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Region 8 county guide
Monroe County Hunting
Hunting Monroe 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: sailorbill (CC BY 2.0)
Within the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley, Monroe County takes up 657 square miles and is run from Rochester. The 2024 Census estimate is 752,202 residents, near 1,145 to the square mile. Hunters here deal with DEC Region 8; the head office is in Avon. Deer, bear and turkey dates come from WMUs 8G, 8C, 8A, 8F and 8H. State land managed by DEC adds up to near 3,237 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Monroe County
How DEC divides Monroe County
WMU 8G takes in 11% of Monroe County, and 8C, 8A, 8F and 8H split the rest. Firearms deer hunting opens with the Southern Zone regular season, Nov. 21 to Dec. 13. Here the permit map shows no cap at all in 8G, 8C, 8A, 8F and 8H. Deer in 8C may be taken only with a bow or crossbow. DMP holders get Sep 12 to Sep 20, 2026 in 8G, 8C, 8A, 8F and 8H for antlerless deer. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8G | 11% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 8C | 11% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | None |
| 8A | 10% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 8F | 9% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 8H | 8% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8G | Unlimited | 14.1% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 8C | Unlimited | 23.1% | 100% | 100% | 100% | Bow only | Bow only | Oct. 17-30 |
| 8A | Unlimited | 16.8% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 8F | Unlimited | 14.0% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 8H | Unlimited | 18.6% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 8G · WMU 8C · WMU 8A · WMU 8F · WMU 8H · 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 Monroe County
For Monroe County, 50 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 | September antlerless | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless, bowhunting only | WMU 8C | 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 | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular (bow only) | WMU 8C | 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 | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | 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) | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bowhunting-only WMUs | WMU 8C | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMUs 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H | 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 (cocks only) | All WMUs here | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | West Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | West Central goose area | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Monroe County deer numbers since 2007
DEC estimates hunters took 4,550 deer in Monroe County in 2025, 2,155 of them adult bucks. That is 8% below the 4,965 of 2007; the high point was 2013 at 5,287. The 2025 split: 2,155 adult males, 1,924 adult females, 223 male fawns and 248 female fawns. Mendon produced the most deer of any town in 2019 (755).
| Season | Bucks | Buck fawns | Does | Doe fawns | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,155 | 223 | 1,924 | 248 | 4,550 |
| 2024 | 2,219 | 288 | 1,763 | 306 | 4,576 |
| 2023 | 2,016 | 377 | 1,832 | 354 | 4,579 |
| 2022 | 2,166 | 421 | 2,170 | 400 | 5,157 |
| 2021 | 2,042 | 323 | 2,089 | 291 | 4,745 |
| 2020 | 2,073 | 397 | 2,364 | 360 | 5,194 |
| Year | Adult bucks | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2,110 | 4,560 |
| 2018 | 1,893 | 4,585 |
| 2017 | 1,876 | 4,137 |
| 2016 | 1,952 | 4,921 |
| 2015 | 1,660 | 4,367 |
| 2014 | 1,933 | 5,081 |
| 2013 | 2,049 | 5,287 |
| 2012 | 2,017 | 5,099 |
| 2011 | 1,830 | 4,963 |
| 2010 | 1,705 | 4,824 |
| 2009 | 1,621 | 4,414 |
| 2008 | 1,762 | 4,616 |
| 2007 | 1,803 | 4,965 |
Monroe WMUs in 2022
| WMU | All deer | Bucks/sq mi | DMPs out | Taken on DMPs | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8G | 7,802 | 4.3 | 27,044 | 4,467 | 16.5% |
| 8C | 392 | 1.3 | 852 | 236 | 27.7% |
| 8A | 4,260 | 4.1 | 13,491 | 2,402 | 17.8% |
| 8F | 6,729 | 3.8 | 24,358 | 3,702 | 15.2% |
| 8H | 6,708 | 4.7 | 18,236 | 3,560 | 19.5% |
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.
Monroe County bear take, turkey dates and duck zones
Bear areas and take
For bear, the county falls in the Southern Zone and Southern Zone, bowhunting only area through 8G, 8C, 8A, 8F and 8H. Bears may be taken from Oct 1 through Dec 31, 2026, segment by segment. 2025 bear take by unit is in the table; 8G led locally with 0. Bear management goal here: incompatible for bears and maintain infrequent bear presence.
