages 12+) | Any | $10.00 | two spring turkey tags, one fall turkey tag |
| Deer Management Permit Application (ages 16+) | Any | $10.00 | application for antlerless deer tags |
| Federal Duck Stamp (ages 16+) | Any | $25.00 | migratory waterfowl hunting |
To hunt in New York, you need a hunting license.
- Residency: Licenses are available for both residents and non-residents.
- Hunter Education: A hunter education course is required for most first-time hunters. This applies to both firearm and bowhunting licenses.
- Deer Management Permits (DMPs): These permits allow hunters to take antlerless deer. They are issued through a lottery system. DMPs are specific to WMUs. Applying for DMPs increases your chances of harvesting deer. The application period is usually in the summer.
- Turkey Permits: A separate permit is required for turkey hunting.
Always carry your license and permits while hunting. Get your license from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)1.
General Regulations and Ethics
New York has specific hunting regulations.
- Blaze Orange: Hunters during firearm regular seasons must wear blaze orange. This includes hats and outer garments.
- Bag Limits: Understand the bag limits for each species and WMU.
- Reporting: All harvested deer, bear, and turkey must be reported. This is usually done online or by phone.
- Landowner Permission: Always get written permission to hunt on private land.
- Public Lands: New York has extensive public lands. These include State Forests and Wildlife Management Areas. Check specific regulations for each public area.
Hunting responsibly ensures a safe and ethical experience.
Plan Your New York Hunt
Start planning your New York hunt early. Review the specific regulations for the WMU you plan to hunt. Check the latest season dates. These can change annually. Consider taking a hunter safety course if you are new to hunting. Prepare your gear.
Check the New York DEC website2 for the most current information.
Last verified: September 5, 2026 — Official sourceMore New York Hunting Resources
- New York hunting regulations
- How to get a New York hunting license
- Public and private land access in New York
- Hunting locations in New York
For reference only. This page summarizes agency publications and is not legal advice or an official source; confirm dates, limits and fees with the state wildlife agency before you hunt. Regulations change mid-season. Send a correction if you spot an error. Disclaimer.