New York Hunting Seasons


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:

Hunting coyotes in New York.

Hunting fox in New York.

Hunting bobcats in New York.

New York Hunting Seasons.
New York Hunting Seasons.

New York Hunting Seasons: Future Deer and Bear.

AreaSeasonDates
Northern ZoneEarly Bear (some WMUs)The first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding the early muzzleloading season.
Northern ZoneEarly Bowhunting – BearThe first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding the regular season.
Northern ZoneEarly Bowhunting – DeerSeptember 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 ZoneRegular – Deer & Bear44 consecutive days beginning on the 2nd Saturday after Columbus Day.
Northern ZoneLate Bow and Muzzleloading – Deer7 consecutive days immediately following the regular season. (Only open in specific WMUs
Southern ZoneEarly Bear (some WMUs)The first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding the early muzzleloading season.
Southern ZoneEarly Bowhunting – BearThe first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding the regular season.
Southern ZoneEarly Bowhunting – DeerSeptember 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 ZoneRegular – Deer & Bear44 consecutive days beginning on the 2nd Saturday after Columbus Day.
Southern ZoneLate Bow and Muzzleloading – Deer7 consecutive days immediately following the regular season. (Only open in specific WMUs
Westchester CountyEarly Antlerless – Deer (bowhunting only)9 consecutive days beginning on the 2nd Saturday of September
Westchester CountyRegular – Deer & Bear (bowhunting only)October 1 through December 31.
Suffolk CountyEarly Antlerless – Deer (bowhunting only)9 consecutive days beginning on the 2nd Saturday of September
Suffolk CountyRegular – Deer (bowhunting only)October 1 through January 31.
Suffolk CountySpecial Firearms Season – DeerThe first Sunday in January through January 31.

New York Turkey Hunting Season.

Regular Spring SeasonSpring Youth Turkey Hunt
Hunting HoursOne-half-hour before sunrise to noonOne-half-hour before sunrise to noon
Area OpenAll 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 DatesMay 1 – May 31April 23 – 24, 2022
Season Bag LimitTwo bearded turkeys (one bird per day)
One bearded turkey

New York Waterfowl & Migratory Game Bird Seasons

SpeciesWesternNortheastLake
Champlain a
SoutheastLong
Island
Youth Days bOct. 2 – Oct. 3Sept. 18 – Sept. 19Sept. 25 – Sept. 26Sept. 25 – Sept. 26Nov. 6 – Nov. 7
Veteran and Active Military DayscNov. 11 (Veteran’s Day)
and Nov. 13
Sept. 18 – Sept. 19No special seasonOct. 9 – Oct. 10Nov. 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. 2Nov. 16 – Dec. 5Oct. 13 – Oct 17
Oct. 30 – Nov. 13
Nov. 25 – Nov 28
Dec. 4 – Dec. 19
Jan 11 – Jan 30
Snow GeeseeOct. 1 – Apr. 15Oct. 1 – Apr. 15Oct. 1 – Dec. 31
Jan. 16 – Apr. 15
Oct. 1 – Apr. 15Nov. 20 – Mar. 6
BrantOct. 2 – Nov. 20Oct. 2 – Nov. 20Oct. 13 – Dec. 1Oct. 2 – Nov. 20Nov. 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.

RegulationsWoodcockCrowSnipeVirginia &
Sora Rails
GallinulesClapper & King Rails
Upstate New York1,3Oct. 1 – Nov. 14Sept. 1 – Mar. 31Sept. 1 – Nov. 9Sept. 1 – Nov. 9Sept. 1 – Nov. 9Closed
Long Island2,3Oct. 1 – Nov. 14Sept. 1 – Mar. 31ClosedClosedClosedClosed
Bag Limit3/day
9 in possession
None8/day
24 in possession
8/day
24 in possession
8/day
24 in possession
n/a
Shooting HoursSunrise to SunsetSunrise to Sunset1/2-Hr Before Sunrise to Sunset1/2-Hr Before Sunrise to Sunset1/2-Hr Before Sunrise to Sunsetn/a
Non-Toxic ShotNOT RequiredNOT RequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredn/a
HIP RegistrationRequiredNOT RequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredn/a
OtherFed Migratory Bird Stamp NOT RequiredHunting 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 RequiredFed Migratory Bird Stamp NOT RequiredFed Migratory Bird Stamp NOT Requiredn/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 QuailOct. 1-Feb. 28 for Orange and Putnam Counties.
Nov. 1st-Dec. 31. for Westchester and Suffolk.
RabbitOct. 1-Mar. 20 for Northern Zone
Oct. 1-Feb. 28 for Southern Zone.
Nov. 1-Feb 28 for Long Island
PheasantOct. 16-Feb. 28 Check the WMU Map here
Ruffed GrouseSept. 20-Feb. 28 Check the WMU Map here.
SquirrelNorthern and Southern Zones: Sept. 1-Feb. 28
Long Island: Nov. 1-Feb. 28
Varying HareOct. 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.

BobcatOct. 25 – Feb. 15 or Oct. 25 – Nov. 19 Check the WMU Map here.
Racoon, Fox, Skunk, Opossum, WeaselNorthern and Southern Zones: Oct. 25-Feb. 15
Long Island: Nov. 1-Feb. 25
CoyoteOct. 1-Mar. 27

Dennis V. Gilmore Jr.

Dennis V. Gilmore Jr. is a former Marine Sergeant and the author of several books, including two on night hunting coyotes and red and gray fox. He has written several hundred articles on predator hunting for ThePredatorHunter.com.

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