Deer and Bear Hunting Seasons
REMINDER: New Deer and Bear Hunting Opportunities and Requirements Continue for 2022
1. Antlerless-only deer season in mid-September (9/10 - 9/18/2022) using firearms, crossbows, and vertical bows in WMUs 3M, 3R, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8J, 8N, 9A, and 9F, and using only vertical bows in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J, and 8C. DMPs and DMAP tags only.
2. Daily hunting hours for deer and bear extended to 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
3. Hunters must wear a fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat or vest when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
4. Antlerless harvest allowed again during the early muzzleloader season in Northern Zone WMUs 6A, 6F, 6J.
5. Bear season in the Adirondacks is simplified by extending the regular season to cover the full hunting period.
6. 12- and 13-year old hunters may hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow in counties that passed a local law to participate in the opportunity. See Junior Big Game Hunting for a map of participating counties.
7. Holiday Deer Hunt is an extension of the late bow and muzzleloader season from December 26 - January 1 in the Southern Zone. Hunters and other recreationists are encouraged to Share the Snow.
Important Links
- View Future Big Game Season Dates to plan for future hunting seasons.
- See Rifle, Shotgun, and Bow Areas for where these implements are allowed.
- Check out the Crossbow Hunting page for license and training requirements and details about hunting with a crossbow.
- Be aware of Rules for Importing Big Game into New York - protect NY deer and moose from Chronic Wasting Disease.
Deer Hunting Seasons
Note: Hunters using a crossbow during the last 10 days of the early bow season in the Northern Zone are not subject to the antlered deer-only requirement of the early muzzleloader season in WMU 6N, despite the overlap in season dates.
2022 Deer Hunting Season Dates
| Area | Early Antlerless | Bowhunting | Crossbow | Regular Season | Muzzleloading | Special Late Firearms Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone | Sept. 27 - Oct. 21 Dec. 5 - Dec. 11 (WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G, 6H only) |
Oct. 12 -Oct. 21 | Oct. 22 - Dec. 4 | Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 Dec. 5- Dec. 11 (WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G, 6H only) |
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| Southern Zone |
Sept. 10 - 18 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 18 |
Nov. 5 - Nov. 18 (Not in WMUs 4J or 8C) |
Nov. 19 - Dec. 11 | Dec. 12 - Dec. 20 (except bowhunting only WMUs 4J and 8C) Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 (except bowhunting only WMUs 4J and 8C) |
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| Westchester County (WMU 3S) |
Sept. 10 - 18 (bowhunting only) | same as Regular Season | Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 (bowhunting only) |
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| Suffolk County (WMU 1C) |
Sept. 10 - 18 (bowhunting only) | same as Regular Season | Oct. 1, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023 (bowhunting only) |
Jan. 1 - Jan. 31, 2022 (Special Permit Required) |
Antler Restriction Program
An antler restriction is in place to reduce harvest of young bucks in a portion of the Catskills in southeastern New York. The antler restriction REQUIRES that bucks taken in the antler restriction units have at least one antler with 3 points (or more) which are at least one inch long. This restriction applies to the archery, regular and muzzleloading seasons. Hunters aged 12-16 years are exempt from this restriction. For more information see Antler Restrictions in New York.
Black Bear Hunting Seasons
Early Season bear hunters may use a bow (with appropriate bowhunting eligibility), crossbow, muzzleloader, handgun, shotgun, or rifle (where allowed). For legal implements in other bear seasons, please see Rifle, Shotgun, and Bow Areas.
| Area | Early | Bowhunting | Crossbow | Regular | Muzzleloading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone | Yellow shaded portion | Sept. 17- Dec. 4 | ||||
| Brown shaded portion | Sept. 17 - Oct. 21 | Oct. 12 - Oct. 21 | Oct. 22 - Dec. 4 | Oct. 15 - Oct. 21 | ||
| Southern Zone | Orange shaded portion | Oct. 1 - Nov. 18 Dec. 12 - Dec. 20 |
Nov. 5 - Nov. 18 (Not in WMUs 3S, 4J or 8C) | Nov. 19 - Dec. 11 | Dec. 12 - Dec. 20 | |
| Green shaded portion | Sept. 10 - Sept. 25 | Oct. 1 - Nov. 18 Dec. 12 - Dec. 20 |
Nov. 5 - Nov. 18 | Nov. 19 - Dec. 11 | Dec. 12 - Dec. 20 | |
| Westchester County (lt. blue shaded) |
Same as Regular Season | Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 (bowhunting only) |
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2019 Black Bear Management Cooperator Patch
Become a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator
- Report your bear harvest.
- Submit a premolar tooth from the bear for DEC to determine the bear's age.
- You will receive a commemorative patch as a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator.
See Black Bear Tooth Collection for instructions and more information about becoming a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator.
Hunting Zone Boundaries and Wildlife Management Units (WMUs)
If you need to know the boundaries of the different hunting areas, go to Legally Defined Areas for Big Game Hunting for a description of the hunting zones or Wildlife Management Units for a description of unit boundaries.
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.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Deer and Bear Hunting Regulations for a description of the hunting implements which may be used in the early bear season and regular deer and bear seasons.