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WMU 4Z and more
Columbia County Hunting
A county brief for Columbia County: the units DEC uses to set deer and bear dates, 2026 DMP numbers, the duck zone, public tracts with acres, 2025 deer take and the nearest DEC office.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Measured on Census maps, Columbia County holds 635 square miles of land around its seat at Hudson. Its population stood at 60,299 in 2024 (-2.1% on 2020). DEC manages wildlife here from its Region 4 office in Schenectady. DEC sets dates by unit; here that means 4Z, 4Y, 4T and 4U. About 9,707 acres of DEC ground lie within the line.
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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Columbia County
Columbia County unit-by-unit rules
The largest unit here is 4Z, about 35% of the county; 4Y (26%), 4T (19%) and 4U (18%) follow. Expect the bow opener Oct. 1 and the gun opener Nov. 21, as set for the Southern Zone. For 2026 DEC offers capped DMPs across 4Z, 4Y, 4T and 4U. Leftover limited permits appear about Nov. 1 after the Oct 1, 2026 deadline. Junior hunters 12-15 get the youth firearms hunt Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026 outside bowhunting-only units. New for 2026, filling an antlerless tag earns a second buck tag.
| WMU | County share | Zone | Early archery | Regular season | Muzzleloading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Z | 35% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 4Y | 26% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 4T | 19% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 4U | 18% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| Unit | 2026 DMPs | Avg success | Resident 1st | Resident 2nd | Nonresident | Buck rule | Bear area | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Z | 2,500 | 12.2% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 4Y | 2,400 | 8.2% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 4T | 3,900 | 6.1% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 4U | 300 | 18.5% | Low | None | None | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 4Z · WMU 4Y · WMU 4T · WMU 4U · Permit table · Antler restrictions
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.
Columbia County dates from September to May
Columbia County lies in the Southern Zone, and its WMUs (4Z, 4Y, 4T and 4U) decide the deer, bear, turkey and small game dates. The 48 rows below come from the 2026-27 guide.
| Game | Season | Area | Begins | Through | Right 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 | Hudson Valley goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| 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.
Columbia County deer numbers since 2007
Columbia County ranked 37th of the 56 counties DEC reports, with 2,872 deer in 2025. Since 2007 (3,078) the county moved -7%, with 2020 on top at 3,841. Adult does numbered 1,042 against 1,558 adult bucks. DEC's last town breakdown (2019) has Ancram, Chatham and Copake as the top three.
| Year | Adult bucks | Male fawns | Adult does | Female fawns | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,558 | 115 | 1,042 | 157 | 2,872 |
| 2024 | 1,425 | 109 | 956 | 110 | 2,600 |
| 2023 | 1,444 | 117 | 772 | 113 | 2,446 |
| 2022 | 1,586 | 139 | 1,143 | 121 | 2,989 |
| 2021 | 1,497 | 86 | 931 | 86 | 2,600 |
| 2020 | 2,039 | 163 | 1,448 | 191 | 3,841 |
| Season | Bucks | All deer |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,630 | 2,816 |
| 2018 | 1,878 | 3,307 |
| 2017 | 1,527 | 2,882 |
| 2016 | 1,853 | 3,259 |
| 2015 | 1,551 | 2,951 |
| 2014 | 1,616 | 3,302 |
| 2013 | 1,792 | 3,538 |
| 2012 | 2,081 | 3,714 |
| 2011 | 2,094 | 3,392 |
| 2010 | 1,620 | 2,978 |
| 2009 | 1,614 | 3,039 |
| 2008 | 1,863 | 3,524 |
| 2007 | 1,830 | 3,078 |
Unit numbers, 2022
| Unit | Deer | Adult males/sq mi | DMPs issued | DMP harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Z | 1,187 | 2.6 | 2,560 | 322 | 12.6% |
| 4Y | 692 | 1.8 | 2,900 | 278 | 9.6% |
| 4T | 595 | 2.1 | 3,645 | 305 | 8.4% |
| 4U | 596 | 3.0 | 450 | 99 | 22.0% |
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.
Columbia County bear take, turkey dates and duck zones
Bears
DEC opens bear in 4Z, 4Y, 4T and 4U; the area is Southern Zone. Look for bear windows between Oct 1 and Dec 22, 2026. Across 10 years of county tables the total is 159 bears. The 2025 summary credits 4Z with 21 bears, the most of the units here. The unit objective reads maintain low bear density.
Columbia wild turkey
DEC sets fall turkey here as 4Z, 4Y, 4T and 4U Oct. 17-30. Bearded birds only in spring, May 1 to May 31, 2027; shooting stops at noon. The nearest spring figures are DEC's aggregates: Hudson Valley came in near 1,639 for 2026.
| DEC turkey area | WMUs | Spring 2024 | Spring 2025 | Spring 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 |
Duck and goose areas
Ducks follow the Southeastern zone dates here. Canada geese follow the Hudson Valley area dates.
| Area | Dates | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson Valley | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| Hudson Valley | Nov 7–Dec 21, 2026 | 3 |
Bear area rules · Fall and spring turkey · Zone descriptions
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.
