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DEC Region 9 · 2026-27
Chautauqua County Hunting
Chautauqua County in western New York: which Wildlife Management Units cover it, what each one allows, how many deer and bears hunters take, and the state land, towns and shops close by.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Chautauqua County covers 1,060 square miles of land and 440 of water, with county offices in Mayville. Roughly 124,105 residents share that ground, or 117 per square mile. Its DEC regional headquarters sits in Buffalo (Region 9). Unit boundaries, not the county line, decide dates: 9J, 9K, 9G and 9R apply here. DEC land polygons cover about 22,033 acres inside the county by GIS measure.
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.
Chautauqua County WMUs, dates and DMP odds
4 units touch Chautauqua County; 9J alone is 48% of it. In the Southern Zone, archers open Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 and the regular firearms season runs Nov. 21 to Dec. 13. Antlerless permit picture for 2026: a fixed DMP target in 9J, 9K and 9R and open-ended DMPs in 9G. Limited-unit applications ran Aug 3 to Oct 1, 2026; leftovers go first come, first served from about Nov. 1. The September antlerless season (Sep 12 to Sep 20, 2026) covers 9G, on DMP and DMAP tags only. Youth with a firearm may hunt deer Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026 with a mentor. The second Antlered Deer Tag now has to be earned with an antlerless harvest.
| WMU | % of county | Zone | Early bow | Regular | Late or early ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9J | 48% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 9K | 17% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 9G | 5% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 9R | 2% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| Unit | DMP target | Success rate | Res 1st | Res 2nd | NR 1st | APR | Bear hunting | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9J | 17,000 | 21.0% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 9K | 7,000 | 24.0% | High | Med | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 9G | Unlimited | 9.8% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 9R | 2,303 | 20.2% | High | None | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 9J · WMU 9K · WMU 9G · WMU 9R · Antlerless permits · Three-point units
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.
What opens and closes around Chautauqua County
WMU lines, not county lines, set most New York dates. Rows marked with a WMU apply only in that part of Chautauqua County.
| Species | Season | Covers | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 9G | 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 | All WMUs here | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | All WMUs here | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | All WMUs here | 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 | All WMUs here | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 31, 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 | South goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | South goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 11, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMUs 9J, 9K, 9R | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| 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.
Chautauqua County harvest record
In 2025, 10,120 deer came out of Chautauqua County, placing it 2nd among counties. Compared with 2007, 2025 is +15%. Adult bucks were 48% of the 2025 take. Town tables (last published for 2019) put Chautauqua first at 611.
| Year | Bucks | Fawns (m) | Does | Fawns (f) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,892 | 473 | 4,216 | 539 | 10,120 |
| 2024 | 4,453 | 537 | 3,360 | 545 | 8,895 |
| 2023 | 3,928 | 722 | 3,613 | 623 | 8,886 |
| 2022 | 4,236 | 856 | 4,628 | 795 | 10,515 |
| 2021 | 3,978 | 496 | 3,536 | 451 | 8,461 |
| 2020 | 4,164 | 871 | 5,097 | 762 | 10,894 |
| Season | Adult bucks | Sum |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4,250 | 9,516 |
| 2018 | 4,334 | 9,944 |
| 2017 | 3,935 | 8,069 |
| 2016 | 3,756 | 7,739 |
| 2015 | 3,574 | 7,705 |
| 2014 | 3,636 | 8,918 |
| 2013 | 3,857 | 9,162 |
| 2012 | 4,083 | 9,208 |
| 2011 | 3,617 | 8,270 |
| 2010 | 3,382 | 7,949 |
| 2009 | 3,258 | 7,881 |
| 2008 | 3,176 | 7,664 |
| 2007 | 3,640 | 8,765 |
Whole-unit take
| Unit | Total take | Adult bucks/sq mi | Permits issued | Permit deer | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9J | 6,708 | 4.1 | 13,200 | 3,334 | 25.3% |
| 9K | 4,100 | 3.8 | 6,500 | 1,976 | 30.4% |
| 9G | 1,945 | 2.9 | 9,595 | 1,149 | 12.0% |
| 9R | 1,085 | 2.5 | 1,800 | 406 | 22.6% |
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.
