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The western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley
Chemung County Hunting
Plan a Chemung County season from the unit level up: WMU 8Y, 8W and 7R dates, antlerless permit chances, antler rules, waterfowl zones, public land acres and DEC Region 8 contacts.
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
From its seat in Elmira, Chemung County spreads over 407 square miles in DEC Region 8. With 81,115 people in 2024, the county changed -3.6% from the 2020 count. The county falls under DEC Region 8, run out of Avon. 3 Wildlife Management Units set the dates: 8Y, 8W and 7R. Mapped DEC land totals some 1,666 acres here.
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.
Chemung County deer units and permits
Most of Chemung County (63%) is WMU 8Y, with slices of 8W and 7R. Regular season dates here are Nov. 21 to Dec. 13, after early bowhunting Oct. 1 to Nov. 20. The 2026 DMP table gives drawn DMPs for 8Y and 8W and a bonus DMP for each one filled in 7R. The limited DMP window closed Oct 1, 2026, and DEC sells leftover permits in person starting around Nov. 1. 7R opens early for antlerless deer, Sep 12 to Sep 20, 2026. Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026 is reserved for junior hunters with firearms. A reported antlerless deer earns the 2nd Antlered Deer Tag this year.
| Unit | Share | Zone | Archery | Regular | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8Y | 63% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 8W | 32% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 7R | 5% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| WMU | Permits | Success | First DMP | Second DMP | Nonres first | Antler rule | Bear | Fall bird |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8Y | 8,700 | 15.0% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 8W | 8,000 | 19.2% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 7R | Unlimited | 9.3% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 8Y · WMU 8W · WMU 7R · All DMP targets · APR 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.
Chemung County hunting calendar by species
Waterfowl rows follow the duck zones and goose areas that DEC maps across Chemung County; upland and big game rows follow WMUs 8Y, 8W and 7R.
| Game | Segment | WMU or zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 7R | 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 | WMU 7R | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMUs 8W, 8Y | 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 8W, 8Y | 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.
Deer harvest history for Chemung County
Last season Chemung County gave up 2,978 deer, adult bucks 1,529 of them. 2020 leads the series with 3,255 deer, and 2016 trails with 2,239. Females, adults and fawns together, came to 1,324. The busiest towns in 2019 were Southport, Erin and Chemung.
| Season | Adult males | Buck fawns | Adult females | Doe fawns | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,529 | 125 | 1,178 | 146 | 2,978 |
| 2024 | 1,575 | 172 | 1,069 | 175 | 2,991 |
| 2023 | 1,390 | 178 | 851 | 159 | 2,578 |
| 2022 | 1,456 | 168 | 901 | 151 | 2,676 |
| 2021 | 1,351 | 122 | 908 | 112 | 2,493 |
| 2020 | 1,634 | 207 | 1,234 | 180 | 3,255 |
| Year | Bucks | Total take |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,498 | 2,400 |
| 2018 | 1,342 | 2,468 |
| 2017 | 1,375 | 2,327 |
| 2016 | 1,293 | 2,239 |
| 2015 | 1,339 | 2,349 |
| 2014 | 1,131 | 2,319 |
| 2013 | 1,297 | 2,479 |
| 2012 | 1,386 | 2,893 |
| 2011 | 1,392 | 2,629 |
| 2010 | 1,354 | 2,434 |
| 2009 | 1,126 | 2,526 |
| 2008 | 1,401 | 3,222 |
| 2007 | 1,441 | 2,967 |
WMU take, 2022
| WMU | Deer | Buck density | DMPs | DMP deer | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8Y | 2,633 | 3.9 | 6,200 | 1,054 | 17.0% |
| 8W | 3,174 | 4.1 | 4,473 | 1,039 | 23.2% |
| 7R | 5,336 | 2.9 | 28,761 | 2,996 | 10.4% |
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.
Chemung County beyond whitetails
Chemung black bear
8Y, 8W and 7R are open for black bear under the Southern Zone rules. Bear segments start Oct 1 and the last one closes Dec 22, 2026. The most bears in one year was 20, in 2022. Whole-unit 2025 figures: 8Y 29; 8W 16; 7R 4. On the bear objective map these units read maintain low bear density and maintain moderate bear density. A 499-lb male taken in Horseheads made DEC's 2025 heaviest-bear list at No. 7.
Turkey seasons
The fall season, one bird either sex, runs 8Y, 8W and 7R Oct. 17-30. Youth spring turkey is Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027, and the regular spring season follows May 1 to May 31, 2027. Turkey take is grouped by DEC area; Central Appalachian Plateau is the main one here.
| DEC area | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Appalachian Plateau | 8T,8W,8X,8Y | 1,295 | 1,582 | 1,560 |
| East Appalachian Plateau | 7M,7P,7R,7S | 1,943 | 2,096 | 2,049 |
Waterfowl zones
Use Western zone dates for ducks, brant and snow geese. For Canada geese, check South.
| Goose area | Runs | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| South | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| South | Oct 24–Jan 11, 2027 | 5 |
Bear area map · Turkey seasons by unit · Goose areas
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.
