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Places to Hunt in New York

Find Public Land to Hunt on

Many state lands, including Wildlife Management Areas, State Forests, and State Parks are open for hunting and trapping during the appropriate seasons.

Written permission or permits are sometimes required to use state lands. (See "Dos and Don'ts on DEC Lands" below) These are available from DEC Regional Offices during normal business hours.

Get Maps of Public Lands

Create a Custom Map
The State Lands Interactive Mapper can be used to create custom maps of trails and hunting areas on state lands. You can also view DEC lands in Google Earth (Google Earth must be installed on your computer).

State Forest Maps
Many state forests allow hunting. Links to DEC State Forests with descriptions and maps.

Wildlife Management Area Maps

You can view a list of the Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in each DEC region and get maps for some WMAs.

Hunting in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve

Hunting and trapping are permitted in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve. All state land rules and camping requirements apply to the preserves, as well as additional rules specific to certain areas. Contact the DEC Regional Office or nearest NYS Forest Ranger for further information on the area you are interested in.

Hunting in State Parks

Many state parks offer waterfowl, small game and big game hunting. The state parks in the table below allow deer hunting.
For more information, contact the DEC Regional Offices or visit the state parks website.

Call each state park to find out specific dates and other regulations.

Key to symbols in table:
* Archery only
** Archery and muzzleloading only
(P) Permit required
(S) No Sunday hunting
(A) Many Saratoga Regional State Park facilities are open to hunting under specific regulations and a permit obtained from the Park Manager.

State Parks That Allow Hunting
County State Park Telephone Number DEC Region
Albany John Boyd Thatcher (P) (A) (518) 872-1237 4
Cattaraugus Allegany (P) (S) (716) 354-9101 9
Cayuga Fillmore Glen ** (315) 497-0130 7
Cayuga Long Point (315) 497-0130 7
Chemung Mark Twain * (607) 739-0034 8
Chenango Hunts Pond (607) 859-2249 7
Chenango Bowman Lake (607) 334-2718 7
Columbia Taconic-Copake Falls (518) 329-3993 4
Columbia Lake Taghkanic * (518) 851-3631 4
Columbia Hudson River Islands (P)(A) (518) 872-1237 4
Columbia Clermont * (518) 537-4240 4
Delaware, Broome Oquaga Creek (607) 467-4160 4,7
Genesee Darien Lakes (P) (585) 547-9481 8
Jefferson Wellesley Island * (P) (315) 482-2722 6
Lewis Whetstone Gulf * (315) 376-6630 6
Livingston, Wyoming Letchworth (P) (585) 493-3600 8,9
Oneida Verona Beach * (P) (315) 762-4463 6
Oneida Pixley Falls (315) 942-4713 6
Ontario Harriet Hollister Spencer (585) 335-8111 8
Orange Sterling Forest (P) (845) 351-5907 3
Orange Storm King (845) 786-2701 3
Otsego Gilbert Lake * (P) (607) 432-2114 4
Putnam Clarence Fahnestock* (P) (845) 225-7207 3
Putnam Hudson Highlands * (P) (845) 225-7207 3
Rensselaer Schodack Island (P)(A) (518) 584-2000 4
Rensselaer Cherry Plain (P)(A) (518) 279-1155 4
Rensselaer Grafton Lakes (P)(A) (518) 279-1155 4
St. Lawrence Coles Creek (315) 388-5636 6
St. Lawrence Higley Flow (315) 262-2880 6
Saratoga Moreau Lake (518) 793-0511 5
Schoharie Mine Kill (P) (A) (518) 827-6111 4
Schuyler Watkins Glen * (607) 535-4511 8
Seneca Sampson (P) (315) 585-6392 8
Steuben Pinnacle (P) ** (607) 359-2767 8
Steuben Stony Brook * (585) 335-8111 8
Suffolk Hither Hills * (P) (631) 668-2554 1
Suffolk Montauk Point (P) (S) (631) 668-3781 1
Sullivan Lake Superior (845) 794-3000
ext 3006		 3
Tompkins Buttermilk Falls *
Oct-May phone		 (607) 273-5761
(607) 273-3440		 7
Tompkins R.H. Treman * (P) (607) 273-3440 7
Tompkins Taughannock Falls * (607) 387-6739 7
Ulster Minnewaska (845) 255-0753 3
Wayne Chimney Bluffs (315) 947-5205 8
Wyoming Silver Lake (P) (585) 493-3600 9
Yates Keuka Lake ** (315) 536-3666 8

Other Areas to Hunt

New York City Watershed Lands: The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) allows deer, bear, turkey, and small game hunting on designated City Water Supply lands as provided by New York State regulations. DEP is no longer issuing Hunting Tags for hunting on City Water Supply Lands. Hunters must possess the appropriate, valid New York State hunting license and a valid Access Permit to hunt on designated hunting areas on City Water Supply Lands. DEP Access Permits are not required on Public Access Areas. For more information, visit the off-site link "New York City Watershed Lands" in the right-hand column.

Fort Drum Military Base: Located in Jefferson County, 3 miles northeast of Watertown between state Route 11 and state Route 3. The facility has an active outdoor recreation program that enhances the quality of life for soldiers, their families, military retirees, civilian employees and the general public. Outdoor recreation includes hunting, fishing, trapping, birdwatching, primitive camping, hiking, and berry-picking. Fort Drum provides one of the largest tracts of land in the northeast region available to the general public for recreational use with approximately 69,000 acres available for hunting and trapping as well as other outdoor recreational activities, dependent upon current military training operations. Fort Drum requires special permitting. Call their outdoor recreation office (315-772-9636 or 772-4999) for information or visit the off-site link "Hunting at Fort Drum" in the right-hand column.