Chautauqua County bears, gobblers and ducks
Bear numbers
Bear hunting is open in 9J, 9K, 9G and 9R (Southern Zone). The bear calendar runs from Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 22, 2026 across its segments. DEC county tables list 463 bears from 2007 to 2022. The 2025 bear take in 9J, 9K, 9G and 9R totalled 80, counting the full units. Bear objective: maintain infrequent bear presence, maintain low bear density and maintain moderate bear density.
Gobblers and fall birds
Fall turkey dates by unit: 9J, 9K, 9G and 9R Oct. 17-30. The spring season, May 1 to May 31, 2027, allows two bearded birds, one a day. No county turkey count exists; West Appalachian Plateau and North Appalachian Hills are the DEC areas that overlap it.
| Area | WMUs | 2024 take | 2025 take | 2026 take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Appalachian Plateau | 9J,9K,9M,9N,9P,9R,9S,9T,9W,9X,9Y | 3,728 | 3,586 | 3,897 |
| North Appalachian Hills | 8M,8N,8P,8R,8S,9G,9H | 2,010 | 2,044 | 2,025 |
Chautauqua ducks and geese
DEC maps the county's lands in the Western duck zone. The Canada goose map lists South here.
| Area | Season | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| South | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| South | Oct 24–Jan 11, 2027 | 5 |
Bear hunting areas · Fall turkey units · Duck and goose 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.
Chautauqua County tracts open to hunters
By kind, Chautauqua County public land counts 11 state forests, 7 wildlife management areas, 1 fish and wildlife management area and 1 multiple use area. Pheasant stocking by DEC includes Chautauqua County.
- State forests (11)Boutwell Hill State Forest (2,965 ac), North Harmony State Forest (2,575 ac), Harris Hill State Forest (2,279 ac), Mount Pleasant State Forest (1,539 ac), Whalen Memorial State Forest (1,347 ac), Hatch Creek State Forest (1,284 ac), Panama State Forest (1,225 ac), Hill Higher State Forest (1,160 ac), Stockton State Forest (984 ac), Brokenstraw State Forest (950 ac), Chautauqua Gorge State Forest (547 ac)
- Wildlife management areas, 7 hereCanadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area (2,190 ac), Watts Flats Wildlife Management Area (1,395 ac), Alder Bottom Wildlife Management Area (820 ac), Clay Pond Wildlife Management Area (215 ac), Hartson Swamp Wildlife Management Area (141 ac), Kabob Wildlife Management Area (37 ac), Jacquins Pond Wildlife Management Area (30 ac)
- Multiple use areas, 1 listedWellman Multiple Use Area (446 ac)
- Fish and wildlife management areas, 1Chautauqua Lake Fish and Wildlife Management Area (134 ac)
DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program)
Over the line
- Conewango Swamp Wildlife Management Area21 miles off · 998 ac
- Evangola State Park26 miles off · 743 ac
- Pine Hill State Forest26 miles off · 1,142 ac
- South Valley State Forest28 miles off · 4,482 ac
- Allegheny Reservoir Wildlife Management Area28 miles off · 1,106 ac
Closed to hunting: Sunset Bay State Marine Park, Barcelona Lighthouse State Historic Site, Lake Erie State Park, Long Point State Park on Lake Chautauqua and Midway State Park.
All land pages · WMAs statewide · Reforestation areas
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.
Chautauqua County firearm limits, orange and baiting
Rifles are restricted for big game: the guide lists Chautauqua County north of Route 20. Distance rules: 500 feet (firearm), 250 feet (crossbow), 150 feet (bow). Wear 250 sq. in. of solid orange or pink above the waist when hunting deer or bear with a gun. No bait, feed, salt licks or mineral blocks for deer or bear at any time. There is no Sunday restriction: hunt seven days a week in season.
