[Effective until 12/31/2027]
The limit for wild deer is one deer per person in a license year except that (1) a person entitled to exercise the privileges of a special antlerless deer license may take an antlerless deer while hunting pursuant to such license in addition to the limit of one deer in a license year otherwise applicable, (2) a person who is a member of a hunting group holding a deer management permit or permits issued pursuant to section 11-0913 of this article may take additional deer while hunting in accordance with the conditions of the permit or permits, (3) the holder of a bowhunting privilege or a muzzle-loading privilege may take up to two additional deer, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department, and (4) an eligible non-ambulatory person, pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 11-0931 of this article may take a deer of either sex in any wildlife management unit area where deer management permits have been issued by the department, while in possession of a valid hunting license. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the power of the department to designate by regulation an area or areas of the state consisting of a county or part of a county where such season shall apply and whether the number of such special permits shall be limited.[Effective 12/31/2027]
The limit for wild deer and bear is one deer and one bear per person in a license year except that (1) a person entitled to exercise the privileges of a special antlerless deer license may take an antlerless deer while hunting pursuant to such license in addition to the limit of one deer in a license year otherwise applicable, (2) a person who is a member of a hunting group holding a deer management permit or permits issued pursuant to section 11-0913 of this article may take additional deer while hunting in accordance with the conditions of the permit or permits, (3) the holder of a bowhunting privilege or a muzzle-loading privilege may take up to two additional deer, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department, and (4) an eligible non-ambulatory person, pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 11-0931 of this article may take a deer of either sex in any wildlife management unit area where deer management permits have been issued by the department, while in possession of a valid hunting license. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the power of the department to designate by regulation an area or areas of the state consisting of a county or part of a county where such season shall apply and whether the number of such special permits shall be limited.[Effective until 12/31/2027]
Regular open hunting seasons for deer are established separately for the named regions or parts of regions, or named counties listed in column one of the table set forth in this subdivision, and are specified as seasons for taking by pistol, rifle, shotgun or long bow, or for taking by shotgun, crossbow or long bow only, or for taking by long bow only, as indicated in column three entitled "Manner of Taking". Where taking of big game by shotgun is permitted by this chapter such shotgun may contain rifling in all or a portion of the barrel, provided, however, if the barrel or a portion thereof does contain rifling only shells having non-metallic cases, except for the base, may be used. In the areas identified in column one except in the "closed areas" specified in subdivision five of this section the game specified in column two may be taken in the open season stated in column two immediately following the specification of the game, in the manner specified in column three.TABLE | ||
Column One Area | Column Two Game and Open Season | Column Three Manner of Taking |
(a) Northern Zone | Deer, next to last Saturday in October through first Sunday in December | Pistol, rifle, shotgun, crossbow or long bow |
(b) Catskill region except Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, Ulster counties and those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i) of this paragraph | Deer, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, rifle, shotgun, crossbow or long bow |
(c) Counties of Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster | Deer, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, rifle, shotgun, crossbow or long bow |
(d) [Effective until 10/1/2026] Eastern region, except Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Orange, or Saratoga, Schenectady, lWashington Counties and those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i) of this paragraph (d) [Effective 10/1/2026] Eastern region, except Columbia, Fulton, Orange, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington Counties and those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i) of this paragraph | Deer, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday, after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm or long bow only |
(e) Fulton, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington (parts in the Southern zone), Columbia, Orange, and Rensselaer counties | Deer, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, rifle, shotgun, crossbow or long bow |
(f) [Effective until 10/1/2026] Southern tier, central and Western region, except those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), or (q) of this paragraph | Deer, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm or long bow only |
(f) [Effective 10/1/2026 until 10/1/2025] Southern tier, central and Western region, except those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i), (j), (k) , (l) (m), (n) or (p)of this paragraph | Deer, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm or long bow only |
(f) [Effective 10/1/2025] Southern tier, central and Western region, except those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i), (j), (k) , (l) or (n) of this paragraph | Deer, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm or long bow only |
(g) Westchester County | Deer of either sex, November 1 through December 31 | long bow only |
(h) Suffolk County | Deer of either sex Second Monday in November through March thirty-first | long bow only |
(i) The counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua except that portion of the county north of route 20, Chemung, Chenango, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Oswego, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Wyoming, Seneca and Yates and that portion of the county of Broome east of the Susquehanna river | Deer, the first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(j) The county of Genesee | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(k) The county of Ontario | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(l) The county of Wayne | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(m) [Multiple versions; Repealed Effective 10/1/2026] The county of Albany | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, cross-bow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(m) [Multiple versions] The county of Livingston | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow |
(n) [Multiple versions] The county of Broome west of the Susquehanna river except within the city of Binghamton | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow |
(n) [Multiple versions] The county of New Orleans | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow |
