2025-26 Hunting Seasons in the Adirondacks
With so many species of animals available to hunt in the Adirondacks, there is almost always an open season! Hunters must have proper permits, and be within their season to take game in New York State.
If you are not sure where to start, consider a guided hunting trip under the tutelage of an experienced Adirondack hunting guide.
New York State is broken up into zones that feature different hunting season dates. The majority of the Adirondack Park is located in the Northern Zone, and regulations for the Northern Zone are shown below.
White-Tailed Deer
Early Bowhunting Season: September 27 - October 24
Crossbow Season: October 15 - October 24
Youth Hunt: October 11 - 13
Regular Season: October 25 - December 7
Muzzleloader Season: October 18 - 24 for most of the Adirondacks, October 18 - 24 and December 8 - December 14 in certain areas
Late Bowhunting Season: December 8 - December 14 (only applies in some areas)
Hunting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise - 30 minutes after sunset
Bag Limit: One deer (antlered or antlerless)
Black Bear
Bowhunting Season: September 13 - October 24 (only in certain areas)
Crossbow Season: October 15 - October 24 (only in certain areas)
Muzzleloader Season: October 18 - October 24 (only in certain areas)
Regular Season: September 13 - December 7
Hunting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise - 30 minutes after sunset
Wild Turkey
Fall Season: October 1 - 14, one bird per season, either sex
Spring Season: May 1 - 31, two bearded birds per season, one per day
Youth Hunt: April 25 & 26, one bearded bird
Fall Hunting Hours: Sunrise - Sunset
Spring Hunting Hours: One half hour before sunrise to Noon
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots & Mergansers Season: October 11 - November 30 & December 13 - December 21, daily limit 6 ducks, 15 coot; possession limit 18 ducks, 45 coot
Snow Goose Season: October 3 - April 15, daily limit 25, no possession limit
Brant Season: October 11 - November 9, daily limit 2, possession limit 6
Canada Goose Season: September 1 - September 25, daily limit 15; October 25 - November 14, daily limit 1; November 22 - November 30, daily limit 1
Migratory Game Birds
American Woodcock Season: October 1 - November 14
Crow Season: September 1 - March 31 (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays only)
Snipe, Rail and Gallinule Season: September 1 - November 9
Small Game
Gray, Black & Fox Squirrel Season: September 1 - February 28, daily bag limit 6 total regardless of species, hunting hours sunrise to sunset (red squirrels are unprotected and may be hunted at any time without limit)
Furbearers
Bobcat Trapping Season: October 25 - February 15, no daily limit
Raccoon, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Skunk, Coyote, Opossum & Weasel Season: October 25 - February 15, no daily limit (body gripping traps set on land may not be set with bait or lure if the fisher and marten season is closed)
Fisher & Marten Trapping Season: November 1 - November 30, no daily limit, season limit of 6
River Otter Trapping Season: November 1- April 7, no daily limit
Beaver Trapping Season: November 1 - April 7, no daily limit
Mink & Muskrat Trapping Season: November 1 - April 15, no daily limit
Remember to report your game harvest via the HuntFishNY Mobile App or by calling 1.866.426.3778. Further, if you take a bobcat, otter, fisher, or marten, you must complete a furbearer possession tag and get the pelt or unskinned animal sealed.