The Guide To Deer Hunting Season NY 2024

With an estimated one million whitetails, New York is a paradise for deer hunting. It offers a variety of environments to support these populations, making it hard to beat as a leading deer hunting state. 

Before you start planning your hunting season NY trip, it's crucial to check out the following information regarding season dates, regulations, and more to ensure everything is on point. This responsible approach will contribute to the sustainability of the hunting experience.

New York Deer Season Dates and Zones

The New York deer hunting seasons vary depending on the management zone, so always check the Department of Environmental Conservation for the most up-to-date information regarding timings and regulations.

The season dates for 2024 are as follows: 

Northern Zone
 

• Early Bowhunting: September 27 thru October 25
• Crossbow: October 16 thru 25 
• Regular Season: October 26 thru December 8
• Late Bowhunting (WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G, 6H only): December 9 thru 15
• Muzzleloader: 
  • Deer of Either Sex: October 19 thru 25 and December 9 thru 15
  • Antlered Only: October 19 thru 25
• Youth Firearms: October 12 thru 14

Southern Zone

• Early Bowhunting: October 1 thru November 15
• Crossbow (Except in WMUs 4J or 8C): November 2 thru 15 
• Early Antlerless: September 14 thru 22 (Firearms, Bow, and Crossbow based on WMUs)
• Regular Season: November 16 thru December 8
• Late Bowhunting: December 9 thru 17 and December 26 thru January 1
• Muzzleloader: 
  • Deer of Either Sex: December 9 thru 17 and December 26 thru January 1
• Youth Firearms: October 12 thru 14

Westchester County (WMU 3S only)

• Early Antlerless (Bow Only): September 14 thru 22
• Regular (Bow Only): October 1 thru December 31

Suffolk County (WMU 1C)

• Early Antlerless (Bow Only): September 14 thru 22
• Regular (Bow Only): October 1 thru January 31
• Special Late Firearms (Permit Required): January 5 – 31, 2025

In the interest of accessibility and to encourage the sport of hunting, the DEC has updated its licensing and tagging requirements. Tags are now printed on paper instead of plastic. This allows hunters to print tags at home, meaning less time bogged down in administration and more time outdoors.

Additionally, hunters are not required to wear the previously mandated black tag in the field. 

Licensing, Permits, and Regulations

All interstate hunters and locals must purchase a hunting license before deer hunting in New York. Resident licenses can be purchased for $22 (ages 16-69), $5 (ages 70+), and $5 (ages 12-15), and non-resident licenses will set you back $100 (ages 16+) and $5 (ages 12-15) respectively.

Purchases can be made in three different methods: online, through DEC issuing agents, or by phone at 866-933-2257. To qualify as a resident, hunters must have lived in New York for thirty days before applying. 

Hunter education is necessary for all hunters at least 12 years old. 

After purchasing a hunting license, hunters intending to hunt deer must purchase the relevant privilege, such as a bowhunting or muzzleloading privilege. Special permits for hunting in a specified zone may also be required, such as a Wildlife Management Unit privilege when hunting antlerless deer (antlers less than 3" long).

Finally, hunters who fall into specialized categories, such as senior, junior, Native American, etc., have a range of free and discounted license options.

Bag Limits

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) sets bag limits to protect wildlife populations, and the number will depend on the licenses and privileges purchased.

Generally, the limit is one deer per hunter per licensed year. However, a hunter exercising a special antlerless deer license may exceed this allocation. 

Hunting Hours and Hunter Colors 

Legal hunting hours are one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. Any hunter hunting during the gun season must wear at least 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink above the waist.

CWD Restrictions

Due to CWD concerns, hunters are not permitted to bring in any carcass, whole or intact heads of deer, elk, moose, or caribou that they harvest anywhere outside New York State.

Make sure you understand this rule and why Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is dangerous before heading out for your hunt.

Muzzleloader Regulations

Muzzleloaders may not be used in WMUs 3S, 4J, or 8C and only in 1C during the January firearms season. Hunters must ensure they have the muzzleloader privilege before taking any deer through this method.