Whitney Point Reservoir Multiple Use Area: Located on State Route 26 several miles north of the Village of Whitney Point in Broome and Cortland counties. Offers big and small game hunting. No special hunting permits required.

Moose River Recreation Area: Located in Hamilton County. Hunting and trapping in a 50,000- acre wilderness setting. Register at the gate. 140 primitive camping sites available. Extensive seasonal road network.

Finger lakes National Forest: Located east of Seneca Lake in Schuyler and Seneca counties. Small and big game hunting. No special hunting permits required.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge: Located at the north end of Cayuga Lake in Seneca County. This area is open for deer hunting on a controlled basis during both the archery and regular seasons. Permits are required. When deer management permit use is allowed, WMU 8J permits are valid. For current information on seasons, permits, maps and regulations, write:
Refuge ManagerMontezuma National Wildlife Refuge3395 Route 5-20 eastSeneca Falls, NY 13148Telephone (315) 568-5987

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge: Located east of Lockport in Genesee and Orleans counties. This area is open for deer hunting during both the archery and regular seasons. Further information is available from:
Refuge ManagerIroquois National Wildlife Refuge1101 Casey RoadAlabama, NY 14013Telephone: (585) 948-5445

Public Campgrounds

Generally, camping is available during the big game season. However, some services such as showers may not be available. DEC operates 52 public campgrounds in the Forest Preserves. Public campgrounds outside the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves are operated by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. For all public campgrounds, reservations can be made by calling 1-800- 456-CAMP or on line at www.park-net.com More information is available from: NYSDEC, Bureau of Recreation and Field Operations, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-5253.

Private Lands

Eighty-five percent of the state is privately-owned and over 90 percent of all hunters will hunt on private lands during the hunting seasons.

Rights-of-way, such as power lines and railroads that cross private property are NOT public lands, and trespassing on these areas without permission from the landowner is illegal. Federal law prohibits hunting and possession of firearms on lands administered by the National Park Service, including the Appalachian Trail.

Always ASK permission to hunt on private land, whether or not it is posted. Even landowners who post are likely to say "yes" to people who show their respect for private property by asking first. Most rural landowners are generous people who will gladly help visitors.

Trees and other plants on private land are private property. It is illegal to cut or remove them, or to cut limbs or damage bark (such as from putting up blinds or tree stands, or cutting shooting lanes or trails) without the landowner's permission.

Some landowners use ASK Permission stickers on their signs. These symbols, a product of the State Fish & Wildlife Management Board in cooperation with DEC, express the landowners' willingness to allow access to their property to those people who ASK. The ASK stickers are available free from DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12233-4754.

A poor image of outdoor recreationists is one main reason why access to some private property is denied. If recreationists demonstrate courtesy to landowners and respect for property, the situation could improve. If, however, trespassing, littering and vandalism occur, access will continue to be denied.

ask permission poster
Ask permission poster

Be courteous, ASK:

  • Permission well in advance of your trip. Don't show up on opening day, or at inconvenient times, or with a gun in your hand, or your snowmobile or ATV running in the front yard.
  • When you can go. Just because you hunted there in October, don't assume you can go back the next year without asking permission.
  • What is permitted on the property. Do not park off-road vehicles, camp, damage vegetation, construct a permanent structure (tree stands, blinds or platforms) or store personal property without the landowner's permission.
  • Where certain activities are allowed. Shooting may disturb nearby farm animals or neighbors.
  • Who is welcome. More than two or three people can be an unwelcome crowd.
  • About special concerns -- if the landowner's family is likely to be in the woods or fields and where the property boundaries are located.

And lastly, but very importantly, thank the landowner for his/her generosity. Show your appreciation by offering to share your game or buy a bushel of his/her crops, such as apples.

FWMA Cooperative Areas

Through cooperative agreements under New York's Fish & Wildlife Management Act (FWMA), Cooperative Hunting Areas provide access and management services to privately-owned lands in order to increase public hunting opportunities. When using these areas, remember that you are a guest on private property and act accordingly.

Hunters are strongly advised to contact the DEC Regional Office for current information about the status of these areas. Following is a list of the areas arranged by county.

Cooperative Hunting Areas
County Cooperative Area DEC Region / Phone
Cayuga/
Tompkins		 King Ferry Region 7 / (607) 753-3095 x 247
Delaware Cannonsville* Region 4 / (607) 652-7367
Jefferson Fort Drum Region 6 / 315-772-9636 or 772-4999
Orange Stewart Region 3 / (914) 256-3098
Ulster Shaupeneak Ridge Area Region 3 / (914) 256-3098
Wyoming Sulphur Springs Region 9 / (716) 372-0645

*Beginning April 1, 2002 a new permit is required for recreational activities on all New York City - owned water supply lands, including Cannonsville reservoir, For more information see: The DEP Website

Liability

Whether or not the land is posted, New York State General Obligations Law protects landowners from liability for non-paying recreationists engaged in hunting, trapping and fishing on their property. Because of this protection, recreational liability lawsuits against rural landowners are uncommon. This protection does not apply in cases of willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against dangers.


More about Places to Hunt in New York:

  • Places to Hunt in Region 6 - What public land areas around the Western Adirondacks/ Upper Mohawk Valley/ Eastern Lake Ontario and Tug Hill, in Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Oneida and Herkimer counties are good for hunting various small and big game species?