(o) [Repealed Effective 10/1/2026] The county of Tompkins | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow |
(p) [Repealed Effective 10/1/2025] The county of Onondaga | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow |
(q) [Repealed Effective 10/1/2026] The county of Niagara except within the city of Niagara Falls, the city of Lockport and the city of North Tonawanda | Deer, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow |
[Effective 12/31/2027]
Regular open hunting seasons for big game are established separately for the named regions or parts of regions, or named counties listed in column one of the table set forth in this subdivision, and are specified as seasons for taking by pistol, rifle, shotgun or long bow, or for taking by shotgun or long bow only, or for taking by long bow only, as indicated in column three entitled "Manner of Taking". Where taking of big game by shotgun is permitted by this chapter such shotgun may contain rifling in all or a portion of the barrel, provided, however, if the barrel or a portion thereof does contain rifling only shells having non-metallic cases, except for the base, may be used. In the areas identified in column one except in the "closed areas" specified in subdivision 5 the game specified in column two may be taken in the open season stated in column two immediately following the specification of the game, in the manner specified in column three.TABLE | ||
Column One Area | Column Two Game and Open Season | Column Three Manner of Taking |
(a) Northern Zone | Deer and bear, next to last Saturday in October through first Sunday in December | Pistol, rifle, shotgun, crossbow or long bow |
(b) Catskill region except Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, Ulster counties and those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i) of this paragraph | Deer and bear, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, rifle, shotgun, crossbow or long bow |
(c) Counties of Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster | Deer, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7; Bear, first Monday after November 15 through second Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, rifle, shotgun, crossbow or long bow |
(d) Eastern region, except Columbia, Fulton, Orange, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington Counties and those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i) of this paragraph | Deer and bear, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm or long bow only |
(e) Fulton, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington (parts in the Southern zone), Columbia, Orange, and Rensselaer counties | Deer and bear, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, rifle, shotgun, crossbow or long bow |
(f) Southern tier, central and Western region, except those counties or portions thereof listed in item (i), (j), (j), (k), (l), (m)*, (n)*, or (o)* of this paragraph *(m) and (o) expire 10/1/2026; (n) expires 10/1/2025 | Deer and bear, first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm or long bow only |
(g) Westchester County | Deer of either sex, November 1 through December 31 | Long bow only |
(h) Suffolk County | Deer of either sex Second Monday in November through March thirty-first | long bow only |
(i) The counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua except that portion of the county north of route 20, Chenango, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Oswego, Otsego, Schoharie, Tioga and Wyoming and that portion of the county of Broome east of the Susquehanna river | Deer and bear, the first Monday after November 15 through first Tuesday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(j) [Multiple versions] The county of Ontario | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(j) [Multiple versions]The county of Wayne | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(k) The county of Livingston | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow |
(l) [Multiple versions] The county of Broome west of the Susquehanna river except within the city of Binghamton | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(l) [Multiple versions] The county of Genesee | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(l) [Multiple versions] The county of Seneca | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(l) [Multiple versions] The county of New Orleans | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(m) [Repealed Effective 10/1/2026] The county of Tompkins | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(n) [Repealed Effective 10/1/2025] The county of Onondaga | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
(o) [Effective 10/1/2026] The county of Niagara except the city of Niagara Falls, the city of Lockport and the city of North Tonawanda | Deer and bear, the first Saturday after November 15 through first Sunday after December 7 | Pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, rifle or long bow only |
[Expires 12/31/2027]
Regular open hunting seasons for bear are fixed by regulation pursuant to subdivision 8 of section 11-0903. The implements allowed for bear hunting will be the same as those allowed for deer hunting as listed in column three of the table set forth in paragraph a of this subdivision.[Effective until12/31/2027]
In every area identified in column one of the table set forth in subdivision 2 of this section, except Westchester and Suffolk Counties in which a regular open season for taking deer by firearms is established and effective, a special open season is established for taking deer of either sex, by the use of a long bow only by holders of a hunting license with a valid bowhunting privilege.[Effective 12/31/2027]
In every area identified in column one of the table set forth in subdivision 2 of this section, except Westchester and Suffolk Counties in which a regular open season for taking deer by firearms is established and effective, a special open season is established for taking deer of either sex, and bear, by the use of a long bow only by holders of a hunting license with a valid bowhunting privilege.[Effective until 12/31/2027]
Such special open deer hunting season for each area shall be from October 15 through the day immediately preceding the regular open season for deer stated in column two of the table set forth in subdivision 2, except that in the Northern Zone each special season shall be from September 27 through the Friday immediately preceding the next to last Saturday in October, and in the Southern Zone such special season shall also include the five days following the closing of the regular open season.[Effective 12/31/2027]
Such special open season for each area shall be from October 15 through the day immediately preceding the regular open season for deer stated in column two of the table set forth in subdivision 2, except that in the Northern Zone each special season shall be from September 27 through the Friday immediately preceding the next to last Saturday in October, and in the Southern Zone such special season shall also include the five days following the closing of the regular open season.[Expires 12/31/2027]
A similar special open bear hunting season may be fixed by regulation pursuant to subdivision 8 of section 11-0903.N.Y. Envtl. Conserv. Law § 11-0907