Chemung County tracts open to hunters
Chemung County has 6 listed properties open to hunters, led by Catlin State Forest (607 acres). Only the listed parks allow hunting, each with its own permit. Chemung County is on the county list of the DEC pheasant release program.
- State parks with hunting, 3Two Rivers State Park (564 acres*), Mark Twain State Park (468 acres), Newtown Battlefield Reservation (449 acres)
- State forests, 2Catlin State Forest (607 acres), Maple Hill State Forest (596 acres)
- Wildlife management areas in Chemung (1)Big Flats Wildlife Management Area (460 acres)
DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program)
Next-door public land
- Cliffside State Forest10 miles away · 963 acres
- Newfield State Forest12 miles away · 1,453 acres
- Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area14 miles away · 11,375 acres
- Beaver Dams State Forest, Schuyler County15 miles away · 532 acres
- Catharine Creek Wildlife Management Area16 miles away · 784 acres
Land finder · All WMAs · State forest pages
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.
Rules that bite in Chemung County
No rifle restriction for Chemung County appears on the guide's list. Setbacks: no firearm discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling, school, playground or church, 250 feet for crossbows and 150 feet for bows. Deer and bear hunters with a firearm, and anyone with them, wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink, or a hat at least half orange or pink. Hunting over bait is illegal for big game, and so is feeding deer or bear. Sundays are open days for every season.
CWD testing
Statewide surveillance found no CWD in the 3,050 deer checked in 2025-2026. Bring only deboned meat, clean skull caps, antlers, hides and finished mounts from out-of-state deer.
| Season | Tests | Detections |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Local opt-in decides 12-13-year-old firearm deer hunting; DEC posts a county map. Junior hunter rules
Legal reference · Carcass import rules · Young 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.
Chemung County offices and businesses
DEC lists processors who agreed to be named; shops and taxidermists come from directories, so call before you go. Chemung County is home to 5 licensed hunting guides on DEC's list. 9 town or village clerk offices in Chemung County sell sporting licenses.
Agency contacts
Regional DEC staff for Chemung County work out of Avon. NYSDEC Region 8 Elmira Sub-Office is the closest DEC office, 5 miles out.
Venison processing
Taxidermists nearby
Preserves nearby
Chemung area gun and bow counters
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.
Chemung County towns plus the counties that touch it
Use a Chemung County town page to see the closest public land by distance.
- Elmiraseat · 26,255 townspeople · 755 ac public, 10-mi ring
Tiles below open each county next to Chemung County; Bradford (PA) and Tioga (PA) are in another state.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Chemung County shooting time on key dates
East and west matter: sunrise in Buffalo comes about 20 minutes after sunrise in Albany, so use local times for Chemung County.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:58 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:02 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:04 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:27 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:35 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:04 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 5:34 a.m. to 8:34 p.m. | 5:34 a.m. to 8:04 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.
Chemung County hunting events and results
Checked October 27, 2026: 1 upcoming event and 2 printed results, covering NWTF chapter banquet, UKC club nite hunt and UKC state youth championship.
On the way
| Held on | Event | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 2027 | Chemung Valley Ridgerunners NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | Elmira | Get tickets | Source |
Recent results
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2026 | 2026 New York State Youth Championship (UKC coonhounds) · UKC state youth championship | Top hound of the night: 'PR' Cy's Scrappy (Treeing Walker; Douglas Marshall, NY; handled by Ceder Marshall) 250+ | Source |
| Jun 27, 2026 | Chemung Co CHA Inc UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) · UKC club nite hunt | Top hound of the cast: GRNITECH(3)'PR'Canada Run's Blue Boone BLU, Kevin R Clark 450+ | Source |
Chemung County ranges, clubs and shoots
4 Chemung County ranges are listed, and every card says who may shoot.
Public ranges are scarce here: none within 60 miles of the Chemung County center.
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Chemung County, answered
What hours are legal for spring turkey in Chemung County?
Half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Is bear hunting open in Chemung County?
Yes, in 8Y, 8W and 7R.
How much Forest Preserve is in Chemung County?
None by the DEC Lands layer.
When does duck season open in Chemung County?
Oct 10, 2026 in the Western Zone.
How does a Chemung County resident buy a hunting license?
Online, by phone, or at a town clerk or license agent; 9 clerk offices sell them in the county.
Must I wear orange in Chemung County?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a hat at least half orange or pink.
Is there a late muzzleloader season in Chemung County?
Yes: Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Who cuts deer close to Chemung County?
Start with Capricorn Hill Meats; the services band lists more.
Is any part of Chemung County bowhunting only?
No. Firearms are legal in the regular season in every unit here.
How many DMPs can one hunter hold in Chemung County?
Up to four applications statewide: two in limited WMUs and two in unlimited/bonus WMUs, plus leftovers from about Nov. 1.
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.
Chemung County, last word
Dates on this page are for 2026-27 only; recheck the guide for a later season.
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); TonySprezzatura (CC BY-SA 2.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); Bobolink (CC BY 2.0); Chris Sorge (CC BY-SA 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0).