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Region 7 · 2 WMUs
Tioga County Hunting
DEC rules and numbers for Tioga County: 2 WMUs with their 2026-27 dates, 2026 DMP odds, bear and fall turkey areas, duck zones, 10,842 acres of DEC land and deer take since 2007.
Photo: seabamirum (CC BY 2.0)
Tioga County is 519 square miles of central New York, and Owego houses the county government. Census staff put the 2024 head count at 47,574, after a 1.8% fall since 2020. For DEC purposes it belongs to Region 7, headquartered in Syracuse. The county is carved into 2 WMUs for big game: 7S and 7R. GIS puts DEC holdings in the county at around 10,842 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.
Tioga County: WMU seasons and antlerless permits
By area, 7S leads with 58%, ahead of 7R. 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 7S and unlimited permits in 7R. Missed the Oct 1, 2026 deadline? Leftover DMPs are sold in person from around Nov. 1. September brings an antlerless-only window to 7R. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7S | 58% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 7R | 41% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7S | 12,500 | 15.7% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 7R | Unlimited | 9.3% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 7S · WMU 7R · 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.
Tioga County season dates for 2026-27
33 species and 49 dated windows reach Tioga County; the last column compares each with today.
| Quarry | Season | Units | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 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 | WMU 7S | 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.
Tioga County bucks, does and fawns
The 2025 calculated take for Tioga County was 3,508 deer, 1.5% of the 227,032 statewide. The best year in the 2007-2025 run is 2007 (4,603); the lowest is 2015 (2,809). Fawns made up 326 of the 2025 total. By town, the Owego area led in 2019 with 788 deer, then Candor and Newark Valley.
| Season | Males 1.5+ | Male fawns | Females 1.5+ | Female fawns | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,813 | 152 | 1,369 | 174 | 3,508 |
| 2024 | 1,840 | 210 | 1,259 | 210 | 3,519 |
| 2023 | 1,587 | 225 | 1,147 | 194 | 3,153 |
| 2022 | 1,664 | 265 | 1,404 | 253 | 3,586 |
| 2021 | 1,546 | 187 | 1,283 | 171 | 3,187 |
| 2020 | 1,707 | 308 | 1,734 | 272 | 4,021 |
| Year | Bucks 1.5+ | Deer |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,711 | 3,296 |
| 2018 | 1,647 | 3,593 |
| 2017 | 1,550 | 3,093 |
| 2016 | 1,520 | 3,215 |
| 2015 | 1,430 | 2,809 |
| 2014 | 1,260 | 2,955 |
| 2013 | 1,718 | 3,678 |
| 2012 | 1,718 | 3,840 |
| 2011 | 1,681 | 3,750 |
| 2010 | 1,759 | 3,868 |
| 2009 | 1,572 | 3,714 |
| 2008 | 1,812 | 4,378 |
| 2007 | 1,951 | 4,603 |
Deer and DMPs by WMU (2022)
| WMU | Deer 2022 | Bucks/sq mi | DMPs issued | DMP take | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7S | 4,591 | 3.4 | 10,800 | 2,003 | 18.5% |
| 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.
Tioga County bears, gobblers and ducks
Bear season
Southern Zone: that is the bear area for 7S and 7R. 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. County bear take tables run 2008-2022; 2022 shows 7 bears. In 2025, a record year of 1,759 bears statewide, the units here gave up 36 (whole-unit totals). DEC aims to maintain low bear density in these units.
Turkey
Fall turkey (one bird of either sex) is open in 7S and 7R 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 East Appalachian Plateau aggregate, which covers part of the county, was about 2,049.
| Turkey aggregate | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Appalachian Plateau | 7M,7P,7R,7S | 1,943 | 2,096 | 2,049 |
| Central Appalachian Plateau | 8T,8W,8X,8Y | 1,295 | 1,582 | 1,560 |
Migratory birds
For waterfowl the county is Western zone. Goose hunters use South.
| Canada goose area | Open | Daily bag |
|---|---|---|
| South | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| South | Oct 24–Jan 11, 2027 | 5 |
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.
