Deer and Bear Hunting Regulations

This page provides a summary of laws and regulations pertaining to deer and bear hunting in New York. For more information, please review DEC’s Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide.  For complete information, please review the New York State Environmental Conservation Law and Volume 6 of the Codes, Rules, and Regulations of the State of New York.

Regulations to Increase Harvest of Antlerless Deer

Deer populations are growing in many areas of New York State, and increased harvest of antlerless (primarily female) deer is necessary to keep deer populations healthy, in balance with available habitat, and at levels that are acceptable to all members of the public. Therefore, DEC adopted regulations to encourage and incentivize hunters to harvest more antlerless deer. 

Under these regulations hunters can:

• Apply for up to 4 Deer Management Permits (DMPs, antlerless deer tags): 2 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) with limited DMP availability and 2 in WMUs with unlimited DMPs
• Transfer an unlimited number of DMPs to other hunters
• Harvest an unlimited number of antlerless deer in 23 WMUs (1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G) with unlimited DMPs. All hunters who apply for DMPs in these WMUs will receive them. Additionally, DMPs that are used to harvest antlerless deer will be replaced with Bonus DMPs upon harvest report. Used and reported Bonus DMPs will also be replaced with additional Bonus DMPs.
• Harvest antlerless deer during a nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September in 23 WMUs (1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G)
• Earn a second Antlered Deer Tag (Earn-a-2nd-Buck) by harvesting an antlerless deer

Earn-a-2nd-Buck Requirements:

Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer on any valid antlerless deer tag will be eligible to receive a second Antlered Deer Tag. Both Antlered Deer Tags may be used during any season (with appropriate privileges) except the September antlerless season, and both may be used during the same season.

The second Antlered Deer Tag will be automatically added to the hunter’s DEC Automated Licensing System (DECALS) account and emailed to them if there is a valid email associated with their account. E-tag users will see the second Antlered Deer Tag in the HuntFishNY mobile app under “Licenses & Tags/Report Harvest”. Paper tag users will be able to print the tag from their email receipt or from their online DECALS profile, or can obtain their second Antlered Deer Tag at a regional DEC office (appointment required). Paper tag users must have the second Antlered Deer Tag in their possession before hunting for and harvesting a second antlered deer.

Validation of Antlerless Harvest:

Hunters who receive a second Antlered Deer Tag may be contacted by DEC to provide proof of their harvested antlerless deer. Valid forms of proof include one of the following:

1. A digital photograph of the harvested deer, or
2. The head or skull from the harvested deer.

Either form of proof must clearly show that the deer was antlerless, be retained for seven days after the date of harvest, and be provided to DEC upon request. If the harvested antlerless deer was brought to a processor and a photo was not taken, the hunter must provide the processor’s information to DEC upon request. If the hunter harvests additional antlerless deer after receiving their second Antlered Deer Tag, they do not need to retain proofs of their second and subsequent antlerless deer harvests.

Regulations to Keep New York's Wild Deer CWD-Free

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) poses a serious threat to New York’s white-tailed deer and moose populations and is spreading across the United States and Canada. In response, New York has established regulations to prevent the introduction of CWD by out of state hunters. These regulations restrict the importation of carcasses and high-risk carcass parts from CWD-susceptible deer species harvested from anywhere outside of New York. DEC will confiscate and destroy any carcasses, intact heads, or other unallowed carcass parts from CWD-susceptible deer species that are imported illegally into New York. Out-of-state hunters are permitted to travel through New York with carcasses and parts from CWD-susceptible deer species as long as none of the carcass and parts are disposed of or remain in New York. However, hunters should be aware of carcass import restrictions in their destination state or province to ensure compliance. 

Under these regulations out of state deer hunters are:

1. Prohibited from returning to New York with whole carcasses or intact heads of CWD-susceptible deer species that they harvest anywhere outside of New York. CWD-susceptible deer species include:
   • White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
   • Black-tailed deer and Mule deer (O. hemionus)
   • Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Elk (C. e. canadensis)
   • Moose (Alces alces)
   • Sika deer (Cervus nippon)
   • Caribou and Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)
2. Only allowed to bring certain allowed carcass parts from CWD-susceptible deer species back into New York. Allowed carcass parts include:
   • Deboned venison
   • Cleaned skull cap
   • Antlers with no flesh adhering
   • Raw or processed cape or hide
   • Cleaned teeth or lower jaw
   • Finished taxidermy products
3. Required to label the allowed carcass parts and packages of deboned venison from CWD-susceptible deer species brought into New York. The label must include:
   • The species of deer
   • State, province, or country where the deer was harvested
   • Name and address of the person who harvested the deer
4. Required to notify DEC within 24 hours if the CWD-susceptible deer species, that they harvested out of state and imported into New York, tests positive for CWD. DEC will make arrangements to collect and destroy the CWD-contaminated meat and carcass parts.

Learn more about CWD and the regulations you must follow to help keep New York CWD-free by watching the short video below.

Regulations to Keep Hunters Safe

New York is one of the safest states in the nation for deer and bear hunting. Regulations have been established to help ensure that strong safety record continues, and to reduce the likelihood for hunting-related shooting incidents. 

