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Region 7 · 5 WMUs
Cayuga County Hunting
DEC rules and numbers for Cayuga County: 5 WMUs with their 2026-27 dates, 2026 DMP odds, bear and fall turkey areas, duck zones, 13,818 acres of DEC land and deer take since 2007.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Cayuga County is 692 square miles of central New York, and Auburn houses the county government. Census staff put the 2024 head count at 74,567, after a 2.2% fall since 2020. For DEC purposes it belongs to Region 7, headquartered in Syracuse. The county is carved into 5 WMUs for big game: 7H, 7J, 7F, 7A and 8F. GIS puts DEC holdings in the county at around 13,818 acres.
Land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates, DEC region and offices from the DEC office list, WMUs from the DEC WMU season layer, DEC acres from the NYS DEC Lands layer (GIS measure). Checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cayuga County
Cayuga County: WMU seasons and antlerless permits
By area, 7H leads with 30%, ahead of 7J, 7F, 7A and 8F. Southern Zone timing holds for most of the county: early bow Oct. 1 to Nov. 20, regular Nov. 21 to Dec. 13. Deer Management Permits this year: limited DMPs in 7A and unlimited permits in 7H, 7J, 7F and 8F. Missed the Oct 1, 2026 deadline? Leftover DMPs are sold in person from around Nov. 1. September brings an antlerless-only window to 7H, 7J, 7F and 8F. The youth deer weekend, Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026, is open with a firearm for hunters 12 to 15. Earn-a-2nd-Buck starts this season: an antlerless report unlocks another Antlered Deer Tag.
| Unit | Area share | Deer zone | Bowhunting | Gun season | Muzzle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7H | 30% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 7J | 20% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 7F | 18% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 7A | 9% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 8F | 8% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| WMU | Target | DMP success | 1st odds | 2nd odds | Nonres odds | Antler rule | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7H | Unlimited | 11.1% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 7J | Unlimited | 9.7% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 7F | Unlimited | 8.2% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 7A | 6,100 | 17.1% | High | Low | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 8F | Unlimited | 14.0% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 7H · WMU 7J · WMU 7F · WMU 7A · WMU 8F · DMP page · Antler rules
Unit shares and dates from the DEC WMU season layer (2026-27); DMP targets and odds from the 2026 DMP table and the guide DMP page; antler, bow-only, bear and turkey units from the 2026-27 guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Cayuga County season dates for 2026-27
32 species and 52 dated windows reach Cayuga County; the last column compares each with today.
| Quarry | Season | Units | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMUs 7F, 7H, 7J, 8F | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | All WMUs here | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | All WMUs here | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | All WMUs here | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | All WMUs here | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | All WMUs here | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | All WMUs here | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | All WMUs here | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | All WMUs here | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | All WMUs here | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | All WMUs here | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | All WMUs here | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | All WMUs here | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | All WMUs here | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 7A | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 7A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMUs 7F, 7H, 7J, 8F | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMUs 7F, 7J | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (cocks only) | WMUs 7H, 8F | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 7A | Sep 20, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMUs 7F, 7H, 7J, 8F | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMUs 7A, 7F, 7H, 7J | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Western Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Western Zone | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | West Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | West Central goose area | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Western Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Western Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | All WMUs here | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | All WMUs here | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Mink | Hunting (Southern Zone only) | Southern Zone | Nov 10, 2026 | Apr 7, 2027 | |
| Snapping turtle | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Frogs | Hunting | Statewide | Jun 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
From the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation), WMU lists as printed, checked October 27, 2026.
Cayuga County bucks, does and fawns
The 2025 calculated take for Cayuga County was 4,243 deer, 1.9% of the 227,032 statewide. The best year in the 2007-2025 run is 2012 (7,947); the lowest is 2023 (4,155). Fawns made up 409 of the 2025 total. By town, the Cato area led in 2019 with 439 deer, then Sterling and Moravia.
| Season | Males 1.5+ | Male fawns | Females 1.5+ | Female fawns | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,042 | 186 | 1,792 | 223 | 4,243 |
| 2024 | 2,140 | 284 | 1,730 | 287 | 4,441 |
| 2023 | 1,987 | 304 | 1,595 | 269 | 4,155 |
| 2022 | 2,192 | 403 | 2,206 | 381 | 5,182 |
| 2021 | 2,014 | 268 | 1,859 | 252 | 4,393 |
| 2020 | 2,094 | 416 | 2,465 | 365 | 5,340 |
| Year | Bucks 1.5+ | Deer |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2,345 | 4,922 |
| 2018 | 2,234 | 5,260 |
| 2017 | 2,067 | 4,716 |
| 2016 | 1,936 | 5,021 |
| 2015 | 1,971 | 5,113 |
| 2014 | 2,651 | 6,685 |
| 2013 | 2,632 | 7,226 |
| 2012 | 3,263 | 7,947 |
| 2011 | 2,723 | 7,017 |
| 2010 | 2,690 | 7,052 |
| 2009 | 2,592 | 6,322 |
| 2008 | 2,192 | 5,449 |
| 2007 | 2,075 | 5,079 |
Deer and DMPs by WMU (2022)
| WMU | Deer 2022 | Bucks/sq mi | DMPs issued | DMP take | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7H | 2,029 | 2.7 | 8,160 | 963 | 11.8% |
| 7J | 5,977 | 2.9 | 31,619 | 3,247 | 10.3% |
| 7F | 3,681 | 2.4 | 20,610 | 1,845 | 9.0% |
| 7A | 2,918 | 3.0 | 4,721 | 989 | 20.9% |
| 8F | 6,729 | 3.8 | 24,358 | 3,702 | 15.2% |
DEC 2025 deer take by county, earlier Deer Take by Town and County reports and the DEC deer and bear page; WMU and DMP figures from DEC deer reports (2022). Checked October 27, 2026.