Tioga County state land and public ground
The 15 Tioga County listings break down as 14 state forests and 1 state parks with hunting. Parks on the list need a park hunting permit or follow posted park rules. Tioga County is one of 47 counties in the pheasant release program.
- State forests, 14 listedDanby State Forest (7,705 acres*), Shindagin Hollow State Forest (5,378 acres*), Hammond Hill State Forest (3,702 acres*), Griggs Gulf State Forest (2,344 acres*), Robinson Hollow State Forest (2,106 acres*), Jenksville State Forest (1,345 acres), Michigan Hill State Forest (1,199 acres), Oakley Corners State Forest (1,160 acres), Beaver Dam State Forest, Tioga County (1,151 acres*), Turkey Hill State Forest (1,119 acres), Fairfield State Forest (810 acres), Andersen Hill State Forest (550 acres), Tracy Creek State Forest, Broome County (507 acres*), Ketchumville State Forest (496 acres)
- State parks with hunting, 1 listedTwo Rivers State Park (564 acres*)
DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program)
Nearest land outside Tioga
- Potato Hill State Forest12 miles by map · 900 acres
- Nanticoke Lake Multiple Use Area15 miles by map · 339 acres
- Maple Hill State Forest18 miles by map · 596 acres
- Yellow Barn State Forest19 miles by map · 1,386 acres
- Buttermilk Falls State Park19 miles by map · 818 acres
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 Tioga County
Tioga 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 Tioga 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.
Tioga County DEC offices, processors and shops
Businesses in Tioga County come first; the nearest in bordering counties fill each group. For a licensed guide, DEC's list has 9 in Tioga County. Town clerks count for 9 of the license outlets in Tioga County.
DEC offices
For Tioga County, DEC's regional office is in Syracuse. Elmira has the nearest DEC office, 27 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.
Tioga County town guides and neighbours
Tioga County has 1 town guide, seat first; each lists the public land within reach and the nearest shops.
- Owegoseat · 4,167 residents (2024) · 1,215 public ac nearby
4 New York counties touch Tioga County; Bradford (PA) and Susquehanna (PA) lie beyond the border.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Tioga 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 | 6:56 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:01 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:27 a.m. | 6:12 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:02 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:26 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:34 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:02 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 5:32 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 5:32 a.m. to 8:03 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.
Tioga County ranges and match dates
Up to six Tioga 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 Tioga County center, so clubs and private ranges are the choices here.
Shoots coming up here
| Date and event | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 / Cowboy Action Match at Tioga County Sportsmen's Association | Club match | Enter |
| Nov 14, 2026 / NYS Pistol Permit Class at Tioga County Sportsmen's Association | Class | Course page |
| Nov 15, 2026 / NYS Pistol Permit Class at Tioga County Sportsmen's Association | Class | Course page |
| Dec 5, 2026 / Cowboy Action Match at Tioga County Sportsmen's Association | Club match | Enter |
| Dec 12, 2026 / NYS Pistol Permit Class at Tioga County Sportsmen's Association | Class | Course page |
| Dec 13, 2026 / NYS Pistol Permit Class at Tioga County Sportsmen's Association | Class | Course page |
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Tioga County hunting questions
How much Forest Preserve is in Tioga County?
None by the DEC Lands layer.
Which Canada goose area covers Tioga County?
Goose areas here: South.
How far is Tioga County from a DEC office?
NYSDEC Region 8 Elmira Sub-Office, about 27 miles away.
How far from a house can I shoot in Tioga 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 Tioga County?
Yes: Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Where does a Tioga County deer go for cutting and wrapping?
Adaptive Whitetail Taxidermy is closest on our list; phone before dropping off.
Are there antler restrictions in Tioga County?
No. None of the units here is an antler point restriction unit.
What are the DMP odds in WMU 7S?
Resident first DMP: High; second: High.
How many bears may one hunter take in Tioga County?
One per license year.
Where does Tioga County rank for deer?
It placed 31st among the 56 counties DEC reports for 2025, with 3,508 deer.
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.
Tioga County trip checklist
Units in and around Tioga 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/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Bobolink (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); cazalegg (CC BY 2.0).