Time For Deer And Bear Hunting Season Across New York State
Welcome to the month of October in New York State. That means it is the season for big game hunting in the Empire State, including deer and bear hunting.
Each year, New York’s big game hunters highly anticipate the October start of deer and bear hunting seasons. There are several changes to deer hunting regulations in place for the 2026 hunting seasons and I encourage all hunters to review the new regulations before heading safely afield this fall. - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner, Amanda Lefton
Timeline For New York State Big Game Hunting
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, throughout most of the Southern Zone, early bowhunting season for deer began October 1st and continues through November 20th. In the Northern Zone, the season opened on September 27th and ends at the end of the day on October 23rd.
For those who participate in the early muzzleloading season for deer, the Northern Zone season runs from October 17th through the 23rd, and the regular firearms season begins October 24th through December 6th.
Bear Season
Early Bowhunting season for bear began on October 1st for most of the Southern Zone in New York State, through November 20th. For the Northern Zone, early bowhunting season for bear kicked off on September 19th and ends on October 23rd in Wildlife Management Units 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N.
October 17th is the opening date for bear early muzzleloading season, ending on October 23rd in Wildlife Management Units 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N. September 19th, regular firearms season for bear began and continues through December 6 in Wildlife Management Units 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H, and 6J. For Wildlife Management Units 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N, the season will begin on October 24th and end on December 6th.
Youth Firearms Big Game Hunt
This weekend, October 19, 11 & 12, 2026, is New York's Youth Firearms Big Game Hunt for hunters aged 12 to 15 throughout the state, except in Suffolk and Westchester counties and bowhunting-only areas.
According to the NYS DEC, Licensed 12 to 13-year-old hunters may only participate in counties that passed a local law allowing such participation, and must be accompanied by an experienced, licensed adult hunter. Get more information on the Youth Hunt page of the NYS DEC website.
New York Harvest Increase of Antlerless Deer Regulations
Just a reminder, new deer hunting regulations were introduced this year (2026) to increase harvest of antlerless deer, meaning that hunters can now earn a second Antlered Deer Tag by harvesting and reporting an antlerless deer.
The NYS DEC notes: "All hunters will receive a first Antlered Deer Tag upon hunting license purchase. Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer using a valid antlerless deer tag will receive a second Antlered Deer Tag, which can be used during those same seasons. Hunters who purchase bowhunting and muzzleloading privileges will receive a Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag for each privilege."
For more information, visit the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation hunting and trapping website.
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