The New York hunting seasons for big game are designed to be predictable well in advance. This allows hunters to schedule vacations and other plans accordingly. You can calculate future season dates by using the formulas below.
If you are a predator hunter check out these specific guides:
New York Hunting Seasons: Future Deer and Bear.
| Area | Season | Dates |
|---|
| Northern Zone | Early Bear (some WMUs) | The first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding the early muzzleloading season. |
| Northern Zone | Early Bowhunting – Bear | The first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding the regular season. |
| Northern Zone | Early Bowhunting – Deer | September 27 through the Friday immediately preceding the regular season. |
| Northern ZoneEarly Muzzleloading – Deer & Bear7 consecutive days beginning on the 1st Saturday after Columbus Day. | ||
| Northern Zone | Regular – Deer & Bear | 44 consecutive days beginning on the 2nd Saturday after Columbus Day. |
| Northern Zone | Late Bow and Muzzleloading – Deer | 7 consecutive days immediately following the regular season. (Only open in specific WMUs |
| Southern Zone | Early Bear (some WMUs) | The first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding the early muzzleloading season. |
| Southern Zone | Early Bowhunting – Bear | The first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding the regular season. |
| Southern Zone | Early Bowhunting – Deer | September 27 through the Friday immediately preceding the regular season. |
| Southern ZoneEarly Muzzleloading – Deer & Bear7 consecutive days beginning on the 1st Saturday after Columbus Day. | ||
| Southern Zone | Regular – Deer & Bear | 44 consecutive days beginning on the 2nd Saturday after Columbus Day. |
| Southern Zone | Late Bow and Muzzleloading – Deer | 7 consecutive days immediately following the regular season. (Only open in specific WMUs |
| Westchester County | Early Antlerless – Deer (bowhunting only) | 9 consecutive days beginning on the 2nd Saturday of September |
| Westchester County | Regular – Deer & Bear (bowhunting only) | October 1 through December 31. |
| Suffolk County | Early Antlerless – Deer (bowhunting only) | 9 consecutive days beginning on the 2nd Saturday of September |
| Suffolk County | Regular – Deer (bowhunting only) | October 1 through January 31. |
| Suffolk County | Special Firearms Season – Deer | The first Sunday in January through January 31. |
New York Turkey Hunting Season.
| Regular Spring Season | Spring Youth Turkey Hunt | |
| Hunting Hours | One-half-hour before sunrise to noon | One-half-hour before sunrise to noon |
| Area Open | All of upstate New York north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary | All of upstate New York north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary plus Suffolk Count |
| Season Dates | May 1 – May 31 | April 23 – 24, 2022 |
| Season Bag Limit | Two bearded turkeys (one bird per day) | One bearded turkey |
New York Waterfowl & Migratory Game Bird Seasons
| Species | Western | Northeast | Lake Champlain a | Southeast | Long Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Days b | Oct. 2 – Oct. 3 | Sept. 18 – Sept. 19 | Sept. 25 – Sept. 26 | Sept. 25 – Sept. 26 | Nov. 6 – Nov. 7 |
| Veteran and Active Military Daysc | Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) and Nov. 13 | Sept. 18 – Sept. 19 | No special season | Oct. 9 – Oct. 10 | Nov. 13 – Nov. 14 |
| Ducksd, Coots, Mergansers | Oct. 16 – Nov. 7 Nov. 27 – Jan. 2 | Oct. 2 – Oct. 24 Oct. 30 – Dec. 5 | Oct. 13 – Oct. 17 Oct. 30 – Dec. 23 | Oct. 16 – Nov. 28 Dec. 4 – Dec. 19 | Nov. 20 – Nov. 28 Dec. 11 – Jan. 30 |
| Scaup (2 bird daily bag limit) | Dec. 14 – Jan. 2 | Nov. 16 – Dec. 5 | Oct. 13 – Oct 17 Oct. 30 – Nov. 13 | Nov. 25 – Nov 28 Dec. 4 – Dec. 19 | Jan 11 – Jan 30 |
| Snow Geesee | Oct. 1 – Apr. 15 | Oct. 1 – Apr. 15 | Oct. 1 – Dec. 31 Jan. 16 – Apr. 15 | Oct. 1 – Apr. 15 | Nov. 20 – Mar. 6 |
| Brant | Oct. 2 – Nov. 20 | Oct. 2 – Nov. 20 | Oct. 13 – Dec. 1 | Oct. 2 – Nov. 20 | Nov. 20 – Nov. 28 Dec. 21 – Jan. 30 |
| Canada Goose Seasons | Click here for current information |
New York Hunting Seasons for Webless Migratory Game Birds.
