Hunting in New York: 6 Animals to Hunt in the Fall

The best time for hunting in New York every year is the fall, where some of the best big game hunting takes place. Whether it is deer, black bear, or turkey, the best time for legally hunting these animals in New York is the fall. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has a full listing of the requirements, permits and calendar of hunting seasons available for research. Here is a look at some of the animals that can be taken when hunting in New York in the fall.

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1. Deer

The dates for deer season varies depending on the part of the state and the method of hunting. For bow hunting, deer season in New York starts at the end of September and ends around the middle of December in the northern zone of the state, but there are regulations on when crossbow hunters in New York can take deer. For muzzleloading deer, the dates range from the first Saturday after Columbus Day until the middle of December.

2. Black Bears

Black bear season starts in early September for the southern zone and the middle of September for the northern zone and extends into early December in the northern zone and late December for the southern zone. Hunters in New York can use a bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, handgun, shotgun, or rifle, according to the DEC.

3. Turkeys

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Turkey hunting in New York is split between both spring and fall, with the fall hunting in New York broken up into six season zones, from sunrise to sunset. There are bag limits and when hunting in a two-bird area in the fall, although both birds can be taken in the same day. There is also a rule preventing the use of dogs for crossbow turkey hunting in the fall.

4. Waterfowl

There are five waterfowl zones set up for hunting in New York and are available on their official website. These are all fall dates and start in late September and run through December for most ducks. Official fall dates are announced in August of each year. There is a daily bag limit, although that is not finalized until August of each year.

5. Cottontail Rabbit

Cottontail rabbit hunting will take place starting in October for northern and southern zones, and in November for the Long Island area.

6. Squirrel and Fox

The hunting in New York for fox and squirrels starts in September for almost all of New York, with the exception of Long Island, which doesn't start until November.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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