Deer and Bear Hunting

Attention all deer hunters! In October 2024, DEC and the Department of Agriculture and Markets detected Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a captive deer facility located in southern Herkimer County. While there is no evidence that CWD is present in wild deer at this time, DEC is enhancing CWD surveillance and is requesting that all successful deer hunters in the area submit the deer’s head to DEC for CWD testing.

Learn more about CWD Testing

Important Reminders

  1. Hunters who harvest a deer or bear are required by law to report their harvest within 7 days, either online, through the HuntFishNY Mobile App, or by calling 1-866-426-3778 (1-866-GAMERPT)
  2. Legal hunting hours for deer and bear start 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes after sunset. Refer to the sunrise-sunset table on the last page of the annual Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide to determine the legal hunting hours for where you hunt.
  3. Hunters must wear a fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat or vest when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
  4. 12 and 13-year old hunters may hunt deer (not bear) with a firearm or crossbow in counties that passed a local law to participate in the pilot opportunity. See Youth Big Game Hunting for a map of participating counties.
  5. Raw or undercooked deer or bear meat can contain harmful pathogens. Always cook the meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees in the thickest part. Visit the New York State Department of Health’s proper care and handling of game meat page to learn more. 
Purchase Your Hunting License Report Deer, Bear, and Turkey Harvests

Hunting White-tailed Deer and Black Bear in New York

Man aiming rifle

New York is home to a robust white-tailed deer population and an expanding black bear population. DEC strives to manage deer and bear populations at levels that are in balance with available habitat and in alignment with public desires. Regulated deer and bear hunting is the primary mechanism DEC uses to achieve these objectives over large spatial scales, and a diversity of deer and bear hunting seasons and opportunities exist throughout the state. 

Regulated deer and bear hunting contributes millions of dollars annually to the New York State economy, provides a sustainable and healthy source of meat for over half a million hunters and their families, reduces deer and bear related conflicts and impacts (ex. vehicle collisions and agricultural damage), and helps address New York’s food insecurity challenges. As one of New York’s most popular outdoor activities, regulated deer and bear hunting connects people with the natural world and fosters greater understanding of the role society plays in environmental stewardship, wildlife management, and conservation.

Explore the information included on each of the webpages listed on the left side of the screen to learn more about New York’s deer and bear hunting seasons, regulations, opportunities, and programs. To learn more about how DEC manages deer and bear populations please refer to DEC's Management Plan for White-tailed Deer in New York State, 2021-2030 and Management Plan for Black Bear in New York State, 2014-2024 (PDF).

White-tailed Deer and Black Bear Harvest Summaries

Following the hunting seasons, DEC produces deer and bear harvest summary reports that provide detailed information on how many animals were harvested in each Wildlife Management Unit, trends in harvest over time, progress in meeting management objectives, the sex and age distribution of the harvest, and other key information that DEC uses to monitor and manage deer and bear populations. DEC’s past deer and bear harvest summary reports are available below.

White-tailed Deer

Black Bear

Share a Photo from Your Recent Hunting Experience

Want to see yourself in one of DEC’s future harvest summary reports or webpages dedicated to deer and bear hunting/management? Consider sharing a photo from your recent deer or bear hunting experience with us, even if you didn’t harvest an animal.

Submit Your Photo
Contact for this Page

DFW, Bureau of Wildlife
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

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