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Firearms Deer Hunting on NYSDEC Managed Lands in Suffolk County

NYSDEC provides deer hunting opportunity on several properties in Suffolk County. These opportunities are made available on lands owned by NYSDEC and through agreements on lands owned by the federal government, other state agencies, local governments and private landowners. A brochure of the information on this page, including a map of properties included in this program, is available at the Region 1 office in Stony Brook or may be downloaded: Firearms Deer Hunting on NYSDEC-Managed Lands in Suffolk County (199k pdf).

Properties included in this program are:

The demand for deer hunting makes it necessary for hunters to follow specific procedures to assure equal hunting opportunity for all. This web page is intended to serve as a guide to obtaining permission for deer hunting on NYSDEC-managed lands in Suffolk County. Information on deer hunting on private lands in Suffolk County may be found at Special Deer Season in Parts of Suffolk County.

Season Dates: The January firearms deer season begins on the first Monday following the first Saturday in January and ends on the last weekday of January. No firearms deer hunting is allowed on weekends.

Manner of Taking: Shotgun, using a single ball or slug, or a muzzleloading rifle, shooting a single projectile, having a minimum bore of .44 inches. Shotgun barrels may be rifled, and telescopic sights may be used. Muzzleloading pistols are NOT permitted.

Valid Tags: Hunters must have a valid big game tag to participate in the drawing and to hunt. Valid tags include the Regular Season deer tags, Deer Management Permits (DMP) for Unit 1C, Archery tags, Muzzleloader tags and Bonus DMP's for Unit 1C.

Procedures

Step 1: Enter drawing for NYSDEC-managed lands.

To hunt for deer on NYSDEC-managed lands you must enter a drawing. This drawing is always held on the first Tuesday of December. All entries must be received by 4:45 p.m. on the day before the drawing.

There are no applications for this drawing. To enter send a No. 10 legal-size envelope (4" x 9 ½") to:

NYSDEC - Deer Drawing
 Box 659
 Ridge, NY 11961-0659

This envelope must contain a self-addressed, stamped, legal-size return envelope (4" x 9 ½"). You must write your back tag number on the back of the return envelope. Applicants not sending correct envelope sizes will be rejected.

You may only send one entry. Any individual who sends more than one entry will have all of his or hers entries removed from the drawing. Each member of a two-hunter party may send one entry.

Step 2: Receive drawing number.

Within two weeks of the drawing date you will receive a drawing number in the mail. This drawing number will indicate the day in which your are to make a reservation to hunt. You must make your reservation at the Ridge hunter Check Station during the last full week (Monday-Friday) before December 25.

The sheet listing your drawing number is the only record of your selection and will be needed to select a reservation.

Step 3: Make hunting reservation.

When making a reservation you must have each of the following items with you:

  • Drawing Number & Instructions sheet with completed Application for Town Permit
  • Big Game License
  • Valid Big Game Carcass Tag

Reservations must be made in person at the Ridge Hunter Check Station at the time indicated by your drawing number or anytime thereafter. You may send another person to represent you but your representative must know your preferred area and date.

You may make only one reservation. A hunter who makes a reservation with a partner holding a number must forfeit his or her own number. Two hunters may not sign up as each other's hunting partners to hunt on different days. Upon making a reservation, you will be issued a Landowner's Endorsement and a Town Permit for the property and town that you have made a reservation for.

The Ridge Hunter Check Station is located north of Route 25 on Randall Road (1/3 mile west of the William Floyd Parkway, L.I.E. Exit 68 North) in the Hamlet of Ridge, Suffolk County.

Step 4: Appear to hunt on reservation day.

On the morning which you are to hunt, you must first report to the appropriate hunter check station to receive an access permit for the property.

Check stations will open ½ hour before sunrise, except that the Ridge Check Station will open 45 minutes before sunrise for those hunting Sarnoff and Westhampton. You should arrive one hour before sunrise.

To hunt you must have each of the following items with you:

  • Landowner's Endorsement (41K pdf) form issued by the Department,
  • Town Permit obtained from the town clerk or from NYSDEC,
  • Big Game License
  • Valid Big Game Carcass Tag

You must arrive at the check station by 8:00 a.m. to claim your reservation unless you notify us (631-924-3156) that you will be arriving late. At 8 AM, unclaimed reservations will become available to others who have the proper paperwork. After hunting, you must return to the check station no later than 30 minutes after sunset.

Ridge Hunter Check Station
484 Randall Road
Ridge, NY 11961
(631) 924-3156

The check station is open from November 1 through December 31 and for each day of the January deer season.