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 formulas below.
See our Deer and Bear Hunting Seasons page for maps and tables of current regular, bowhunting, and muzzleloading seasons for white-tailed deer and black bear.
| Northern Zone | Bear | Adirondacks (WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H, and 6J) |
Regular 1st Saturday after the 2nd Monday in September through the Sunday immediately following the 1st Saturday in December |
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| Western Periphery (WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K, 6N) |
Early Bowhunting The first Saturday after the second Monday in September through the Friday immediately preceding the regular season (crossbows can be used during the last 10 days of this season). |
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| Early Muzzleloading 7 consecutive days beginning on the 1st Saturday after Columbus Day. |
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| Regular 2nd Saturday after Columbus Day through the Sunday immediately following the 1st Saturday in December. |
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| Deer | Early Bowhunting September 27 through the Friday immediately preceding the regular season (crossbows can be used during the last 10 days of this season). |
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| Early Muzzleloading 7 consecutive days beginning on the 1st Saturday after Columbus Day. |
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| Regular 44 consecutive days beginning on the second Saturday after Columbus Day. |
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| Late Bow and Muzzleloading(some WMUs) 7 consecutive days immediately following the regular season. |
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| Southern Zone | Bear | Early Firearms (some WMUs) 16 consecutive days beginning the first Saturday after Labor Day |
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| Early Bowhunting October 1 through the Friday immediately preceding the regular season (crossbows can be used during the last 14 days of this season). |
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| Regular 23 consecutive days beginning the third Saturday in November. |
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| Late Bow and Muzzleloading 9 consecutive days immediately following the regular season. |
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| Deer | Early Antlerless (some WMUs) 9 consecutive days beginning the 2nd Saturday of September |
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| Early Bowhunting October 1 through the Friday immediately preceding the regular season (crossbows can be used during the last 14 days of this season). |
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| Regular 23 consecutive days beginning the third Saturday in November. |
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| Late Bow and Muzzleloading 9 consecutive days immediately following the regular season and December 26 through January 1. |
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| Northern & Southern Zone | Deer & Bear | Youth (ages 12-15) 3 consecutive days beginning on the Saturday of Columbus Day Weekend |
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| Westchester County | Deer & Bear | Regular (bowhunting only) October 1 through December 31 |
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| Suffolk County | Deer | Regular (bowhunting only) October 1 through December 31 |
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| Special Firearms Season The first Sunday in January through Jan 31. |
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See Rifle, Shotgun and Bow Areas for a description of the hunting implements which may be used in the early bear season and regular deer and bear seasons.