Cayuga County bears, gobblers and ducks
Bear season
Southern Zone: that is the bear area for 7H, 7J, 7F, 7A and 8F. Bear dates here: Early Bowhunting Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026; Youth Firearms Bear Hunt Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026; Regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026; Late Bowhunting Dec 14 to Dec 22, 2026. In 2025, a record year of 1,759 bears statewide, the units here gave up 0 (whole-unit totals). DEC aims to maintain infrequent bear presence in these units.
| WMU | Early | Bow | Muzzle | Regular | Youth | Total | Per 100 sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7H | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 7J | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 7F | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 7A | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 8F | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Turkey
Fall turkey (one bird of either sex) is open in 7H, 7J, 7F, 7A and 8F Oct. 17-30. Spring gobblers open May 1, 2027 and close May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon; youth hunt Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027. Spring 2026 take in the Oneida Lake Plains aggregate, which covers part of the county, was about 1,097.
| Turkey aggregate | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneida Lake Plains | 6P,7F,7H,7J | 1,161 | 1,181 | 1,097 |
| Great Lakes Plain | 8A,8C,8F,8G,8H,8J,9A,9C,9F | 1,804 | 1,809 | 1,820 |
| Oswego Lowlands | 7A | 200 | 216 | 188 |
Migratory birds
For waterfowl the county is Western zone. Goose hunters use West Central.
| Canada goose area | Open | Daily bag |
|---|---|---|
| West Central | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| West Central | Nov 7–Dec 21, 2026 | 3 |
Bear area list · Turkey areas · Waterfowl zones
Bear areas and dates from the guide bear page; county bear take from DEC Bear Take by Town and County tables; 2025 by WMU and heaviest bears from the 2025 Bear Harvest Summary; turkey dates from the guide turkey page and spring take from the DEC turkey harvest page; waterfowl from the guide migratory bird pages. Checked October 27, 2026.
Cayuga County state land and public ground
The 11 Cayuga County listings break down as 3 wildlife management areas, 3 state forests, 3 state parks with hunting and 1 cooperative hunting area. Parks on the list need a park hunting permit or follow posted park rules. Waterfowl access sites mapped by DEC reach Cayuga County.
- Cooperative hunting areas in Cayuga (1)Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area (King Ferry) (22,479 acres*)
- National wildlife refuges, 1 listedMontezuma National Wildlife Refuge (10,240 acres*)
- State forests, 3 listedSummer Hill State Forest (4,421 acres), Bear Swamp State Forest (3,541 acres), Frozen Ocean State Forest (753 acres)
- Wildlife management areas: 3Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (7,738 acres*), Owasco Flats Wildlife Management Area (153 acres), Cross Lake Islands Wildlife Management Area (27 acres*)
- State parks with hunting, 3 listedFair Haven Beach State Park (1,138 acres), Fillmore Glen State Park (1,137 acres), Long Point State Park (Cayuga Lake) (253 acres)
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl (statewide map)
Nearest land outside Cayuga
- Cayuga Lake State Park12 miles by map · 139 acres
- Canoga Marsh Wildlife Management Area13 miles by map · 104 acres
- Camillus Forest Unique Area15 miles by map · 340 acres
- Galen Wildlife Management Area17 miles by map · 770 acres
- Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area18 miles by map · 3,608 acres
Leave Harriet Tubman National Historical Park out of the plan; hunting is not allowed there.
New York public land · WMA list · State forest list
Tracts from our New York land list (DEC property pages, OPRHP, USFWS, USFS and DEP records); acres by kind from the NYS DEC Lands layer and the USFS ownership layer (GIS measures, not official acreages). Checked October 27, 2026.
What the law says in Cayuga County
Cayuga County is not on the guide's list of places where rifles are barred for big game; check the legal implements map before you go. Without the owner's consent, stay 500 feet out with a firearm, 250 with a crossbow, 150 with a bow. Orange or pink is required for firearm deer and bear hunting; bowhunters in archery seasons are not covered. Feeding or baiting deer and bear is banned all year, salt and mineral licks included. Sunday hunting is legal everywhere in the state.