Turkey dates
Autumn turkey hunting: 8G, 8C, 8A, 8F and 8H 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; Great Lakes Plain took about 1,820 birds in 2026.
| Turkey region | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Plain | 8A,8C,8F,8G,8H,8J,9A,9C,9F | 1,804 | 1,809 | 1,820 |
Waterfowl
Duck zone: Western. Canada goose area: West Central.
| Goose area | Segment | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| West Central | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| West Central | Nov 7–Dec 21, 2026 | 3 |
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.
Monroe County public land with acreage
The map pins 2 tracts inside Monroe County and 5 neighbours just beyond it. The pheasant release program reaches Monroe County. DEC's waterfowl hunting areas map includes spots in Monroe County.
- Wildlife management areas (1)Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area (2,865 acres)
- Unique areas, 1 listedRush Oak Openings Unique Area (240 acres)
DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program) · DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl (statewide map)
Just past the Monroe County line
- Ganondagan State Historic Site25 miles from centre · 569 acres
- Lakeside State Park29 miles from centre · 706 acres
- Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area30 miles from centre · 792 acres
- Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area31 miles from centre · 20 acres
- Skenoh Island Wildlife Management Area34 miles from centre
Off-limits to hunters: Canal Park at Lock 32 (Pittsford), Irondequoit Bay Marine Park, Genesee River, Braddock Bay State Park and Hamlin Beach State Park.
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 Monroe County
Rifle limits here: Monroe County. Bow or crossbow only: Monroe County part (8C). 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.
Monroe County help after the shot
Licenses sell online, by phone and at town clerks and license agents; the license year starts Sept. 1. 23 licensed guides list a Monroe County address. 18 clerk offices sell licenses in Monroe County.
Regional contacts
DEC Region 8 is run from Avon; call (585) 226-2466 for general questions. By straight line, NYSDEC Region 8 Headquarters (Avon) (24 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.
Monroe County towns and bordering counties
Use a Monroe County town page to see the closest public land by distance.
- Rochestercounty seat · 207,282 residents · 1,365 public ac inside 10 mi
- Hilton5,975 residents · 2,877 public ac inside 10 mi
Counties sharing a line with Monroe County: 5 in New York.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Monroe County shooting time on key dates
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 | 7:02 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:07 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:34 a.m. | 6:16 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:16 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:11 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:35 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:43 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:05 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. | 5:35 a.m. to 8:40 p.m. | 5:35 a.m. to 8:10 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.
Monroe County ranges and match dates
Monroe County has 11 listed ranges, all of them clubs, shops or private ranges.
| Facility | Town | What it offers | Access rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Bow Hunters (an archery range) | Bergen | archery/3D archery | Members only |
| Rochester Brooks Int'l Trap & Skeet Club (a rod and gun club) | Rush | trap/skeet/sporting clays/5-stand/rifle/handgun/smallbore rimfire/archery/shotgun | Members only |
| Rochester Rifle Club (an indoor range) | Rochester | handgun/smallbore rimfire/air gun | Access not stated |
| Mumford Sportsmens Club (a trap and skeet club) | Mumford | trap/shotgun | Access not stated |
| Range – On Target Firearms (an outdoor range) | Webster | Access not stated |
For Monroe County, the nearest public range is more than 60 miles off, so most shooters join a club.
Upcoming here
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2026 / NYS 47 Hour Armed Guard Training (August) at Blackhawk Training Academy | Class | Sign up |
| Dec 19, 2026 / NYS 8 Hour armed guard renewal at Blackhawk Training Academy | Class | Sign up |
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Monroe County hunters ask
How many adult bucks came from Monroe County in 2025?
2,155.
Do young hunters follow antler restrictions in Monroe County?
There is no antler restriction here to follow.
Does DEC count turkeys by county in Monroe County?
No. Spring take is reported by WMU aggregate; see the table above.
How many bears come from Monroe County?
No county figure is listed.
Can I leave a tree stand on state land in Monroe 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 Monroe County?
Yes, Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 (Western Zone).
What is the DEC phone for Monroe County?
(585) 226-2466; wildlife (585) 226-5380.
Is CWD found in Monroe County?
No. CWD is not known in wild New York deer; the last wild positives were in 2005.
Which WMUs cover Monroe County?
8G, 8C, 8A, 8F and 8H; 8G is the largest at 11% of the county.
Which processors take deer from Monroe County?
Jerry Maynard, Mank's Deer Processing and Uncle Charlie's, sorted by distance from mid-county.
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.
Monroe 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: RLHyde (CC BY-SA 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); sailorbill (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).