Overview
Known For
New York is known for hunting being among the top form of recreation in the state. Here a hunter can pursue white-tailed deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, and black bears. While deer hunting is the most popular game hunted, New York also has between 6,000 to 7,000 black bears.
Terrain
New York’s terrain is mostly hilly with portions of lowlands that surround the great depression filled by Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Parts are heavily forested, and swampy terrain is found near the coast and the Hudson River.
New York Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bear – Early Southern Zone
Certain WMUs.
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Sep 9, 2023 | Sep 24, 2023 |
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Bear – Bow Northern Zone
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Sep 16, 2023 | Oct 20, 2023 |
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Bear – Early Bow Northern Zone
Certain WMUs
|
Sep 16, 2023 | Oct 20, 2023 |
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Bear – Early Bow Southern Zone
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Bear – Bow Westchester County
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Oct 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
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Bear – Crossbow Northern Zone
|
Oct 11, 2023 | Oct 20, 2023 |
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Bear – Muzzleloader Northern Zone
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Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 20, 2023 |
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Bear – Gun Northern Zone
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Oct 21, 2023 | Dec 3, 2023 |
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Bear – Crossbow Southern
No crossbow hunting is allowed in zones 4J and 8C.
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Nov 4, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
|
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Bear – Gun Southern Zone
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Nov 18, 2023 | Dec 10, 2023 |
|
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Bear – Late Bow Southern Zone
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Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 19, 2023 |
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Bear – Muzzleloader Southern Zone
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Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 19, 2023 |
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Bobcat 1
No limit. Select units.
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Oct 25, 2023 | Feb 15, 2024 |
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Bobcat 2
No limit. Select units.
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Oct 25, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Coyote
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Mar 31, 2024 |
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Deer – Early Bow Northern Zone
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Sep 27, 2023 | Oct 20, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Westchester County
Bowhunting only.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Deer – Early Bow Southern Zone
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Deer – Bow Suffolk County
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Deer – Muzzleloader Northern Zone 1
See regulations for zone restrictions.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 20, 2023 |
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Deer – Crossbow Southern Zone
No hunting allowed in WMU’s 4J or 8C.
|
Nov 4, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Deer – Gun South Zone
|
Nov 18, 2023 | Dec 10, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Muzzleloader Northern Zone 2
See regulations for zone restrictions. (WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G, 6H only) |
Dec 4, 2023 | Dec 10, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Late Bow Northern Zone
WMU’s 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G, and 6H.
|
Dec 4, 2023 | Dec 10, 2023 |
|
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Deer – Late Bow Southern Zone 1
|
Dec 11, 2023 | Dec 19, 2023 |
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Deer – Muzzleloader Southern Zone 1
South Zone
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Dec 12, 2023 | Dec 20, 2023 |
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Deer – Muzzleloader Southern Zone 2
|
Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Deer – Late Bow Southern Zone 2
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 |
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Deer – Special Firearms Suffolk County
Permit Required.
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Jan 7, 2024 | Jan 31, 2024 |
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Duck – Northeast Zone 2
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
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Oct 4, 2023 | Dec 10, 2023 |
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Duck – Lake Champlain 1
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 11, 2023 |
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Duck – Northeast Zone 1
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 29, 2023 |
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Duck – Western Zone 1
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
|
Oct 21, 2023 | Nov 12, 2023 |
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Duck – Southeast Zone 1
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
|
Oct 21, 2023 | Dec 3, 2023 |
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Duck – Lake Champlain 2
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
|
Nov 4, 2023 | Dec 28, 2023 |
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Duck – Long Island 1
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
|
Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Duck – Western Zone 2
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
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Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Duck – Southeast Zone 2
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
|
Dec 9, 2023 | Dec 24, 2023 |
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Duck – Long Island 2
Bag limit 6 ducks per day.
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Dec 9, 2023 | Jan 28, 2024 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – Statewide
Excludes Long Island Zones. See regulations for bag limits.
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Sep 1, 2023 | Feb 21, 2024 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Eastern Zone 1
See regulations for bag limits.
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Sep 5, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Central Zone 1
See regulations for bag limits.
