Public Hunting Opportunities in Suffolk County, Long Island
WCU 1C (Long Island) has announced the new spring turkey season for May 2023. Please see the Hunting on Long Island webpage for information on regulations for the new season and how to hunt on public lands.
DEC manages several public hunting areas on Long Island which are shown and described on Long Island Public Hunting Areas. Access permits are required as follows:
- DEC Managed Land Access permits are required for hunting on all DEC-managed areas on Long Island, except when a daily access permit is required. Daily access permits are not issued to hunters after 2:30 p.m.
- Daily access permits are required to hunt on parts of the Rocky Point Natural Resources Management Area and parts of the Otis Pike Preserve from November 1 through December 31.
- Daily access permits also are required to firearm hunt for deer on all DEC-managed areas open during the January firearms deer season in Suffolk County. DEC Managed Land Access Permit Procedures for Hunting
Except for the days of the January firearms deer season, a DEC Managed Land Access Permit is required to hunt on the Sarnoff Pine Barrens Preserve, Barcelona Neck, Westhampton Management Area, East Bartlett, Ridge, Henry's Hollow, East Hampton Cooperative Area, Southampton Cooperative Area, and the following portions of the Otis Pike Preserve and Rocky Point Natural Resources Management Area:
- Rocky Point (spot numbers 7A, 25 & 33A)
- Otis Pike - Topping Path/Hunter's Garden (spot numbers 23-34)
- Otis Pike - Eastport (spot numbers 41-42, 58-59)
- Otis Pike - Nugent Drive/South River Road (spot numbers 13A, 16A, 35, 43)
- Otis Pike - Hot Water Street (spot numbers 46-47)
- Otis Pike - Spot number 38A & 65A
- Otis Pike - Parking Spot 51W (only waterfowl spot on Mill Road)
- Otis Pike - Mill Road (spot numbers 56A, 57A)
- Otis Pike - Ryerson Avenue (spot numbers 60A(2), 61W)
- Otis Pike - South River Road (spot number 66A)
A free 3-year Managed Land Access Permit is required to hunt on any of the tidal wetlands areas owned by DEC where hunting is allowed. Visit DEC's nForm page if you need information on how to obtain a NY.gov account, which is required for these permits. See Long Island Public Hunting Areas for more information.
Hunters using the Managed Land Access Permit must park in any open eligible marked spots when provided. For properties that have no designated parking spots, it is the hunter's responsibility to park and access the property legally. There is no need to visit the check station prior to going afield.
Daily Access Permit Procedures, November - December on Rocky Point and Otis Pike
From November 1 through December 31, all hunting on Rocky Point (except spot numbers 7A, 25 & 33A) and parts of Otis Pike (parking spot numbers 1 through 12, 14 and 15, 17 through 22, 36, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, and 55) is by daily access permit only. Daily access permits can be obtained at the Ridge Hunter Check Station. Daily access permits are not issued to hunters after 2:30 p.m.
Non-Holiday Weekdays
On Monday-Friday in November or December daily access permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Daily access permits are issued one (1) hour and 15 minutes before sunrise for archers and waterfowl hunters and 15 minutes before sunrise for small game hunters. On weekdays, hunters arriving before the check station opens must park in numbered parking spots in front of the check station according to the order of their arrival and must sign the list at the check station window to ensure their place in line.
Weekends, Holidays, and November 1
On high volume days (weekends, holidays, and opening day), a.m. hunting is by reservation only. Reservations are made by calling the hunter check station at (631) 924-3156. Refer to the table for the date to call to make a reservation for the day you would like to hunt.
- Reservations for Rocky Point will be taken from 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
- Reservations for Otis Pike will be taken from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Reservations may continue to be made for either property from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.
Only one reservation may be made per call. The hunter does not need to be the one to call, but the hunter's name and date of birth must be provided. In return for making the reservation, each hunter will be given a number that corresponds to his or her place in line to pick a hunting spot. Early reservations or reservations made in person will not be accepted.
New and Junior Hunters
New and junior hunters (new: within two years of completing a Hunter Education course; Junior: 12-15 years old) may call early to make reservations. New and junior hunter reservations will be taken for both properties from 7:45 a.m.- 8:15 a.m. On the day of the hunt you must provide proof that you are either a new or junior hunter by presenting your Hunter Education certificate or a junior license. Only two new or junior hunter reservations may be made per month. Only five new or junior hunter reservations will be taken per property per day.
Reservation Call in Times
Refer to chart for date to call. To make a reservation, call (631) 924-3156 during the hours listed below:
- New or Junior hunters: 7:45 a.m.- 8:15 a.m. for either property
- Rocky Point: 8:30 a.m.- 10 a.m.
- Otis Pike Preserve: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Any remaining reservations will be filled from 12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m.