Under these regulations deer and bear hunters are:

1. Required to wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing while hunting with a firearm. Any person who is accompanying someone hunting deer or bear with a firearm must also wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing. The clothing must be:
   • a minimum of two hundred fifty square inches of solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material worn above the waist and visible from all directions; or
   • a minimum of two hundred fifty square inches of patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink consisting of no less than fifty percent fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink worn above the waist and visible from all directions; or
   • a hat or cap with no less than fifty percent of the exterior consisting of solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material and visible from all directions.
2. Only allowed to hunt deer and bear from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. These hunting hours help ensure there is enough natural light for hunters to effectively identify their target and what’s beyond it before taking a shot, while maximizing opportunities for hunters to harvest deer and bear during the times of day when these species are most active. Refer to the sunrise-sunset table on the last page of the annual Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide to determine the exact legal hunting hours for where you hunt.

Learn more about the basics of hunting safety by visiting DEC’s Hunter Education Program webpage.

Regulations for Tagging, Transporting, and Reporting Harvested Deer and Bear

Harvested deer and bear are in a hunter’s legal possession only when they are tagged, transported, and reported appropriately.

General Big Game Hunting Regulations

• It is illegal to hunt big game using:
  • A fully automatic firearm
  • A firearm or bow aided by any artificial light or a laser that projects a beam toward the target
  • Any firearm equipped with a silencer
  • An autoloading firearm with a capacity of more than 6 shells (one which requires that the trigger be pulled separately for each shot), except an autoloading pistol with a barrel length of less than 8 inches
  • A firearm using rimfire ammunition
  • A shotgun of less than 20 gauge or any shotgun loaded with shells other than those carrying a single projectile
  • A bow with a draw weight less than 35 pounds or a crossbow with a draw weight less than 100 pounds
  • Dogs
  • Aircraft of any kind
  • Bait or salt licks
  • An air gun or air bow
  • Traps or snares
  • Arrowheads less than 7/8 inches at the widest point or with less than 2 sharp cutting edges
  • Arrows with barbed broadheads (see picture below). A barbed broadhead is one in which the angle formed between the trailing or rear edge of any blade and the shaft is less than 90 degrees. A notch at the base of the blade extending no more than 2 millimeters from the shaft is not considered a barb. Broadheads with mechanical blades are legal if the blades freely swing into a nonbarbed position without external force beyond gravity upon withdrawal of the arrow.

• Big game hunters are permitted to carry a .22 caliber rim-fire handgun during the regular deer season or early and regular bear seasons, if they possess a NYS pistol permit. The .22 caliber rim-fire handgun cannot be used as a primary or secondary weapon to take deer or bear. It is illegal to possess a firearm of any kind when bowhunting or when accompanying a person bowhunting during bowhunting seasons.
• It is illegal to harvest deer or bear while the animal is in water.
• It is illegal to sell deer or bear meat. Other than meat, the parts from legally taken and reported deer and bear may be sold only if tagged prior to sale. The tag must be provided by the hunter or the buyer and include the hunter's license number, date of birth, signature, printed name and the town and county of kill.
• Bear gallbladders and bile cannot be possessed or sold unless the original copy of the bear carcass tag is attached. Taxidermists must also keep records of all bear gallbladders and bile received or sold.
• A legally antlered deer must have at least one antler that is at least three inches in length measured from the base of the burr to the tip of the antler. Special regulations apply in Wildlife Management Units that have mandatory Antler Point Restrictions.
• In the Southern Zone, you may not shoot a cub or a bear that should be known to be a cub, shoot any bear from a group of bears, or shoot or take a bear from its den.
• Resident and Nonresident hunters may take one bear by gun or bow each license year. The number of deer a hunter may take depends upon the licenses and privileges purchased. If a licensed hunter has the proper tags, they are permitted to shoot more than one deer in a day.
• See Crossbow Hunting for additional information about hunting with a crossbow.

Legal Implements for Big Game Hunting

Legally Defined Areas for Big Game Hunting

Northern - Southern Zone Line:

A line separating the Northern and Southern Zone portions of New York State described as follows: a line commencing at a point at the north shore of the Salmon river and its junction with Lake Ontario and extending easterly along the north shore of that river to the village of Pulaski, thence southerly along Route 11 to its intersection with Route 49 in the village of Central Square, thence easterly along Route 49 to its junction with Route 365 in the city of Rome, thence easterly along Route 365 to its junction with Route 28 in the village of Trenton, thence easterly along Route 28 to its junction with Route 29 in the village of Middleville, thence easterly along Route 29 to its junction with Route 4, thence northerly along Route 4 to its junction with Route 22, thence northerly and westerly along Route 22 to the eastern shore of South Bay on Lake Champlain in the village of Whitehall, thence northerly along the eastern shore of South Bay to the New York-Vermont boundary.

Closed Areas:

The following closed areas are specific portions of the state where the taking of deer and bear is prohibited by the Environmental Conservation Law. This section does not include areas covered by town laws, local ordinances or posting by landowners.

City of Binghamton

Erie County - Area around Buffalo: bounded by Tonawanda Creek from East Branch Niagara River to Route 78 to Greiner Road to Route 268 to Route 5 to Ransom Road to Route 33 to Route 78 to Route 20 to Route 20A to Lake Erie.

Herkimer County - Area along Big Moose Lake: bounded by Judson Road from Herkimer-Hamilton County line to Higby Road to Big Moose Road to Martin Road and along it to its eastern end and then to the lake shore and back (starting westerly) along the shore to Herkimer-Hamilton County line and along it to Judson Road.

Herkimer and Hamilton Counties - Area bounded by Route 28 from Old Forge to Inlet and by South Shore Road from Inlet to Old Forge.

Nassau County - All of Nassau County.

New York City - All of the city.