CWD and Cayuga deer
CWD is not known in wild New York deer: DEC tested 3,050 in 2025 with no positives, and 71,973 since 2002. Hunting outside New York? Debone the meat and clean the skull before you come home.
| Season | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 2,967 | 0 |
| 2022-2023 | 2,727 | 0 |
| 2023-2024 | 2,713 | 0 |
| 2024-2025 | 3,189 | 0 |
| 2025-2026 | 3,050 | 0 |
Junior firearm deer hunting at 12-13 is a county opt-in pilot through 2028. DEC junior big game page
All rules · CWD rules · Junior hunters
Rifle areas and setbacks from the guide legal implements map; orange from the guide big game rules; baiting from the general regulations; Sunday hunting from the guide; CWD from the DEC CWD page and the CWD surveillance plan. Checked October 27, 2026.
Cayuga County DEC offices, processors and shops
Businesses in Cayuga County come first; the nearest in bordering counties fill each group. For a licensed guide, DEC's list has 22 in Cayuga County. Town clerks count for 15 of the license outlets in Cayuga County.
DEC offices
For Cayuga County, DEC's regional office is in Syracuse. Syracuse has the nearest DEC office, 26 miles from mid-county.
Processors
Taxidermy
Hunting preserves
Gun and archery shops
Offices from the DEC office list; processors from the DEC 2026 processor list and directories; guides and clerks from DEC data.ny.gov lists; shops from directories and store locators. Checked October 27, 2026; call ahead. All New York hunting services.
Cayuga County town guides and neighbours
Cayuga County has 3 town guides, seat first; each lists the public land within reach and the nearest shops.
- Auburnseat · 25,963 residents (2024) · 3,898 public ac nearby
- Cayuga541 residents (2024) · 11,296 public ac nearby
- Moravia1,241 residents (2024) · 8,921 public ac nearby
Cayuga County borders 7 New York counties.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Cayuga County legal hunting light
Spring turkey hunting ends at noon, fall turkey and upland birds run sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the half hour on each end.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and bear | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:57 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:02 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:11 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:06 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:30 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:37 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:01 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. | 5:31 a.m. to 8:35 p.m. | 5:31 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. |
Hours rule from the DEC guide sunrise and sunset page; sun times calculated for the county centre (NOAA method), checked against the guide’s Albany table; checked October 27, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
What Cayuga County has scheduled
4 upcoming events (NWTF chapter banquet, veterans pheasant hunt, women's pheasant hunt and youth pheasant hunt), checked October 27, 2026.
Upcoming here
| Dates | What | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Falcon Sportsmen Club Youth Pheasant Hunt · youth pheasant hunt | Howland's Island Port Byron | Reserve a spot | Source |
| Nov 8, 2026 | King Ferry Cooperative Hunting Area Womens Pheasant Hunt · women's pheasant hunt | Reserve a spot | Source | |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Falcon Sportsmen Club Veterans Pheasant Hunt · veterans pheasant hunt | Reserve a spot | Source | |
| Feb 13, 2027 | Cayuga County Longbeards NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | Union Springs | Get tickets | Source |
Cayuga County ranges and match dates
Up to six Cayuga County ranges show as cards; any others are in the table below.
DEC runs no firearm ranges, and no public range of any kind lies within 60 miles of the Cayuga County center, so clubs and private ranges are the choices here.
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Fishing in Cayuga County
Lakes, rivers, boat ramps and bait shops for Cayuga County are on State Fishing Spots, our sister site.
Cayuga County hunting questions
Where does Cayuga County rank for deer?
It placed 25th among the 56 counties DEC reports for 2025, with 4,243 deer.
Are there antler restrictions in Cayuga County?
No. None of the units here is an antler point restriction unit.
When does spring turkey open in Cayuga County?
May 1, 2027; youth hunt Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027.
How many bears may one hunter take in Cayuga County?
One per license year.
How much Forest Preserve is in Cayuga County?
None by the DEC Lands layer.
Which Canada goose area covers Cayuga County?
Goose areas here: West Central.
How far is Cayuga County from a DEC office?
NYSDEC Region 7 Headquarters (Syracuse), about 26 miles away.
How far from a house can I shoot in Cayuga County?
500 feet with a firearm, 250 with a crossbow and 150 with a bow, unless the owner consents.
Is there a late muzzleloader season in Cayuga County?
Yes: Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Where does a Cayuga County deer go for cutting and wrapping?
T&B Meats is closest on our list; phone before dropping off.
Answers from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, the DMP pages, harvest reporting rules, DEC harvest data and the sources above. Checked October 27, 2026.
Cayuga County trip checklist
Units in and around Cayuga County can change between seasons; read the WMU page and the guide before you go.
Sources: 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, DEC hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); nayukim (CC BY 2.0); born1945 (CC BY 2.0); Martin Cathrae (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).