Reservation and Call-in Dates 2023
| November Reservation Day | Day to Call | December Reservation Day | Day to Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1 (Opening Day) | October 28 | December 2 | November 25 |
| November 4 | October 28 | December 3 | November 26 |
| November 5 | October 29 | December 9 | December 2 |
| November 8 (Election Day) | November 4 | December 10 | December 3 |
| November 11 (Veterans Day) | November 4 | December 16 | December 9 |
| November 12 | November 5 | December 17 | December 10 |
| November 18 | November 11 | December 23 | December 16 |
| November 19 | November 12 | December 24 | December 17 |
| November 25 | November 18 | December 30 | December 23 |
| November 26 | November 19 | December 31 | December 24 |
Reservation Numbers
- Numbers will be given out in sequential order to callers.
- If you plan on hunting with a partner and are both calling in, be sure to check whether he/she has already made a reservation. If two hunters make separate reservations and go out together on one reservation, one hunter will be charged with a missed reservation.
- New and junior hunters will receive random numbers.
Maximum Number of Reservations and Missed Reservations
- Hunters can make or use a maximum of seven reservations in November and six in December.
- If you make and use a reservation you will be charged one reservation.
- If you hunt on someone else's reservation you will be charged one reservation.
- Reservations will be held until 8 a.m. without a phone call.
- If you make and do not use a reservation, you still will be charged for one reservation and will be penalized for a missed reservation.
- Hunters who fail to use two reservations that they have made in the same month will be barred from making or using any reservations for the remainder of the month. They may continue to hunt on standby.
- A hunter may use another hunter's reservation by showing a copy of his/her license, but the person whose name the reservation is in will be charged for a missed reservation.
- Hunters going out at 8 a.m. standby will not be charged a reservation.
Stand-by Hunting
Hunters who fail to make a reservation or have met the maximum number of reservations may continue to hunt on stand-by. At 8 a.m. each day, all parking spots that have not been filled will be given away to hunters who have placed themselves on the stand-by list.
Early Out Reservations (Archery, Turkey and Waterfowl)
On non-reservation days, waterfowl hunters and archery deer hunters who would like to hunt on the Rocky Point or the Otis Pike Preserve may reserve a parking site the day before they want to hunt. To make an early out reservation, you must call the Ridge Check Station at (631) 924-3156 between 12 and 2 p.m. the day before you want to hunt (Sunday through Thursday only). After making an early out reservation, hunters must pick up their permits and placards and leave their licenses in a drop box on the porch of the check station any time after 6 p.m. the night before they hunt. This will allow hunters to go directly to their reserved parking spots in the morning. Hunters must still check out at the check station no later than one hour after sunset on the day they hunt.
The following spots may be reserved for an early out reservation:
Rocky Point spots: 1, 6, 9, 18, 22*, 26*, 29 - 32, 34 - 41, 43, 44, 49 and 50.
(*two-car spots; only one can be reserved as an early-out spot)
Otis Pike Preserve spots: 3, 5, 7, 10 or 12**, 14, 15, 17 or 19**, 36, 44, 45, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54 and 55
(**only one of these two spots will be given out as an early-archery or early-waterfowl spot).
If you make an early-out reservation, you may hunt only the species for which the reservation was made. Any hunter who fails to use two early-out reservations in one month will be barred from making or using any early-out reservations for the remainder of the month.
January Firearms Season
The January firearms deer-hunting season begins on the Sunday of the first full week in January and continues through the remainder of the month. Where allowed, firearms deer hunting on all DEC-managed lands is by daily permits distributed according to a drawing held on the first Tuesday of December. Deadline for entry is the day before at 4:45 p.m.
To enter the drawing, hunters must now complete a Long Island State Lands January Firearms Drawing Registration Form (2023 link available on October 1, leaves DEC website).
In order to complete the survey and enter the drawing, hunters must fill out their name, email address, DEC customer ID, and county of residence. Once the survey is completed and submitted, you have been entered into the drawing. Your drawing number will be returned via email after the drawing date.
For general questions, or for those unable to access the survey online, please call DEC's Region 1 Wildlife office at (631) 444-0310. Callers may need to leave a message; all messages will be returned as soon as possible. If you have already submitted an entry by mail, please call Region 1 Wildlife office for further instruction. Do not enter the drawing multiple times as duplicate entries will be removed.
Online applications will be accepted through 4:45 p.m. December 4, 2023. Anyone unable to complete the online survey should contact the office at (631) 444-0310 before December 4.
Other Property Owners that offer Public Hunting Opportunities in Suffolk County
Fire Island National Seashore (leaves DEC website)
Suffolk County Parklands (leaves DEC website)
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge: Located on the south shore of Long Island in Suffolk County. This area offers deer and youth turkey hunting opportunities. State and refuge permits are required.
For current information on seasons, permits, maps and regulations, contact: Refuge Manager, Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, 340 Smith Road, Shirley, NY 11967; Telephone: (631) 286-0485 or visit Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge's website (leaves DEC website).
Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge: Located in the Town of Islip in Suffolk County. This property has opened 100 acres to white-tailed deer archery hunting November through January. The property is otherwise closed to the public. Permits are required.
For current information on seasons, permits, maps and regulations, contact: Refuge Manager, Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, 340 Smith Road, Shirley, NY 11967; Telephone: (631) 286-0485 or visit or Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge's website (leaves DEC website).
