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Hunting Seasons

All season dates on this page are effective for the current license year, which runs from September 1 to August 31. Print or download a summary of hunting season maps for 2020-21 (PDF).

Deer Seasons

Hunters can pursue white-tailed deer during regular and archery seasons, as well as the muzzleloader season.

Planning a vacation or trip? Find out future season dates on the Future Big Game Hunting Seasons page.

To determine which hunting implements are allowed in your area, please see Big Game Legal Hunting Implements.

Black Bear Seasons

New York State has bear populations in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and Appalachian Hills and Plateau regions. There are early, regular, muzzleloader, and archery seasons for black bear.

Wild Turkey Seasons

New York State has both spring and fall turkey hunting seasons and a youth turkey hunt for junior hunters (ages 12-15). During the spring, the season is open in all of upstate New York (north of the Bronx) and hunting hours are 1/2-hour before sunrise to noon. The fall season is divided in to six season zones and fall hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.

Waterfowl Seasons

Hunters in pursuit of ducks, mergansers, geese, and brant can view dates and bag limits for waterfowl seasons and a special youth waterfowl hunt.

All New York waterfowl hunters are required to register annually for the Harvest Information Program (HIP).

Hunting season dates are not finalized until federal regulations are adopted in late summer. Be sure to check the final regulations before going hunting.

Migratory Game Bird Seasons

View dates, bag limits, and special regulations for woodcock, crow, rail, snipe, and gallinule seasons.

Migratory bird hunters must register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) for all species except crow.

A federal migratory bird hunting stamp is not needed for woodcock, crow, rail, snipe, or gallinule.

Small Game Seasons

"Small game" includes upland game birds such as grouse, pheasants and quail, small game mammals such as squirrels, rabbits and hare, as well as some frogs and turtles. To view the dates, season zones, and bag limits for these species, visit the Small Game Seasons page.

Furbearer Seasons

To hunt furbearers, you need to possess a resident or non-resident hunting license. To view season dates, season zones, and bag limits, visit the bobcat, coyote, and fox, raccoon, opossum, and weasel season pages.

People interested in trapping opportunities for these species must obtain a separate trapping license.

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