For complete reference consult the following:
- New York State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL)
- Volume 6 of the New York State Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)
See current hunting seasons
Paper License and Tags: Beginning with the 2024-25 hunting season, all sporting licenses and carcass tags will be printed on plain paper. This change begins to modernize the license purchasing process by allowing easier, quicker access to licenses and tags by printing at-home.
In 2022, New York State adopted requirements for the purchase and transfer of ownership of semi-automatic rifles and the purchase, possession, storage, and transport of firearms and ammunition in New York. See Questions and Answers Regarding Impacts to Hunting and Hunting-Related Activities from Recent Changes to New York State Firearm Laws (PDF).
For information on where various legal implements may be used in the state, see Rifle, Shotgun, Crossbow and Bow Areas.
It is illegal to discharge a firearm, bow or crossbow:
It is illegal to take or hunt wildlife:
As a result of a law change, backtags are no longer required while hunting anywhere in New York State.
A new law makes it unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, conduct, promote or participate in any contest, competition, tournament, or derby with the objective of taking or hunting wildlife for prizes, inducement or entertainment. Any wildlife killed during these activities become the property of DEC.
The new law does not apply to field trials with dogs and does not prohibit contests, competitions, or tournaments for fishing or for hunting white-tailed deer, turkey, or bear.
It is illegal to hunt with the aid of bait, or over any baited area when hunting big game, upland game birds, turkey or waterfowl. It is illegal to place a salt block or mineral lick on lands inhabited by deer at any time of year. It is also illegal to feed deer. Some attractants that are marketed for deer are liquids or dissolving powders which deer may not directly consume, but the attractants may entice deer to feed on the material which absorbed the attractant. These types of products would not be legal.
You may use cover scents and lures for deer hunting. However, hunters should use synthetic products, as natural deer urine products could contain CWD prions. While bear hunting, you may use up to 1.5 fluid ounces of a liquid scent/lure.
Decoys are legal to use for deer hunting in NY. You should exercise caution when transporting a deer decoy to and from the locations in the field. Some hunters wrap a strip of blaze orange material around the decoy when carrying it.
Electronic calls are legal to use for deer hunting and furbearer hunting in NY. You may not use an electronic call for turkeys, ducks, or geese.
It is illegal to hunt deer or bear with the aid of any artificial light including laser sights. A small flashlight utilized to navigate to and from your hunting location is permitted as long as you are not using the light to locate or hunt any big game.
You may use lights to observe deer and bear under the following conditions:
During the open season for deer, it is illegal to:
In Westchester County and on Long Island it is illegal to use any rifle for hunting, or to carry one afield.
In the Northern Zone it is illegal to carry a rifle larger than .22 rimfire or a shotgun loaded with slug, ball or buckshot afield if accompanied by a dog, except when coyote hunting under permit from the local Environmental Conservation Officer.
Possession of handguns in New York State requires a NYS Pistol Permit. New York does not recognize permits issued by other states.
A person may not transport or possess a shotgun, rifle or crossbow in or on a motor vehicle unless the firearm is unloaded in both chamber and magazine or the crossbow is unloaded or taken down. A loaded firearm may be carried or possessed in a motorboat while legally hunting migratory game birds. When transporting a firearm in a vehicle, if an adult remains with the firearm, no special storage requirements apply. If the firearm is unattended by an adult in the vehicle, the gun must be locked in a safe storage repository (i.e. a fire, impact, and tamper-resistant container) and be hidden from view. Any lockable plastic or metal, hard-sided gun case or safe will suffice for this purpose.
A muzzleloader is considered unloaded when the cap is off the nipple, the primer is removed, the primer powder is removed from the flintlock pan, or the battery is not in an electric-fired muzzleloader.
A crossbow is considered unloaded when it is uncocked. A crossbow is considered taken down when the limbs have been removed from the stock, securely fastened in a case, or locked in a trunk.
To bring a rifle or shotgun into New York to hunt, U.S. Customs requires that all nonimmigrant aliens:
Apply early! Six to 12 weeks are needed to get this permit.
