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The lower Hudson Valley
Dutchess County Hunting
Plan a Dutchess County season from the unit level up: WMU 3G, 3F and 3N dates, antlerless permit chances, antler rules, waterfowl zones, public land acres and DEC Region 3 contacts.
Photo: gary_leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0)
From its seat in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County spreads over 796 square miles in DEC Region 3. With 299,963 people in 2024, the county changed +1.0% from the 2020 count. The county falls under DEC Region 3, run out of New Paltz. 4 Wildlife Management Units set the dates: 3G, 3F, 3N and 4Z. Mapped DEC land totals some 7,098 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.
Dutchess County deer units and permits
Most of Dutchess County (50%) is WMU 3G, with slices of 3F, 3N and 4Z. 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 3G, 3F, 3N and 4Z. The limited DMP window closed Oct 1, 2026, and DEC sells leftover permits in person starting around Nov. 1. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3G | 50% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 3F | 41% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 3N | 5% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 4Z | 3% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3G | 5,200 | 6.9% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 3F | 4,400 | 4.7% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 3N | 3,200 | 4.9% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 4Z | 2,500 | 12.2% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 3G · WMU 3F · WMU 3N · WMU 4Z · 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.
Dutchess County hunting calendar by species
Waterfowl rows follow the duck zones and goose areas that DEC maps across Dutchess County; upland and big game rows follow WMUs 3G, 3F, 3N and 4Z.
| Game | Segment | WMU or zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | All WMUs here | Oct 1, 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 | 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 | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Southeastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Southeastern Zone | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Hudson Valley goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Hudson Valley goose area | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 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 | 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.
Deer harvest history for Dutchess County
Last season Dutchess County gave up 1,881 deer, adult bucks 1,130 of them. 2008 leads the series with 4,481 deer, and 2023 trails with 1,653. Females, adults and fawns together, came to 691. The busiest towns in 2019 were East Fishkill, Red Hook and Rhinebeck.
| Season | Adult males | Buck fawns | Adult females | Doe fawns | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,130 | 60 | 602 | 89 | 1,881 |
| 2024 | 1,077 | 53 | 509 | 56 | 1,695 |
| 2023 | 1,044 | 53 | 504 | 52 | 1,653 |
| 2022 | 1,055 | 67 | 676 | 61 | 1,859 |
| 2021 | 939 | 59 | 648 | 63 | 1,709 |
| 2020 | 1,390 | 139 | 1,242 | 171 | 2,942 |
| Year | Bucks | Total take |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,497 | 2,599 |
| 2018 | 1,460 | 2,577 |
| 2017 | 1,311 | 2,335 |
| 2016 | 1,483 | 2,645 |
| 2015 | 1,142 | 2,451 |
| 2014 | 1,463 | 3,285 |
| 2013 | 1,731 | 3,758 |
| 2012 | 2,014 | 3,974 |
| 2011 | 1,990 | 3,703 |
| 2010 | 1,827 | 3,847 |
| 2009 | 1,878 | 4,181 |
| 2008 | 2,171 | 4,481 |
| 2007 | 2,046 | 4,092 |
WMU take, 2022
| WMU | Deer | Buck density | DMPs | DMP deer | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3G | 1,125 | 1.5 | 4,700 | 375 | 8.0% |
| 3F | 554 | 1.1 | 2,850 | 151 | 5.3% |
| 3N | 544 | 1.5 | 3,017 | 184 | 6.1% |
| 4Z | 1,187 | 2.6 | 2,560 | 322 | 12.6% |
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.
Dutchess County beyond whitetails
Dutchess black bear
3G, 3F, 3N and 4Z 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 27, in 2021. Whole-unit 2025 figures: 3G 18; 3F 5; 3N 1; 4Z 21. On the bear objective map these units read maintain low bear density.
| WMU | Early fire. | Bow | Muzzleloader | Regular | Youth | Bears | Per 100 mi² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3G | 0 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 18 | 3.9 |
| 3F | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1.5 |
| 3N | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.4 |
| 4Z | 0 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 21 | 8.4 |
Turkey seasons
The fall season, one bird either sex, runs 3G, 3F, 3N and 4Z 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; Hudson Valley is the main one here.
| DEC area | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson Valley | 3F,3J,3M,3N,3P,4B,4J,4K,4S,4T,4Y | 1,437 | 1,511 | 1,639 |
| South Taconic Highlands | 3G,4U,4Z | 402 | 422 | 479 |
Waterfowl zones
Use Southeastern zone dates for ducks, brant and snow geese. For Canada geese, check Hudson Valley and South.
| Goose area | Runs | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson Valley | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| Hudson Valley | Nov 7–Dec 21, 2026 | 3 |
| 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.
Dutchess County tracts open to hunters
Dutchess County has 15 listed properties open to hunters, led by Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve (9,779 acres). Carry the free DEP Access Permit on any of the 2 watershed recreation units. Only the listed parks allow hunting, each with its own permit. Dutchess County is on the county list of the DEC pheasant release program. Duck hunters can find DEC-mapped waterfowl areas in Dutchess County.