Columbia County: forests, WMAs and other land
The 15 Columbia County listings break down as 6 wildlife management areas, 4 state forests, 4 state parks with hunting and 1 state historic site. State parks listed here allow hunting only under the park's own permit or rules; other parks are closed. Look for DEC pheasant release sites in Columbia County in the fall. The DEC places-to-hunt-waterfowl program lists Columbia County.
- State parks with hunting in Columbia (4)Taconic State Park (6,183 ac*), Lake Taghkanic State Park (1,870 ac), Schodack Island State Park (1,179 ac*), Hudson River Islands State Park (180 ac)
- State forests in Columbia (4)Beebe Hill and Harvey Mt. State Forests (4,012 ac), Hand Hollow State Forest (1,139 ac), New Forge State Forest (677 ac), Livingston State Forest (319 ac)
- Wildlife management areas, 6Doodletown Wildlife Management Area (1,078 ac), Charles Flood Wildlife Management Area At The Empire Brickyard (590 ac), Stockport Flats (478 ac), Stockport Wildlife Management Area (354 ac), Rogers Island Wildlife Management Area (322 ac), Seward's Island (72 ac*)
- State historic sites, 1 hereClermont State Historic Site (601 ac*)
DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program) · DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl (statewide map)
Tracts in bordering counties
- Vosburgh Swamp Wildlife Management Area9 miles distant · 311 ac
- New Baltimore Forest Preserve Detached Parcel13 miles distant · 78 ac
- Athens Forest Preserve Detached Parcel14 miles distant · 81 ac
- Great Vly Wildlife Management Area18 miles distant · 202 ac
- Catskill Forest Preserve Detached Parcel18 miles distant · 23 ac
The closed list for Columbia County: Hudson Boat Launch, Olana State Historic Site, Harlem Valley Rail Trail and Martin Van Buren National Historic Site.
Land by type · Wildlife management areas · State forests
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.
Columbia County legal implements and disease rules
Nothing in the guide's no-rifle list covers Columbia County. State setbacks: guns 500 ft, crossbows 250 ft, bows 150 ft from homes and schools. Junior hunters and their mentors must wear orange or pink with a firearm or crossbow. Scents and lures are fine; bait and feed for deer or bear are not. You may hunt on Sundays in all areas.
CWD rules
No wild deer has tested positive since 2005; 71,973 have been tested in all. Importing an intact head or whole carcass of any deer from another state is illegal.
| Year | Tested | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Whether 12- and 13-year-olds can hunt deer with a gun here depends on a local opt-in law shown on DEC's map. Junior hunting
State law summary · CWD details · Youth hunts
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.
Columbia County DEC offices, processors and shops
Businesses in Columbia County come first; the nearest in bordering counties fill each group. Licensed guides based in Columbia County: 8, per DEC. DEC lists 15 municipal license agents in Columbia County.
DEC offices for Columbia County
The Region 4 headquarters in Schenectady answers at (518) 357-2234. Drive about 41 miles to reach NYSDEC Region 4 Headquarters (Schenectady).
Meat processing
Taxidermists
Guide services and preserves
Hunting 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.
Columbia County town guides and neighbours
Use a Columbia County town page to see the closest public land by distance.
- Hudsonseat of government · 5,735 people · 2,490 ac of hunting ground near
- Chatham1,547 people · 5,146 ac of hunting ground near
- Copake Lake1,730 ac of hunting ground near
The Census adjacency file pairs Columbia County with 5 New York neighbours and Berkshire (MA) out of state.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Columbia County legal hunting light
The DEC guide prints sunrise and sunset for Albany only. The times here are worked out for the centre of Columbia County and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:46 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:01 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:31 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:52 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:15 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:23 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:51 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 5:21 a.m. to 8:22 p.m. | 5:21 a.m. to 7:52 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.
Columbia County ranges and match dates
The guide counts 5 ranges in Columbia County, from rod and gun clubs to indoor bays and archery.
Among DEC and government-run ranges, Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range is closest, about 34 miles from the county center. Full page
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Columbia County hunters ask
How many state forest acres are in Columbia County?
About 4,642 acres by GIS.
How far from a house can I shoot in Columbia County?
500 feet with a firearm, 250 with a crossbow and 150 with a bow, unless the owner consents.
What is the DEC phone for Columbia County?
(518) 357-2234; wildlife (518) 357-2355.
Which processors take deer from Columbia County?
Anthony Miller, Dan Brazie and Randy Plass, sorted by distance from mid-county.
When does regular deer season open in Columbia County?
Nov. 21 in the Southern Zone units; it runs Nov. 21 to Dec. 13.
Can I get a DMP in Columbia County?
In 4Z, 4Y, 4T and 4U, yes, with a 2026 target; apply through DECALS or HuntFishNY.
Can I use a crossbow in Columbia County?
Yes, during the whole bowhunting season wherever vertical bows are legal, with bowhunter education.
Where does Columbia County rank for deer?
It placed 37th among the 56 counties DEC reports for 2025, with 2,872 deer.
Is there an early bear season in Columbia County?
No early firearms bear season here.
How many spring gobblers can I take in Columbia County?
Two bearded birds, no more than one a day.
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.
Columbia County checks before the drive
Get permission before hunting private land in Columbia County, and know where the 500-foot setback starts.
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); TonySprezzatura (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0).