Future Big Game Hunting Seasons
Many sportsmen like to know big game season dates well in advance so they can schedule vacation and other plans accordingly. You can calculate future season dates by using the following formulas taken from laws and regulations in effect as of the last update of this page. The Big Game Season Maps show current season dates and boundaries for Black Bear hunting, Regular and Bowhunting Deer Seasons, and Muzzleloading Deer Seasons.
A summary of the 2009 Big Game Season Dates (27Kb PDF)
Northern Zone
Bowhunting Season:
Deer and Bear - September 27 through the Friday immediately preceding the next to the last Saturday in October. Only unfilled prior year big game tags can be used before October 1. (September 27 - October 23, 2009)
Regular Season:
Deer and Bear - The next to the last Saturday in October through the first Sunday in December. (October 24 - December 6, 2009)
Muzzleloading Season:
Deer and Bear - The seven day period ending on the day before the regular season begins. (October 17 - October 23, 2009)
(NOTE: For deer there may be additional muzzleloading hunting opportunity at other times, but the timing and other factors may vary. Additional information will be available when licenses go on sale in August)
Early Bear Season:
Bear - The first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the day immediately preceding opening of the muzzleloading season. Only unfilled prior year big game tags can be used before October 1. (September 19 - October 16, 2009)
Southern Zone
Bowhunting Season:
Deer and Bear - The Saturday following the second Monday in October (Columbus Day) through the day prior to the opening of the regular Southern Zone deer season, and 9 days immediately following the close of the regular deer season. (October 17 - November 20, 2009 and December 14 - December 22, 2009)
Regular Season:
Deer - 23 days beginning the third Saturday of November. (November 21 - December 13, 2009)
Bear/Catskills - The opening of the Southern Zone regular deer season through the end of the Southern Zone regular deer season. (November 21 - December 13, 2009)
Bear/Allegany - The first Saturday after the opening of the Southern Zone regular deer season through the end of the Southern Zone regular deer season. (November 28 - December 13, 2009)
Muzzleloading Season:
Deer and Bear - The 9 days immediately following the close of the regular deer season. (December 14 - December 22, 2009)
Westchester County
Regular Deer - The Saturday following the second Monday in October (Columbus Day) and continuing through December 31st. (October 17 - December 31, 2009)
Suffolk County
Regular Season:
Deer - October 1 through December 31.
Special Firearms Season:
Deer - The first Monday following the first Saturday in January, through the last weekday in January, Monday - Friday only. (January 4 - January 29, 2010)