- State parks with hunting, 2Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve (9,779 acres*), Taconic State Park (6,183 acres*)
- Multiple use areas (5)Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area (917 acres), Lafayetteville Multiple Use Area (718 acres), Stissing Mountain Multiple Use Area (590 acres), Wassaic Multiple Use Area (513 acres), Depot Hill Multiple Use Area (256 acres)
- Wildlife management areas in Dutchess (2)Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area And Research Reserve (1,679 acres), Baxtertown Woods Wildlife Management Area (248 acres)
- State forests, 2West Mountain State Forest (825 acres), Grape Hollow State Forest (507 acres)
- NYC watershed recreation units, 2 listedEast Fishkill (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (803 acres), White Pond (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (197 acres*)
- State historic sites (1)Clermont State Historic Site (601 acres*)
- National wildlife refuges, 1Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge (141 acres)
NYC DEP Watershed Recreation Lands · DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program) · DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl (statewide map)
Next-door public land
- Black Creek State Forest13 miles away · 578 acres
- Hemlock Ridge Multiple Use Area17 miles away · 83 acres
- North Putnam (NYC DEP Recreation Unit)17 miles away · 32 acres
- White Pond Multiple Use Area18 miles away · 263 acres
- Big Buck Mountain Multiple Use Area18 miles away · 181 acres
Closed to hunting: Alamar (NYC DEP recreation unit), Quiet Cove Riverfront Park, Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park, Clinton House State Historic Site, Staatsburgh State Historic Site, James Baird State Park, Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park and Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park and 3 more.
Land finder · All WMAs · State forest pages · Watershed units
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 Dutchess County
The legal implements map bars rifles in Dutchess County. 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.
Dutchess County offices and businesses
DEC lists processors who agreed to be named; shops and taxidermists come from directories, so call before you go. Dutchess County is home to 10 licensed hunting guides on DEC's list. 19 town or village clerk offices in Dutchess County sell sporting licenses.
Agency contacts
Regional DEC staff for Dutchess County work out of New Paltz. NYSDEC Region 3 Headquarters (New Paltz) is the closest DEC office, 17 miles out.
Venison processing
Taxidermists nearby
Preserves nearby
Dutchess 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.
Dutchess County towns plus the counties that touch it
Use a Dutchess County town page to see the closest public land by distance.
- Poughkeepsieseat · 32,293 townspeople · 1,727 ac public, 10-mi ring
- Dover Plains2,405 ac public, 10-mi ring
- Tivoli1,019 townspeople · 11,394 ac public, 10-mi ring
- Wingdale3,034 ac public, 10-mi ring
Tiles below open each county next to Dutchess County; Berkshire (MA), Northwest Hills Planning Region (CT) and Western Connecticut Planning Region (CT) are in another state.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Dutchess 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 Dutchess County.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:46 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:02 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:51 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:14 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:22 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:53 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 8:21 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 7:51 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.
Dutchess County ranges, clubs and shoots
16 Dutchess County ranges are listed, and every card says who may shoot.
| Club or range | Nearest town | Guns and bows | Entry rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawling Pistol Club (a rod and gun club) | Pawling | handgun/smallbore rimfire/action pistol/trap/shotgun | Members only |
| Southern Dutchess and Putnam Sportsmen Association (a rod and gun club) | Wappingers Falls | trap/rifle/handgun/smallbore rimfire/archery/shotgun | Members only |
| T-M-T Hunting Preserve (a sporting clays course) | Staatsburg | trap/sporting clays/shotgun | Access not stated |
| Ti Yogi Bowmen Inc (an archery range) | Hyde Park | archery/3D archery | Access not stated |
| Violaclub (a rod and gun club) | Rhinebeck | rifle/handgun/archery | Access not stated |
| West Mountain Kennels (a sporting clays course) | Pawling | sporting clays/shotgun | Access not stated |
| Whortlekill Rod & Gun (a rod and gun club) | Hopewell Junction | trap/rifle/handgun/smallbore rimfire/archery/shotgun | Access not stated |
| East Hook Sportsmen Assn (a trap and skeet club) | Fishkill | trap/shotgun | Access not stated |
| Indian Mountain Lodge (a sporting clays course) | Millerton | sporting clays/5-stand/shotgun | Access not stated |
| Wash Hollowrod and Gun Club (a rod and gun club) | Poughkeepsie | Members only |
For a range open to everyone, Coyne Park Rifle and Pistol Range (Westchester County) is about 59 miles away. Hours and fees
Local match calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 21-22, 2026 / NEW YORK 18 HOUR Pistol Permit Course at Dutchess County Pistol Association | Class | Book a seat |
| Nov 29, 2026 / Defensive Shotgun at Dutchess County Pistol Association | Class | Book a seat |
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Dutchess County, answered
Is there a late muzzleloader season in Dutchess County?
Yes: Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Who cuts deer close to Dutchess County?
Start with Down the Road Butchery; the services band lists more.
Is any part of Dutchess County bowhunting only?
No. Firearms are legal in the regular season in every unit here.
How many DMPs can one hunter hold in Dutchess County?
Up to four applications statewide: two in limited WMUs and two in unlimited/bonus WMUs, plus leftovers from about Nov. 1.
Is bear hunting open in Dutchess County?
Yes, in 3G, 3F, 3N and 4Z.
Is the Dutchess County deer harvest going up?
DEC puts 2025 at 1,881 deer against 1,695 the season before, a +11% move.
When does duck season open in Dutchess County?
Oct 10, 2026 in the Southeastern Zone.
What hours are legal for spring turkey in Dutchess County?
Half an hour before sunrise to noon.
Must I wear orange in Dutchess County?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a hat at least half orange or pink.
How much Forest Preserve is in Dutchess County?
None by the DEC Lands layer.
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.
Dutchess 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); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); DenaliNPS (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).