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Region 4 county guide
Schenectady County Hunting
Hunting Schenectady County in 2026-27: Southern Zone dates by WMU, DMP selection odds, rifle and setback rules, public land acres by kind, and harvest charts.
Photo: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Within the Capital District and northern Catskills, Schenectady County takes up 205 square miles and is run from Schenectady. The 2024 Census estimate is 162,261 residents, near 793 to the square mile. Hunters here deal with DEC Region 4; the head office is in Schenectady. Deer, bear and turkey dates come from WMUs 4A, 4B, 5R, 6R and 4G. State land managed by DEC adds up to near 691 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.
How DEC divides Schenectady County
WMU 4A takes in 51% of Schenectady County, and 4B, 5R, 6R and 4G split the rest. Firearms deer hunting opens with the Southern Zone regular season, Nov. 21 to Dec. 13. Here the permit map shows target-based DMPs in 4A, 4B, 5R, 6R and 4G. DEC took limited DMP applications from Aug 3 through Oct 1, 2026. 4G is an antler restriction unit, so bucks must carry three points on one side (hunters 12-16 exempt). Hunters aged 12 to 15 have Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026 to themselves with a firearm. Report an antlerless deer on a DMP or Bow/Muzz tag and DEC issues a second Antlered Deer Tag (Earn-a-2nd-Buck, new in 2026).
| Unit | Of county | Zone | Bow opens | Firearms | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4A | 51% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 4B | 22% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 5R | 21% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 6R | 3% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 4G | 2% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| WMU | DMP target | Success | Res. 1st | Res. 2nd | Nonres. 1st | Antlers | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4A | 3,000 | 17.4% | High | None | None | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 4B | 3,300 | 9.7% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 5R | 9,700 | 7.6% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 6R | 6,100 | 12.1% | High | Low | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 4G | 2,800 | 20.7% | Med | None | None | 3 points | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 4A · WMU 4B · WMU 5R · WMU 6R · WMU 4G · Every DMP row · Buck 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.
Every dated hunt touching Schenectady County
For Schenectady County, 54 season segments cover big game, upland birds, waterfowl and furbearers this license year.
| Species | Season type | Where it applies | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | East Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 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 | East Central goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 20, 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 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | East Central goose area | Dec 5, 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 | WMUs 4B, 4G | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMUs 4A, 5R, 6R | 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.
Schenectady County deer numbers since 2007
DEC estimates hunters took 813 deer in Schenectady County in 2025, 485 of them adult bucks. That is 86% above the 438 of 2007; the high point was 2020 at 867. The 2025 split: 485 adult males, 259 adult females, 29 male fawns and 40 female fawns. Glenville produced the most deer of any town in 2019 (269).
| Season | Bucks | Buck fawns | Does | Doe fawns | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 485 | 29 | 259 | 40 | 813 |
| 2024 | 464 | 33 | 289 | 34 | 820 |
| 2023 | 424 | 25 | 240 | 23 | 712 |
| 2022 | 505 | 30 | 292 | 26 | 853 |
| 2021 | 466 | 24 | 277 | 29 | 796 |
| 2020 | 498 | 33 | 296 | 40 | 867 |
| Year | Adult bucks | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 385 | 632 |
| 2018 | 330 | 526 |
| 2017 | 348 | 544 |
| 2016 | 427 | 601 |
| 2015 | 368 | 655 |
| 2014 | 389 | 670 |
| 2013 | 341 | 599 |
| 2012 | 384 | 662 |
| 2011 | 344 | 584 |
| 2010 | 237 | 468 |
| 2009 | 246 | 447 |
| 2008 | 296 | 508 |
| 2007 | 229 | 438 |
Schenectady WMUs in 2022
| WMU | All deer | Bucks/sq mi | DMPs out | Taken on DMPs | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4A | 2,014 | 2.8 | 2,800 | 564 | 20.1% |
| 4B | 814 | 2.6 | 2,900 | 327 | 11.3% |
| 5R | 1,798 | 2.3 | 9,600 | 821 | 8.6% |
| 6R | 2,191 | 2.1 | 6,300 | 912 | 14.5% |
| 4G | 1,855 | 2.8 | 2,800 | 595 | 21.3% |
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.
Schenectady County bear take, turkey dates and duck zones
Bear areas and take
For bear, the county falls in the Southern Zone area through 4A, 4B, 5R, 6R and 4G. Bears may be taken from Oct 1 through Dec 22, 2026, segment by segment. Bear take reached 3 in its best year here. 2025 bear take by unit is in the table; 4G led locally with 22. Bear management goal here: incompatible for bears, maintain infrequent bear presence and maintain moderate bear density.
