Furbearer Hunting
There are ten species of furbearers that may be hunted: coyote, bobcat, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, opossum, skunk, weasel, mink, and muskrat. Mink and muskrat may only be hunted under special conditions (see below).
License Requirements
To hunt furbearers, you need to possess a junior hunting, small game, small/big game, sportsman, super sportsman, non-resident hunting, or non-resident super sportsman license. A trapping or big game license does not allow you to hunt furbearers.
Hunting Hours and Methods
- You may hunt furbearers after sunrise on the opening day of the season. They may be taken at any hour, day or night, for the rest of their hunting season until sunset on the closing day of the season. For more on hunting furbearers at night, see below.
- You may hunt furbearers during the day using any handgun, shotgun, rifle or bow. All laws pertaining to the use of firearms apply.
- You may hunt furbearers with a rifle chambered in any cartridge, except that during any open season for deer - including archery, muzzleloading and regular seasons - you may not possess a centerfire rifle afield, during the day or night, to hunt wildlife, including furbearers in any county or portion of a county where deer hunting with rifles is prohibited during the regular deer season.
- Air guns may be used to hunt furbearers. An air gun is defined as a firearm that uses spring or compressed air (not gunpowder) to propel a single projectile that is .17 caliber or larger and produces a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet/second.
- You may use a call, including an electronic call.
Furbearer Hunting at Night
You may hunt furbearers at night, with or without a light, as follows:
- You may use a light, but you may not hunt from any motor vehicle, including an ATV. All laws pertaining to the use of a spotlight and firearm apply.
- If hunting without a light, the use of a light gathering ("starlight") scope is legal on any firearm listed below.
- You may use any handgun or bow.
- You may use a shotgun loaded with shot (any size).
- You may hunt furbearers with a rifle chambered in any cartridge, except that during any open season for deer - including archery, muzzleloading and regular seasons - you may not possess a centerfire rifle afield, during the day or night, to hunt wildlife, including furbearers in any county or portion of a county where deer hunting with rifles is prohibited during the regular deer season.
NOTE: In Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties rifles are not allowed. In all other localities, be sure to check with local officials about laws restricting the discharge of a firearm at night.
Mink and Muskrat Hunting
- 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 .22 caliber.
Reporting Your Take
There is mandatory harvest reporting only for bobcat. You must fill-out a Furbearer Possession Tag and have the pelt sealed.
Selling Furbearers
- Furbearers may be bought and sold with or without the pelt attached to the carcass.
- Bobcat pelts, or carcasses with the pelt attached, shall be possessed or transported only in the manner described in "Pelt Sealing".
More about Furbearer Hunting:
- Bobcat Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for bobcat hunting.
- Coyote Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for coyote hunting.
- Raccoon, Red & Gray Fox, Skunk, Opossum & Weasel Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for red fox, gray fox, opossum, skunk, weasel and raccoon hunting and season dates.