For more information:
A licensed hunter may bring an unlicensed individual (including children) along, as long as the accompanying individuals are not participating in the big game hunt (including driving deer). Young children who are underage for deer hunting yet possess a hunting license are permitted to accompany a deer hunter and actively hunt small game. A licensed hunter who has filled all their tags may continue to participate in the hunt, including driving of deer, but may not attempt to shoot a deer.
Air gun - a firearm that uses spring or compressed air (not gunpowder) to propel a single projectile that is .17 caliber or larger and produces a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per second. Smooth or rifled bore air guns are allowed.
Bow - includes long (stick), compound, or recurve bow.
Crossbow - consists of a bow, a string, and either compound or recurve limbs mounted on a stock with a trigger and working safety that holds the string and limbs under tension until released. It shall have a minimum peak draw weight of 100 pounds.
Dwelling houses - a permanent place where people live and sleep. Excluded are temporary residential units including camping trailers, motor homes or other portable shelters. Also excluded are abandoned dwellings, detached garages, tree houses, "playscapes", decks, pool areas, storage sheds and out-buildings - even when/if they are temporarily occupied. A permanent camp or cabin may qualify as a "dwelling house".
Factory or church - a factory is interpreted to mean any building or structure used for commercial purposes. The discharge of bow within 150 feet, crossbow within 250 feet, or a firearm within 500 feet of a factory or church is prohibited only when such building is occupied at the time of discharge.
Farm building, farm structure that is either occupied or used - these structures are largely determined on a case-by-case basis. To qualify, the premises alleged to be a farm must be utilized principally for agricultural production for commercial purposes, including but not limited to crops, fruit, hay, livestock, production of dairy products, nurseries/greenhouses. There is no minimum number of acres that must be either owned or farmed to qualify. To receive protection the farm building or farm structure must be either occupied by people or livestock or used in some, even small, degree for storage of farm related tools, equipment or livestock. Excluded would be structures and out-buildings on acreage or lands that are not a "farm" even if they are temporarily occupied.
Firearm - all guns, including handguns, rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, BB and pellet guns.
Furbearer - coyote, red and gray fox, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, mink, weasel and opossum.
Handgun - is any pistol or revolver intended to be aimed and fired with one hand, and having a barrel length not exceeding 16 inches.
To hunt - means to pursue, shoot, kill or capture (other than trap) wildlife and includes all lesser acts that disturb or worry wildlife whether or not they result in taking. Hunting also includes all acts to assist another person in taking wildlife.
Motor vehicle - means every vehicle or device operated by any power other than muscle power including but not limited to automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, trailers, motorboats, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles whether operated on or off public highways.
Muzzleloading Firearm - is a firearm loaded through the muzzle, shooting a single projectile and having a minimum bore of .44 inch.
Public Highway - means any road maintained by a state, county or town. A private road is one maintained by a person or corporation.
Rifle - is a firearm with a barrel length of at least 16 inches with rifling in the barrel that uses metallic cartridges.
School building, school playground - a school building is any building owned by a school district. A school playground is interpreted to mean any area that is maintained by the school including mowed lawns and fields, athletic fields, playgrounds, and/or other areas where students engage in school sponsored activities. Excluded are school parking lots. A maintenance building or bus garage owned by a school district is not a "school building" but would be a "factory" as discussed below.
Shotgun - is a firearm with a barrel length of at least 18 inches that uses shells that are nonmetallic except for the base.
Small Game - Upland and migratory game birds, small game mammals (red squirrel, rabbit, hare, porcupine and woodchuck) and certain frogs and turtles.
To take - means to pursue, shoot, hunt, kill, capture, trap, snare or net wildlife and game-and all lesser acts that disturb or worry wildlife-or to place or use any net or other device commonly used to take wildlife.
To trap - means to take, kill or capture wildlife with traps, deadfalls and other devices commonly used to take wildlife, including the shooting or killing of lawfully trapped animals. It also includes all related activities such as placing, setting, staking or checking traps or assisting another person with these activities.