Check here for updates.
| Regulations | Woodcock | Crow | Snipe | Virginia & Sora Rails | Gallinules | Clapper & King Rails |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upstate New York1,3 | Oct. 1 – Nov. 14 | Sept. 1 – Mar. 31 | Sept. 1 – Nov. 9 | Sept. 1 – Nov. 9 | Sept. 1 – Nov. 9 | Closed |
| Long Island2,3 | Oct. 1 – Nov. 14 | Sept. 1 – Mar. 31 | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Bag Limit | 3/day 9 in possession | None | 8/day 24 in possession | 8/day 24 in possession | 8/day 24 in possession | n/a |
| Shooting Hours | Sunrise to Sunset | Sunrise to Sunset | 1/2-Hr Before Sunrise to Sunset | 1/2-Hr Before Sunrise to Sunset | 1/2-Hr Before Sunrise to Sunset | n/a |
| Non-Toxic Shot | NOT Required | NOT Required | Required | Required | Required | n/a |
| HIP Registration | Required | NOT Required | Required | Required | Required | n/a |
| Other | Fed Migratory Bird Stamp NOT Required | Hunting on Fri., Sat., Sun. & Mon. ONLY; Fed Migratory Bird Stamp NOT Required; Rifles and electronically amplified bird calls or sounds permitted | Fed Migratory Bird Stamp NOT Required | Fed Migratory Bird Stamp NOT Required | Fed Migratory Bird Stamp NOT Required | n/a |
1 Upstate New York includes all of New York State north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary
2 Long Island includes all of WMUs 1A and 1C (Nassau and Suffolk counties)
3 Hunting season closed in New York City for all species listed in table; New York City includes all of WMU 2A (Bronx, Kings, Queens, New York, and Richmond counties).
New York hunting season for small game.
| Bobwhite Quail | Oct. 1-Feb. 28 for Orange and Putnam Counties. Nov. 1st-Dec. 31. for Westchester and Suffolk. |
| Rabbit | Oct. 1-Mar. 20 for Northern Zone Oct. 1-Feb. 28 for Southern Zone. Nov. 1-Feb 28 for Long Island |
| Pheasant | Oct. 16-Feb. 28 Check the WMU Map here |
| Ruffed Grouse | Sept. 20-Feb. 28 Check the WMU Map here. |
| Squirrel | Northern and Southern Zones: Sept. 1-Feb. 28 Long Island: Nov. 1-Feb. 28 |
| Varying Hare | Oct. 1-March 20. Check the WMU map here. |
New York hunting season for Reptile and Amphibians.
Frogs
“Frogs” are defined as eastern spadefoot toad, eastern American toad, Fowler’s toad, northern cricket frog, northern gray treefrog, northern spring peeper, western chorus frog, bullfrog, green frog, mink frog, wood frog, northern leopard frog, southern leopard frog, and pickerel frog.
A fishing or hunting license is required to take frogs with a spear, club, hook, or by hand. A hunting license is required to take frogs with a gun or bow.
Open Season: June 15 through September 30
Open Area: All wildlife management units except that: (1) leopard frogs shall not be taken in wildlife management units 1A, 1C, or 2A; and (2) northern cricket frogs and eastern spadefoot toads shall not be taken in any area of the state.
Size Limit: None
Daily Bag: None
Season Bag: None
Hunting Hours: Any time of the day or night, except that no person shall use a gun to take frogs when hunting at night (sunset to sunrise).
Turtles
The closure of the diamondback terrapin season went into effect on May 1, 2018.
The only turtle species for which there is an open hunting season is the snapping turtle. You may not harvest, take, or possess any other turtle species at any time.
- A hunting license is required to take snapping turtles. The only legal implement for taking snapping turtles is a firearm or a bow.
- If you choose to eat snapping turtles, you should carefully trim all fat and discard fat, liver, and eggs prior to cooking to reduce exposure to contaminants. For information on this health advisory, call 1-800-458-1158 or visit the New York State Department of Health website in the right column.
Open Season: July 15 through September 30
Open Area: Statewide
Size Limit: The upper shell (carapace) must measure 12 inches or longer in a straight line.
Daily Bag: 5
Season Bag: 30
Hunting Hours: Any time of the day or night.
Snakes, Lizards, and Salamanders
You may not harvest, take, or possess any native snakes, lizards, or salamanders at any time.
New York hunting seasons for furbearers.
| Bobcat | Oct. 25 – Feb. 15 or Oct. 25 – Nov. 19 Check the WMU Map here. |
| Racoon, Fox, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel | Northern and Southern Zones: Oct. 25-Feb. 15 Long Island: Nov. 1-Feb. 25 |
| Coyote | Oct. 1-Mar. 27 |