Chronic wasting disease
Since testing began in 2002, DEC has sampled 71,973 wild deer; the only positives were 2 in 2005. Whole carcasses and intact heads of deer, elk, moose or caribou from outside New York may not be brought in.
| Year | Deer sampled | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See DEC's opt-in map for 12- and 13-year-old firearm deer hunters. Opt-in map
Hunting law page · CWD testing · Youth and veterans
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.
Chautauqua County hunting services and contacts
Processors marked with donated venison are flagged on the DEC 2026 processor list. Municipal clerks selling licenses in Chautauqua County: 23.
Phone list for Chautauqua
Buffalo is home to the DEC Region 9 office that covers Chautauqua County. The nearest DEC office to the county centre is NYSDEC Region 9 Allegany Sub-Office, about 49 miles away. For Region 9 the listed phones are the permit lines.
Deer processors
Mounts
Outdoor stores
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.
Chautauqua County seat, towns and next-door counties
Pick a base in Chautauqua County: every town below links to a page with nearby state land and services.
- Mayvillecounty seat · 1,441 people in 2024 · 4,817 open ac in a 10-mi circle
- Cassadaga556 people in 2024 · 7,594 open ac in a 10-mi circle
- Cherry Creek9,295 open ac in a 10-mi circle
- Frewsburg5,882 open ac in a 10-mi circle
- Kennedy9,951 open ac in a 10-mi circle
- Panama452 people in 2024 · 11,036 open ac in a 10-mi circle
2 New York counties touch Chautauqua County; Erie (PA) and Warren (PA) lie beyond the border.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Chautauqua County shooting time on key dates
Sun times below are calculated for Chautauqua County; the game column adds the big game half hour and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:09 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:40 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:15 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:39 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:46 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:14 a.m. | 8:15 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 8:15 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.
Dinners, hunts and trials in Chautauqua County
NWTF chapter banquet and UKC club nite hunt: 2 upcoming events and 1 printed result.
Next on the list
| Held on | Event | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6, 2027 | Lakeshore Longbeards NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | Fredonia | Get tickets | Source |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Chautauqua Lake NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | Frewsburg | Get tickets | Source |
Who won here
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 11, 2026 | Southern Tier CHA Inc UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) · UKC club nite hunt | Top hound of the cast: 'PR'Otter Creek Kennels Rainy May ENG, Ben Struthers 225+ | Source |
Chautauqua County ranges and match dates
6 ranges in Chautauqua County as of October 27, 2026, each card with its access rule.
Within 60 miles of central Chautauqua County there is no DEC, town, county or city range; the listings above are clubs and businesses.
Matches in the county
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2026 / 2-Gun at Jamestown Rifle Club Inc. | Action pistol | Enter |
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Chautauqua County questions, short answers
Is the Chautauqua County deer harvest going up?
DEC puts 2025 at 10,120 deer against 8,895 the season before, a +14% move.
How many bears may one hunter take in Chautauqua County?
One per license year.
When does spring turkey open in Chautauqua County?
May 1, 2027; youth hunt Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027.
Which Canada goose area covers Chautauqua County?
Goose areas here: South.
How much Forest Preserve is in Chautauqua County?
None by the DEC Lands layer.
How far from a house can I shoot in Chautauqua County?
500 feet with a firearm, 250 with a crossbow and 150 with a bow, unless the owner consents.
How does a Chautauqua County resident buy a hunting license?
Online, by phone, or at a town clerk or license agent; 23 clerk offices sell them in the county.
Who cuts deer close to Chautauqua County?
Start with Troyer's Processing; the services band lists more.
Is there a late muzzleloader season in Chautauqua County?
Yes: Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
What is the 2026 DMP target for WMU 9J?
17,000, per the 2026 DMP table.
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.
Double-check before Chautauqua County
DEC can change dates and rules between license years. The guide and 6 NYCRR are the legal reference.
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: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0).