Turkey dates
Autumn turkey hunting: 4A, 4B, 5R, 6R and 4G Oct. 17-30, bag one. Spring turkey runs the month of May (May 1 to May 31, 2027) after the Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027 youth weekend. DEC reports spring take by WMU groups, not counties; Mohawk Valley took about 1,005 birds in 2026.
| Turkey region | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohawk Valley | 4A,5R,6R,6S | 990 | 949 | 1,005 |
| Catskills | 3A,3C,4G,4H,4P,4R,4W | 1,356 | 1,418 | 1,447 |
| Hudson Valley | 3F,3J,3M,3N,3P,4B,4J,4K,4S,4T,4Y | 1,437 | 1,511 | 1,639 |
Waterfowl
Duck zone: Southeastern. Canada goose areas: East Central, Hudson Valley and South.
| Goose area | Segment | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| East Central | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| East Central | Oct 24–Nov 20, 2026 | 3 |
| East Central | Dec 5–Dec 21, 2026 | 3 |
| 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 |
Where bears are open · Turkey units · Duck 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.
Schenectady County public land with acreage
The map pins 1 tract inside Schenectady County and 5 neighbours just beyond it.
- State forests, 1 hereFeatherstonhaugh State Forest (693 acres)
Just past the Schenectady County line
- John Boyd Thacher State Park10 miles from centre · 2,475 acres
- Margaret Burke Wildlife Management Area10 miles from centre · 246 acres
- Black Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area11 miles from centre · 580 acres
- Lost Valley State Forest12 miles from centre · 748 acres
- Charleston State Forest15 miles from centre · 4,032 acres
Land statewide · WMA pages · State forest index
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.
Weapons and safety rules in Schenectady County
Rifle limits in the guide skip Schenectady County; the implements map is the final word. The discharge setback is 500 feet for firearms, 250 for crossbows and 150 for vertical bows. Firearm big game hunters must show orange or pink from all directions. Mineral blocks and salt licks count as illegal deer feeding. Sunday is a normal hunting day.
CWD status
DEC keeps testing: 3,050 deer in 2025-2026, zero positive. Out-of-state deer must be deboned before they cross into New York.
| Season | Deer tested | 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 |
The 12-13 firearm and crossbow deer pilot depends on county opt-in; check DEC's map. DEC junior page
Hunting laws · Disease rules · Youth rules
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.
Schenectady County help after the shot
Licenses sell online, by phone and at town clerks and license agents; the license year starts Sept. 1. 8 licensed guides list a Schenectady County address. 5 clerk offices sell licenses in Schenectady County.
Regional contacts
DEC Region 4 is run from Schenectady; call (518) 357-2234 for general questions. By straight line, NYSDEC Region 4 Headquarters (Schenectady) (4 miles) is nearest.
Get a deer cut
For a mount
Preserves and outfitters
Gear 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.
Schenectady County towns and bordering counties
Use a Schenectady County town page to see the closest public land by distance.
- Schenectadycounty seat · 69,495 residents · 2,243 public ac inside 10 mi
Counties sharing a line with Schenectady County: 4 in New York.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Schenectady County legal hunting light
Deer and bear may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese close at sunset, and small game runs sunrise to sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:47 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:02 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:55 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:19 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:27 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:52 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 8:25 p.m. | 5:22 a.m. to 7:55 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.
Schenectady County ranges and match dates
Schenectady County has 4 listed ranges, all of them clubs, shops or private ranges.
Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range in Albany County is the nearest public range, roughly 11 miles. Open it
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Schenectady County hunters ask
Which processors take deer from Schenectady County?
Schenectady County Conservation, Bleau's Deer Processing and Expressions of Wilderness, sorted by distance from mid-county.
What is the DEC phone for Schenectady County?
(518) 357-2234; wildlife (518) 357-2355.
When is the DMP deadline for Schenectady County?
Oct 1, 2026 for limited units; unlimited units accept applications any time.
Which WMUs cover Schenectady County?
4A, 4B, 5R, 6R and 4G; 4A is the largest at 51% of the county.
How many adult bucks came from Schenectady County in 2025?
485.
Do young hunters follow antler restrictions in Schenectady County?
Hunters 12 to 16 are exempt and may take a buck with an antler of 3 inches or more.
Does DEC count turkeys by county in Schenectady County?
No. Spring take is reported by WMU aggregate; see the table above.
How many bears come from Schenectady County?
2 in 2022, the latest county table.
Can I leave a tree stand on state land in Schenectady County?
Only a portable stand labeled with your name and address or DEC ID, removed at season end; no permanent stands.
Is there a youth waterfowl hunt in Schenectady County?
Yes, Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 (Southeastern Zone).
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.
Schenectady County: before you go
Where this page and the guide differ, follow the guide.
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: Dougtone (CC BY-SA 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); greenebriar (Public domain).