Additionally, muzzleloaders must have a minimum bore of 44 inches. 

Bowhunting Regulations

Crossbows are permitted during certain portions of some seasons, and the term bow includes long, compound, and recurve styles. Hunters must possess a current bowhunting or junior bowhunting privilege to participate during the bowhunting seasons.

Tagging Requirements

Deer harvests must be recorded within seven days of the take and can be recorded via the HuntFish NY app, online via the DEC webpage, or by phoning  1-866-GAME-RPT (1-866-426-3778).

Public Land Hunting in NY

New York offers nearly 4 million acres of public land, providing hunters ample opportunity to target deer in various wilderness environments. These managed zones include Wildlife Management Areas, State Forests, Forest Preserves, and State Parks.

It's hard to know where to start, but I've always found that looking at previous years' harvest numbers can be a great starting point. The Western regions, such as the Finger Lakes area, last consistently produce healthy deer with solid numbers. 

During hunting season NY, "public" doesn't necessarily have to mean "crowded." Areas like the Adirondack Mountains up north and the Catskills in the south offer plenty of opportunities for hunters looking to push their hunt further away from popular locations for a wilder experience. 

Start With Research

When hunting public land, research is your friend. This means researching everything from the number of tags allocated to specific regions to contacting relevant authorities to ask in person about the state of deer hunting in a particular zone.

Consider the hunting zone and habitat it offers, prioritizing mixed environments or meeting points of two differing environments. 

You'll find information about public hunting areas on the DEC webpage. You can also use the HuntWise app to view 3-D maps and various layers to really understand the lay of the land through e-scouting.

Private Land Hunting 

Private land hunting offers a unique and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. The first hurdle is finding suitable private land to hunt on. 

The easiest and most time-efficient strategy is to use the HuntWise app to find, explore, and access details on private land across the U.S. 

Generally, the further from urban centers and towns, the better, as these landowners are likely to receive far more requests for access than those in more remote locations. From there, it's a matter of assembling an honest, respectful, and thoughtful request. Include information about the safety precautions you take (no land owner wants an emergency on their land) and your approach and attitude towards hunting and ethical practices. 

Whether fishing or hunting, I always like to offer some of the bounty I harvest with the private landowners (assuming I get something). However, any small gesture can go a long way. 

If you are granted access, always follow the rules set out by the landowner. Don't rush in and out; have a conversation and get contact details to stay in touch. 

Tips for a Successful Hunting Season NY

No matter the hunting method, the more work you put in the pre-season, the greater the chance of a successful hunt.

This means in-depth e-scouting targeting low-pressure hunting zones, shooting off private land requests, spending time in the range, and education to skill up before the season opens. Utilize the HuntWise app and topographical map feature to identify potential deer travel routes, feeding locations, and bedding areas. Doing this will help you plan your scouting trips more effectively.

Once you've determined your intended zone, spend some time in the location checking for deer signs, including scrapes, droppings, passageways, feeding, and bedding markers.

Make a special note of deer passageways that appear to be multi-use, e.g., from feeding areas to water holes to bedding, and consider where to position your tree stand or hunting blind to take advantage of this scene. 

Hunt New York With Confidence Thanks to HuntWise 

The New York deer season presents hunters with an exciting opportunity to explore some stunning natural landscapes while chasing impressive deer. 

Because zoning and bag limits can change based on your intended area, ensure you stay on top of all regulations and the latest hunting land information with the HuntWise app. This will provide you with insights into everything you need to know, from bag limits to weather forecasting, mapping insights, and a whole lot more. 

Use HuntCast to track and plan for the weather. WindCast helps you know where to place your stand and how to get in and out of your hunting area based on wind direction. You'll also benefit from the ability to see topography without vegetation cover when using the LiDAR map layer.

Ready to start planning your hunting season, NY? Download HuntWise and explore the app free for your first week!