For a passionate hunter like you this place with all essential information about New York hunting seasons. Learn about all available games such as bear, deer, turkey and many other species.
If you’re interested in hunting in New York, then you should be aware that it’s one of the greatest places to hunt in! There’s an outstandingly vast hunting land where an abundance of all game species can be found.
You can go hunting for black bear, deer, and wild turkey or even if you’re interested in small game species there are rabbits, squirrels, bobwhite quails, pheasants and many others.
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New York Hunting Seasons and All Available Games
#1. New York Deer Hunting Seasons
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Firearms | *October 20 – December 9 |
Archery and Crossbow | *September 27 – December 9 |
Muzzleloader | *October 13 – December 18 |
*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone.
#2. New York Wild Turkey Seasons
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Fall Season | *October 1 – 14 *October 20 – November 2 *November 17 – 30 |
*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone.
#3. New York Black Bear Seasons
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Early Bear | *September 15 – October 12 |
Muzzleloader | *October 13 – 19 |
Archery | *September 15 – October 19 |
Firearms | *October 20 – December 2 |
Youth Firearms | October 6 – 8 |
NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone.
#4. New York Small Game Seasons
Types | Seasons | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|
Rabbit | *October 1 – March 17 | Bag limit: 6 daily |
Bobwhite Quail | *October 1 – February 28 | *Bag limit: 4 – 6 daily |
Ruffed Grouse | *September 20 – February 28 | Bag limit: 4 daily |
Pheasant | *October 20 – February 28 | *Bag limit: 2 – 5 daily |
Squirrel | *September 1 – February 28 | Bag limit: 6 daily |
Varying Hare | *October 1 – March 17 | *Bag limit: 2-6 daily |
*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone. Some of the bag limits may also vary by zone.
License Requirements
Are you interested in license requirements for hunting in New York?
Almost anyone can purchase a hunting license; it’s just the matter of which type. If you’re a resident, and a resident is an individual who is living in New York for at least 30 days, then you can purchase a resident hunting license which is usually a lot cheaper than those for non-residents.
Of course, even if you’re a non-resident, you can purchase a non-resident hunting license, and that one is a bit more expensive than the resident. All first-time hunters are obligated to pass one or a few courses before obtaining a hunting license for New York grounds.
All licenses can be purchased online, by phone or at one of many License Issuing Agent Locations. The resident license fee is $22 (16 – 69 years old), $5 (70+ years old and 12-15 years old). For non-residents, it’s $100 (16+ years old) and $5(12-15 years old).
Night Hunting in New York
In New York, night hunting is allowed but exclusively for furbearers hunts.
This means that you can hunt fox, bobcat, opossum, skunk, coyote, raccoon, weasel and mink. Artificial lights are allowed as well.
The use of night vision, in general, is also allowed meaning that light gathering or in other words starlight scope is legal. There are some restrictions when it comes to firearms for night usage.
Where to Hunt in New York?
Wondering about the best possible hunting locations? In New York, an enormous number of State Forests, State Parks, Forest Preserve and state lands, in general, are open for public hunting, There are also the WMAs or the Wildlife Management Areas where one can hunt with an appropriate license.
Around 115 WMAs are at your disposal, and that’s around 197.000 acres of hunting land including incredible grasslands, wetlands and forests. There are some differences from location to location when it comes to the population of a particular game you’re interested in; therefore, learn about those details if you want to have a successful hunt!
There are other areas to hunt such as: