Hunting during New York archery season offers you close to four million acres of public land for planning your trip. The landscape is breathtaking, with the Adirondack Mountains in the north and the Catskill Mountains in the south providing amazing wilderness hunts.
New York (NY) Archery Season, 2022-2023
New York is home to over a million whitetail deer with varied habitats, from rolling farmland to mountains. The east-central part of “the Empire State” hosts as many as 100 deer per square mile. The best counties for whitetails are Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Erie, Monroe, Ontario, Niagara, Orleans, Tompkins, Steuben, Wyoming, and Wayne. Plan your NY hunting trip.
When does Archery Season Start in NY?
New York Deer Seasons
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Early Bowhunting/Bowhunting Only September 27-January 31*
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Crossbow October 12-November 18*
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Late Bowhunting December 5-January 1*
*Season dates vary by region. New York State has several zones with specific dates.
New York Black Bear Seasons
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Early Bear September 10-25*
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Archery/Bowhunting September 17-December 20*
*Season dates vary by region. New York State has several zones with specific dates.
New York Wild Turkey Seasons
Fall Turkey October 1-December 2*
Spring Turkey Youth April 22-23
General May 1-31
*Season dates vary by region. New York State has several zones with specific dates.
New York Small Game Seasons
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Bobwhite Quail October 1-February 28*
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Rabbit October1-March 19*
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Pheasant October 15–February 28*
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Ruffed Grouse September 20-February 28*
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Squirrel September 1-February 28*
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Racoon, Fox, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel November 1-February 25*
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Coyote October 1-March 26
*Season dates vary by region. New York State has several zones with specific dates.
What are the Legal Hunting Hours in New York?
Authorized hunting hours start 30-minutes before sunrise to 30-minutes after sunset. You can shoot furbearer species like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats at any hour.
Hunting Licenses and Permits in NY
Hunters can report harvests online and check designated public and private hunting lands through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website. New York implements hunting zones with different start and finishes dates for take method.
New York Residents
A New York resident is a person who has lived in the state permanently for 30 days. All residents aged 12 or older must have a hunting license.
Non-Residents
Non-residents aged 12 or older must have a hunting license.
Youth Hunting Licenses
New York residents and non-residents aged 12 or older need a hunter education certificate to hunt. Residents and non-residents aged 12 to 15 can buy a reduced-fee hunting license. Additional privileges or permits may be required to hunt specific game species.
Senior Hunting Licenses
New York residents aged 70 or older can buy a reduced-fee Senior Sportsman License. This license is valid for a lifetime.
Disability Licenses
Disabled New York residents are eligible for the Totally Disabled Sportsman License and the Totally Disabled Hunting and Inland Fishing License.
Veteran and Military Licenses
Active-duty military personnel stationed in New York can buy a resident hunting license. Additionally, active-duty military personnel that is New York residents but stationed in other states don’t need to buy a hunting license while on leave. Disabled resident veterans may be eligible for the Permanent DAV Hunting and Fishing License.
Migratory Waterfowl Requirements
Hunters aged 16 or older must buy a New York Migratory Bird Permit and Federal Duck Stamp when hunting migratory waterfowl. The permit is proof of participation in the Harvest Information Program (HIP).
License Expiration
New York hunting licenses are valid from September 1 to August 31 from the date of purchase. New York residents and non-residents can purchase lifetime hunting licenses.
Check out our guide 30+ Hunting Rules to Keep You Safe while bowhunting in the wild.