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Sep 5, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Snow Goose – Lake Champlain Zone 1
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Goose – Snow Goose
NE, W, and SE Zones. See regulations for bag limits.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Apr 15, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Western Zone 1
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Brant
NE, W, and SE Zones. See regulations for bag limits.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 12, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – Lake Champlain Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 27, 2023 |
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Goose – Brant – Lake Champlain Zone
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 14, 2023 | Nov 12, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – Northeast Zone 3
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 28, 2023 | Dec 11, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – East Central Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – South Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – Hudson Valley 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 11, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – Northeast Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 28, 2023 | Dec 11, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – West Central Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Eastern Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Western Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Central Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Nov 18, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – South Zone 3
See regulations for bag limits.
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Nov 25, 2023 | Jan 21, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Snow Goose – Long Island
See regulations for bag limits.
|
Nov 25, 2023 | Mar 10, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Western Zone 3
See regulations for bag limits.
|
Dec 6, 2023 | Feb 21, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Eastern Zone 3
See regulations for bag limits.
|
Dec 9, 2023 | Jan 28, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – Long Island Central Zone 3
See regulations for bag limits.
|
Dec 9, 2023 | Feb 7, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – Hudson Valley 3
See regulations for bag limits.
|
Dec 9, 2023 | Jan 7, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Canada Goose – West Central Zone 3
See regulations for bag limits.
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Dec 26, 2023 | Jan 9, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Brant – Long Island 2
See regulations for bag limits.
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Dec 30, 2023 | Jan 28, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Brant – Long Island 1
See regulations for bag limits.
|
Dec 30, 2023 | Jan 28, 2024 |
|
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Goose – Snow Goose – Lake Champlain Zone 2
See regulations for bag limits.
|
Jan 6, 2024 | Apr 15, 2024 |
|
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Ruffed Grouse – North Zone
Bag limit 4 per day.
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Sep 20, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
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Ruffed Grouse – South Zone
Bag limit 4 per day.
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Oct 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Pheasant – Cocks
Bag limit 2 per day (cocks only).
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Oct 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Pheasant – Cocks & Hens 1
Bag limit 2 per day (cocks and hens).
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
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Pheasant – Cocks & Hens 2
Bag limit 2 per day (cocks and hens).
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
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Pheasant – Cocks 2
Bag limit 2 per day (cocks only).
|
Nov 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
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Pheasant – Cocks & Hens 3
Bag limit 2 per day (cocks and hens).
|
Nov 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Bobwhite Quail – Early
Bag limit 4 per day. Orange and Putnam Counties.
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Oct 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Bobwhite Quail – Late
Bag limit 6 per day. Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
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Nov 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Rabbit – Cottontail
Season dates vary by location. Check regulations.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
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Rabbit – Varying Hare Hunting
Season dates vary by location. Check regulations.
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Oct 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
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Turkey – Fall Northern Zone
Bag limit 1 bird of either sex statewide.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Oct 14, 2023 |
|
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Turkey – Fall Southern Zone
Bag limit 1 bird of either sex statewide.
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Oct 15, 2023 | Oct 28, 2023 |
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Turkey – Fall 1C
WMU: 1C bag limit 1 bird of either sex statewide.
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Nov 19, 2023 | Dec 2, 2023 |
|
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Turkey – Youth Spring
Bag limit 1 bearded turkey.
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Apr 20, 2024 | Apr 21, 2024 |
|
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Turkey – Spring Statewide
Bag limit 2 bearded turkeys (one per day).
|
May 1, 2024 | May 31, 2024 |
New York Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
New York hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every New York hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. New York hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of wildlife management units, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for New York.
Wildlife Management Units
New York’s wildlife management units (WMUs) are the geographical units DEC uses to set hunting and trapping seasons in New York State. They are spread among nine different regions. Each of these regions has multiple WMUs. Some regions have a single WMU, and others have as many as 18. Click below to view New York’s wildlife management units in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers
NY Private Lands
Over 5,000,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in New York. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
NY Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 7,500,000 acres in New York to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
Wildlife Mgmt Units
New York Wildlife Management Units. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
NY Possible Access
onX has mapped 1,100,000 acres of possible access lands in New York including timber and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
NY Cooperative Hunt Areas
New York Cooperative Hunting Areas. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
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