Small game hunting and furbearer trapping seasons for the 2025–26 license year are opening across New York State, according to an announcement from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The timing of openings varies by species and region, with most seasons beginning between September 1 and November 1. Full details on season dates, bag limits, and regulations can be found in the DEC’s 2025–26 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide.
“Fall is when many new hunters go afield for the first time, and when experienced hunters rediscover New York’s outdoors,” said Jacqueline Lendrum, Director of DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “These seasons support long-standing conservation programs, which sustain abundant upland game, waterfowl, and furbearer populations, and provide safe, accessible ways to introduce the next generation to hunting. Before heading afield, please review the annual regulations on DEC’s website as there are several exciting and important changes this coming hunting season.”
The state offers various waterfowl hunting opportunities across five zones and nine Canada goose subzones. Special Youth Waterfowl Days for junior hunters ages 12–15 will take place on September 27–28 in most upstate zones and November 8–9 on Long Island. There are also designated days for active military members and veterans that generally coincide with youth hunt dates.
For ruffed grouse hunters, the season runs from September 20 to February 28 in the Northern Zone and from October 1 to February 28 in Southern Zone areas north of New York City/Long Island. Hunters in certain northern Wildlife Management Units are reminded to avoid harvesting spruce grouse due to its endangered status. The DEC encourages participation in monitoring programs such as the Grouse Hunting Log and submission of feathers from harvested birds to help track population trends.
Pheasant season opens October 1 in Eastern New York. The DEC’s propagation program releases over 50,000 adult pheasants annually at sites open to public hunting statewide. Youth-only pheasant hunt weekends occur at different times depending on region: September 27–28 (Northern/Eastern NY), October 11–12 (Western NY), and October 25–26 (Long Island). Information about release sites is available through an interactive map on the DEC website.
The HuntFishNY Event page provides a resource for prospective hunters seeking mentored events throughout New York State. These events offer instruction on hunting basics, wildlife knowledge, target shooting, seminars, and more for all skill levels.
Squirrel and rabbit seasons also begin soon: gray, black, and fox squirrel may be hunted statewide from September 1 through February 28 (with later start dates for Long Island/New York City); cottontail rabbit opens October 1 upstate; snowshoe hare starts October 1 in Northern Zones.
Fall wild turkey opportunities have improved this year following recent productive summers. The fall bag limit is one bird per hunter statewide with specific season dates by region: Northern Zone (October 1–14), Southern Zone (October 18–31), Long Island (November 15–28).
Director Lendrum emphasized safety: “We want every hunter to return home safely,” she said. “Please follow the basics: treat every firearm as if it’s loaded, be sure of your target and what lies beyond it, keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and wear blaze orange or blaze pink when appropriate. These simple precautions save lives.” Blaze orange is required for deer or bear firearms hunts; small game hunters are strongly encouraged to wear high-visibility clothing as well.
Hunting remains one of New York’s safest outdoor activities but requires adherence to basic firearm safety rules at all times.
The DEC also invites public participation in wildlife management through citizen science initiatives like Snapshot NY—a trail camera project developed with Cornell University—alongside other monitoring efforts such as Grouse & Woodcock Hunting Log or Furbearer Sighting Log programs. Volunteers can contribute by deploying cameras on private or permitted public lands after registering online.
More information about upcoming seasons can be found by consulting official resources provided by the department.
