Small Game and Furbearer Seasons and Regulations

Protected Wildlife

In New York State, nearly all species of wildlife are protected. Most species, including endangered species, songbirds, hawks and owls are fully protected and may not be taken. The few unprotected species include porcupine, red squirrel, woodchuck, English sparrow, starling, rock pigeon, and monk parakeet. Unprotected species may be taken at any time without limit. A hunting license is required to hunt unprotected wildlife with a bow or firearm.

Game species may be taken only during their open seasons and as summarized in this Guide. Hunters taking wildlife on licensed shooting preserves must comply with regulations governing those shooting preserves.

General Prohibitions

You may not use a rifle or handgun to hunt pheasant or turkey.
See the General Hunting Regulations for additional information.

Frogs

Frogs may be taken statewide, from sunrise to sunset, from June 15 to September 30. There is no limit. A fishing or small game license is required to take frogs with a spear, club, hook or by hand. A small game license is required to take frogs with a gun or bow.

Falconry Seasons

Falconry is the sport of hunting small game species with trained raptors. A person must possess a valid Falconry License and a small game license to hunt with raptors.

A licensed falconer may take small game species from October 1 through March 31 in any area of the state open to hunting these species EXCEPT:

Waterfowl may also be taken during a specific period outside the firearms hunting season but within the Federal waterfowl season framework (see details in the Waterfowl Hunting Guide).
Common crow may only be taken during the open firearms season.

Note: A licensed falconer may take both male and female pheasants anywhere in the State when hunting under a Falconry License.

For more information on Falconry contact the DEC Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4752 or call (518) 402-8985.

Selling Furbearers

Furbearers may be bought and sold with or without pelt attached to the carcass.
Bobcat pelts, or carcasses with pelt attached, shall be possessed or transported only in the manner described in Pelt Sealing.

Wildlife Taken Outside the State

Legally imported game may be possessed and transported at any time.

Game birds and animals (except migratory game birds) legally taken outside the State may be imported in any manner, except by parcel post, in the number which may be legally exported from the place of taking as follows:

During their respective open seasons in this State by the taker without license or permit.
During the closed season in this State, provided the taker first obtains an importation license from a DEC regional office.

Use of Hunting Dogs

Dogs may be used to hunt small game, except:

You may not use dogs to hunt wild turkey in the spring.
In the Northern Zone, if you are hunting with a dog, or accompanied by a dog, you may not possess a rifle larger than .22 caliber rim-fire or possess a shotgun loaded with slug, ball or buckshot unless you are engaged in coyote hunting with a dog and have received a permit from an Environmental Conservation Officer; any legal firearm may be used for this type of hunting.

Training - You may train dogs on raccoon, fox, coyote, and bobcat from July 1 through April 15. You may train dogs on other small game only from August 15 through April 15.

You may train dogs at any time on lands you own, lease, or have written permission to use, if you are not training on wildgame. You may only use blank ammunition when training dogs, except during an open season.

Control - Hunting dogs should remain under control of the hunter or trainer, especially on lands inhabited by deer. Do not shoot at dogs; report stray dogs to a local Environmental Conservation Officer or your local animal control officer.

Furbearer Hunting:

To hunt furbearers, you need to possess a junior hunting, small game, small/big game, sportsman, super sportsman, nonresident hunting, or nonresident super sportsman license. A trapping or big game license does not allow you to hunt furbearers. Furbearers may be hunted with a bow or firearm as described below. All laws pertaining to the use of a spotlight and firearm apply.

You may hunt red and gray fox, coyote, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, mink, weasel and opossum.
If you take a bobcat, it must be tagged and sealed.
You may use a call, including an electronic call.
You may hunt furbearers only after sunrise on the opening day. They may be taken at any hour, day or night, for the rest of their hunting season.
Skunk may be hunted during their open trapping season.
Mink may only be hunted in the Southern Zone with a firearm not larger than .22 caliber during their open trapping season. Mink may not be hunted with a firearm in the Northern Zone
Muskrat may only be hunted on Lake Champlain during the open trapping season with a firearm not larger than a .22 caliber.
You may hunt furbearers during the day using any handgun, shotgun, rifle or bow. You may hunt at night as described below:

Furbearer Hunting at Night

You may hunt furbearers at night, with or without a light, as follows:

Use any handgun or bow.
Use a shotgun loaded with shot (any size).
Use a rifle chambered in any cartridge, except that you may not possess a centerfire rifle afield, during the day or night, during any open season for deer in areas restricted to using a shotgun only for deer.

If hunting without a light, the use of a light gathering ("starlight") scope is legal on any firearm listed above.

NOTE: Westchester County and Long Island - Rifles are not allowed

More about Small Game and Furbearer Seasons and Regulations:

Small Game and Furbearer Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for small game and furbearer hunting and season dates and bag limits for taking rabbits, grouse, turkey, squirrel, frogs, pheasant, varying hare, and bob white quail.
Wild Turkey Hunting Regulations - Summary of Wild Turkey Hunting Regulations for New York State.
Youth Hunt For Wild Turkey - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is establishing a new youth hunt for wild turkey.