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DEC Announces 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons in
October
Published: October 07, 2026
at 12:15 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Announces 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons in
October
Hunters Reminded of New Regulations to Increase
Harvest of Antlerless Deer
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton
today reminded big game hunters that a variety of New York State deer and
bear hunting seasons begin in October.
“Each year, New
York’s big game hunters highly anticipate the October start of deer and
bear hunting seasons,” said Commissioner Lefton. “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.”
October Big Game
Season Opening Dates
Throughout most of the Southern Zone, the Early Bowhunting season for deer
began October 1 and runs through November 20. The Early Bowhunting season
for deer in the Northern Zone opened on September 27 and will run through
October 23. The Early Muzzleloading season for deer in the Northern Zone
opens on October 17 and runs through October 23. Lastly, the Regular
Firearms season for deer in the Northern Zone opens on October 24 and runs
through December 6.
Throughout most
of the Southern Zone, the Early Bowhunting season for bear
opened October 1 and runs through November 20. In the Northern Zone, the
Early Bowhunting season for bear opened on
September 19 and will run through October 23 in Wildlife
Management Units (WMUs) 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N. The Early Muzzleloading season
for bear opens on October 17 and
runs through October 23 in WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N. The Regular Firearms
season for bear opened on September 19 and
runs through December 6 in WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H, and 6J,
and opens October 24 and runs through December 6 in WMUs
6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N.
Visit DEC’s hunting and trapping
seasons web page for full season information.
Youth Firearms
Hunt
New York's 2026 Youth Firearms Big Game Hunt (Youth Hunt) occurs October
10–12 for youth hunters aged 12–15. The Youth Hunt takes place throughout
the State, except in Suffolk and Westchester counties and bowhunting-only
areas. Licensed 12- to 13-year-old hunters may only participate in counties
that passed a local law allowing such participation. All youth hunters must
be accompanied by an experienced, licensed adult hunter. A map of county
participation for 12- and 13-year-olds and additional rules for the Youth
Hunt can be found on DEC’s Youth Big Game Hunting
webpage.
New Regulations
to Increase Harvest of Antlerless Deer
Deer populations are growing in many areas of New
York State to levels that are detrimental to deer, wildlife habitats, the hunting experience, and the public. Female
antlerless deer, or does, are the primary driver of deer population growth.
It is essential that enough does are harvested by hunters each year to
ensure a healthy and balanced deer population.
In 2026, DEC
adopted new deer hunting regulations to increase harvest of antlerless
deer. Under the new regulations, deer hunters can earn a second
Antlered Deer Tag by harvesting and reporting an antlerless deer.
All hunters will receive a first Antlered Deer Tag upon hunting license
purchase which can be used during any season (with appropriate privileges),
except the September antlerless deer season. Hunters who harvest and report
an antlerless deer using a valid antlerless deer tag (Deer Management
Permit, Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag, Deer Management Assistance
Program Tag, etc.) 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.
The new
regulations also expanded the number of WMUs that have Unlimited/Bonus Deer
Management Permits (DMPs). For the 2026 deer hunting seasons, 23
WMUs have unlimited DMPs (1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J,
6P, 7F, 7J, 7H, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G).
Hunters can apply for unlimited DMPs at any time throughout the hunting
season and all hunters who apply will receive them. DMPs in these WMUs will
be immediately replaced with a Bonus DMP upon each harvest report of an
antlerless deer.
Hunters can also
transfer their DMPs (including Bonus DMPs) to other hunters, but DMPs can
only be transferred using paper tags. Hunters who submit a harvest report
for an antlerless deer using a transferred DMP
will receive the Bonus DMPs and/or a second Antlered Deer Tag generated
under DEC’s Earn-a-2nd-Buck system.
Hunters are
encouraged to donate whole deer or venison portions to those in need
through one of DEC’s participating deer processors. DEC partners with the
New York State Department of Health and Feeding New York State to
cover the processing costs for donated deer/venison.
For more
information about DEC's big game hunting
seasons, recent
changes to hunting regulations, and hunter safety information,
visit DEC's website.
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