Deer season 2026–27 · last checked Oct 25, 2026
New York deer season dates 2026–27
Official dates from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, by season and zone, plus the public land in New York from our directory. Archery opens Sept. 27, 2026 (Northern Zone); Oct. 1, 2026 (Southern Zone). Firearms: Oct. 24, 2026 (Northern) / Nov. 21, 2026 (Southern) (Regular season).
Last checked Oct 25, 2026 against the official New York State Department of Environmental Conservation page. Dates vary by zone, unit and county, and agencies can change them. Confirm with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before you hunt.
Quick answers
- When does archery deer season start in New York?
- Sept. 27, 2026 (Northern Zone); Oct. 1, 2026 (Southern Zone), per New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. See the table for zone differences and closing dates.
- When does gun (firearms) deer season start in New York?
- Oct. 24, 2026 (Northern) / Nov. 21, 2026 (Southern) (Regular season).
- Where are the official rules?
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: hunting information. Bag limits, licenses, tags and weapon rules are not repeated here.
New York deer season dates, 2026–27
Deer: Northern Zone
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early bowhunting | All Northern Zone WMUs | Sept. 27 – Oct. 23, 2026 |
| Youth firearms (ages 12–15) | Statewide | Oct. 10–12, 2026 |
| Early muzzleloading | Northern Zone | Oct. 17–23, 2026 |
| Regular | Northern Zone | Oct. 24 – Dec. 6, 2026 |
| Late bowhunting and muzzleloading | WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G, 6H only | Dec. 7–13, 2026 |
Deer: Southern Zone
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early antlerless | Listed WMUs only (see DEC guide) | Sept. 12–20, 2026 |
| Early bowhunting | Southern Zone | Oct. 1 – Nov. 20, 2026 |
| Regular | Southern Zone | Nov. 21 – Dec. 13, 2026 |
| Late bowhunting and muzzleloading | Southern Zone | Dec. 14–22, 2026 and Dec. 26, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Regular (bowhunting only) | Westchester County (WMU 3S) | Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
- DEC’s 2026–27 guide says antlered bucks must have at least one antler with 3 or more points at least 1 inch long during all seasons; young hunters ages 12–16 are exempt. Read the guide for the full rule.
- Suffolk County (WMU 1C) has bowhunting-only and special-permit firearms dates. See the DEC guide.
- State forests and WMAs can have their own rules. Check DEC’s page for the area before you go.
Official sources (checked Oct 25, 2026)
Public land in New York that may allow deer hunting
Our directory lists 766 named public land units in New York (about 4.1M ac, from USGS PAD-US 4.1): 128 state wildlife & game areas, 446 forests & grasslands, 12 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 180 other public land units. PAD-US shows who manages the land. It doesn’t cover hunting rules. Before you go, check the area’s own rules with the managing agency. WMAs, refuges and forests often have special dates, permits or closed zones.
State wildlife areas & game lands in New York
All 128 →- State wildlife / game area
Hunter-West Kill Wilderness
24,606 acres
State: department of conservation · Greene County, Ulster County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Connecticut Hill Wma
11,185 acres
State: department of conservation · Tompkins County, Schuyler County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Happy Valley Wma
8,902 acres
State: department of conservation · Oswego County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Upper And Lower Lakes Wma
8,819 acres
State: department of conservation · St. Lawrence County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Perch River Wma
8,034 acres
State: department of conservation · Jefferson County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Littlejohn Wma
7,903 acres
State: department of conservation · Oswego County, Jefferson County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Northern Montezuma Wma
7,575 acres
State: department of conservation · Cayuga County, Wayne County + 1 more
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Bear Spring Mountain Wma
7,142 acres
State: department of conservation · Delaware County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
High Tor Wma
6,532 acres
State: department of conservation · Yates County, Ontario County
Open access
National & state forests and grasslands in New York
All 446 →- State forest
Ferris Lake Wild Forest
148,066 acres
State: department of conservation · Hamilton County, Fulton County + 1 more
Open access - State forest
Black River Wild Forest
128,259 acres
State: department of conservation · Herkimer County, Oneida County + 1 more
Open access - State forest
Wilcox Lake Wild Forest
126,685 acres
State: department of conservation · Warren County, Hamilton County + 1 more
Open access - State forest
Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest
97,218 acres
State: department of conservation · Essex County, Warren County
Open access - State forest
Saranac Lakes Wild Forest
80,633 acres
State: department of conservation · Franklin County, Essex County
Open access - State forest
Debar Mountain Wild Forest
80,481 acres
State: department of conservation · Franklin County
Open access
National wildlife refuges & WPAs in New York
All 12 →- National Wildlife Refuge
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
10,787 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Genesee County, Orleans County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
9,715 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Seneca County, Wayne County + 1 more
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge
3,379 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Nassau County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Congressman Lester Wolff Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge
3,379 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Nassau County
Restricted access
Counties with the most listed public land
- St Lawrence County (57)
- Chenango County (37)
- Oneida County (37)
- Lewis County (37)
- Hamilton County (35)
- Suffolk County (33)
- Essex County (33)
- Allegany County (31)
- Ulster County (29)
- Herkimer County (28)
- Greene County (27)
- Oswego County (26)
Not legal advice and not an official source. This independent site is not affiliated with any government agency. Season dates are copied from the agency pages linked above as of the “last checked” date and may have changed since. The agency’s current regulations are what count. Full disclaimer.
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