New York Hunting Seasons & Prices
2026 big-game season dates and license/tag prices.
New York offers 2026 hunting seasons for whitetail, black bear, and turkey across any method, archery, firearm, and muzzleloader methods. Seasons run from September 12, 2026 through May 31, 2027. A hunting license (annual, includes bear tag) costs $22 for residents and $100 for nonresidents.
Planning reference only — always confirm dates and prices with the state wildlife agency before applying, buying a license, or hunting.
Season dates
Whitetail
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Antlerless (Southern Zone) | Any method | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | Southern Zone; open WMUs and legal weapon type vary by WMU. | 🔔 |
| Bowhunting (Northern Zone) | Archery | Sep 27, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Bowhunting (Southern Zone) | Archery | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | Westchester (WMU 3S) and Suffolk (WMU 1C) are bow-only: Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2026 and Oct. 1, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027 respectively. | 🔔 |
| Youth Firearms | Firearm | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | Columbus Day weekend; Northern Zone statewide and select Southern Zone WMUs. | 🔔 |
| Early Muzzleloading (Northern Zone) | Muzzleloader | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Regular Firearms (Northern Zone) | Firearm | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Regular Firearms (Southern Zone) | Firearm | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Late Bowhunting (Northern Zone) | Archery | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | Select Northern Zone WMUs only. | 🔔 |
| Late Muzzleloading (Northern Zone) | Muzzleloader | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | Select Northern Zone WMUs only. | 🔔 |
| Late Bowhunting (Southern Zone) | Archery | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | Also Dec. 26, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027 in select WMUs. | 🔔 |
| Late Muzzleloading (Southern Zone) | Muzzleloader | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | Also Dec. 26, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027 in select WMUs. | 🔔 |
Black bear
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowhunting (Northern Zone) | Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Regular Firearms (Northern Zone) | Firearm | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Bowhunting (Southern Zone) | Archery | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | Westchester (WMU 3S) is bow-only Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2026. | 🔔 |
| Youth Firearms | Firearm | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | Columbus Day weekend; Northern and Southern zones. | 🔔 |
| Muzzleloading (Northern Zone) | Muzzleloader | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Regular Firearms (Southern Zone) | Firearm | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Late Bowhunting (Southern Zone) | Archery | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Late Muzzleloading (Southern Zone) | Muzzleloader | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | 🔔 |
Turkey
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (Northern Zone WMUs) | Any method | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K and 6N. Hunting hours sunrise to sunset; 1 bird of either sex statewide for the fall season. | 🔔 |
| Fall (Southern & Western WMUs) | Any method | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | All other open upstate WMUs (including 5R, 5S, 5T, 6P, 6R, 6S and the 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 series). Hunting hours sunrise to sunset; 1 bird of either sex. | 🔔 |
| Fall (WMU 1C - Suffolk County) | Any method | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 | WMU 1C only. WMUs 1A and 2A are closed to turkey hunting. Hunting hours sunrise to sunset; 1 bird of either sex. | 🔔 |
| Spring Youth | Any method | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | 1 bearded bird. Hunting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to noon. Open areas the same as the regular spring season. | 🔔 |
| Spring | Any method | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | All open areas statewide. 2 bearded birds, no more than 1 per day and no more than 1 in WMU 1C. Hunting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to noon. | 🔔 |
License & tag prices
| License | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting License (annual, includes bear tag) | $22 | $100 | |
| Bowhunting Privilege | $15 | $15 | |
| Muzzleloading Privilege | $15 | $15 | |
| Deer Management Permit (antlerless) | $10 | $10 |
The annual hunting license covers big and small game and now includes a bear tag. Antlerless deer need a Deer Management Permit; bowhunting and muzzleloading are add-on privileges. Season dates for 2026-27 are added here once NY DEC publishes them.
Source: New York State DEC Sporting License fees (dec.ny.gov)
New York hunt units
Explore harvest history, success rates, and draw odds by unit.
WMU 3A Black bearWMU 3C Black bearWMU 3F Black bearWMU 3G Black bearWMU 3H Black bearWMU 3J Black bearWMU 3K Black bearWMU 3M Black bearWMU 3N Black bearWMU 3P Black bearWMU 3R Black bearWMU 3S Black bear
Browse all New York harvest data →New York hunting FAQ
- When does whitetail season open in New York in 2026?
- New York's 2026 whitetail any method season opens September 12 and runs through September 20. Always confirm exact dates with the state wildlife agency before hunting.
- What big-game species can you hunt in New York?
- In 2026, New York has hunting seasons for whitetail, black bear, and turkey.
- How much is a New York hunting license for nonresidents?
- A hunting license (annual, includes bear tag) in New York is $100 for nonresidents and $22 for residents.
📊 New York harvest trends
How New York's harvest has moved season to season, from official state reports.
- Black bear3,518 in 2025+4.4%
- Whitetail227,032 in 2025+1.7%