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Region 3 · 4 WMUs
Orange County Hunting
DEC rules and numbers for Orange County: 4 WMUs with their 2026-27 dates, 2026 DMP odds, bear and fall turkey areas, duck zones, 10,946 acres of DEC land and deer take since 2007.
Photo: fran.trudeau (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Orange County is 812 square miles of the lower Hudson Valley, and Goshen houses the county government. Census staff put the 2024 head count at 411,767, after a 2.6% rise since 2020. For DEC purposes it belongs to Region 3, headquartered in New Paltz. The county is carved into 4 WMUs for big game: 3M, 3P, 3K and 3R. GIS puts DEC holdings in the county at around 10,946 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.
Orange County: WMU seasons and antlerless permits
By area, 3M leads with 73%, ahead of 3P, 3K and 3R. 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 3K and unlimited permits in 3M, 3P and 3R. Missed the Oct 1, 2026 deadline? Leftover DMPs are sold in person from around Nov. 1. The three-point rule covers 3K on public and private land in every season. September brings an antlerless-only window to 3M, 3P and 3R. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3M | 73% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 3P | 15% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 3K | 6% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 3R | 4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3M | Unlimited | 7.9% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 3P | Unlimited | 5.2% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 3K | 1,400 | 20.4% | High | None | None | 3 points | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 3R | Unlimited | 7.3% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 3M · WMU 3P · WMU 3K · WMU 3R · 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.
Orange County season dates for 2026-27
34 species and 54 dated windows reach Orange County; the last column compares each with today.
| Quarry | Season | Units | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMUs 3M, 3P, 3R | 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 Firearms Season | All WMUs here | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Hunting | Orange and Putnam only | 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 | WMUs 3K, 3M | 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 | WMUs 3K, 3M, 3P | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 3R | 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.
Orange County bucks, does and fawns
The 2025 calculated take for Orange County was 4,926 deer, 2.2% of the 227,032 statewide. The best year in the 2007-2025 run is 2009 (8,793); the lowest is 2023 (4,237). Fawns made up 527 of the 2025 total. By town, the Warwick area led in 2019 with 862 deer, then Wallkill and Goshen.
| Season | Males 1.5+ | Male fawns | Females 1.5+ | Female fawns | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,493 | 230 | 1,906 | 297 | 4,926 |
| 2024 | 2,581 | 219 | 1,725 | 228 | 4,753 |
| 2023 | 2,181 | 198 | 1,654 | 204 | 4,237 |
| 2022 | 2,217 | 249 | 2,057 | 215 | 4,738 |
| 2021 | 2,062 | 203 | 1,883 | 221 | 4,369 |
| 2020 | 2,529 | 337 | 2,540 | 378 | 5,784 |
| Year | Bucks 1.5+ | Deer |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2,971 | 6,046 |
| 2018 | 2,809 | 6,101 |
| 2017 | 2,548 | 5,791 |
| 2016 | 2,860 | 6,459 |
| 2015 | 2,137 | 5,685 |
| 2014 | 2,956 | 8,202 |
| 2013 | 3,222 | 7,942 |
| 2012 | 3,373 | 8,297 |
| 2011 | 3,480 | 7,972 |
| 2010 | 3,163 | 8,434 |
| 2009 | 3,286 | 8,793 |
| 2008 | 3,166 | 7,371 |
| 2007 | 2,928 | 6,653 |
Deer and DMPs by WMU (2022)
| WMU | Deer 2022 | Bucks/sq mi | DMPs issued | DMP take | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3M | 4,887 | 2.9 | 28,847 | 2,471 | 8.6% |
| 3P | 333 | 1.6 | 1,681 | 103 | 6.1% |
| 3K | 1,573 | 2.7 | 1,000 | 247 | 24.7% |
| 3R | 352 | 1.1 | 1,264 | 96 | 7.6% |
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.
Orange County bears, gobblers and ducks
Bear season
Southern Zone: that is the bear area for 3M, 3P, 3K and 3R. Bear dates here: Early Firearms Season Sep 12 to Sep 27, 2026; 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. The early firearms bear hunt includes 3M, 3P, 3K and 3R. County bear take tables run 2007-2022; 2022 shows 97 bears. In 2025, a record year of 1,759 bears statewide, the units here gave up 164 (whole-unit totals). Objective: Incompatible for bears and Reduce bear density. Big bears live here: Tuxedo gave up a 511-lb dressed bear in 2025 (rank 5).
| WMU | Early | Bow | Muzzle | Regular | Youth | Total | Per 100 sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3M | 31 | 33 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 93 | 12.4 |
| 3P | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 7.2 |
| 3K | 22 | 13 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 60 | 15.7 |
| 3R | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1.0 |
Turkey
Fall turkey (one bird of either sex) is open in 3M, 3P, 3K and 3R 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 Hudson Valley aggregate, which covers part of the county, was about 1,639.
| Turkey aggregate | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson Valley | 3F,3J,3M,3N,3P,4B,4J,4K,4S,4T,4Y | 1,437 | 1,511 | 1,639 |
| Neversink-Mongaup Hills | 3H,3K | 535 | 547 | 571 |
| New York City Transition | 3R,3S | 55 | 17 | 36 |
Migratory birds
For waterfowl the county is Southeastern zone. Goose hunters use Hudson Valley and South.
| Canada goose area | Open | Daily bag |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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.
Orange County state land and public ground
The 15 Orange County listings break down as 5 state forests, 5 state parks with hunting, 3 wildlife management areas and 1 military land. Parks on the list need a park hunting permit or follow posted park rules. West Point Military Reservation has its own access permit; read its page first. Orange County is one of 47 counties in the pheasant release program. Waterfowl access sites mapped by DEC reach Orange County.
- State parks with hunting, 5 listedHarriman State Park (48,911 acres*), Sterling Forest State Park (19,487 acres), Schunnemunk State Park (4,454 acres), Highland Lakes State Park (3,123 acres), Storm King State Park (1,908 acres)
- Military land, 1 listedWest Point Military Reservation (15,386 acres)
- State forests, 5 listedStewart State Forest (6,653 acres), Huckleberry Ridge State Forest (1,948 acres), Pochuck State Forest (506 acres), Gobbler's Knob State Forest (304 acres), Graham Mountain State Forest (163 acres)
- Wildlife management areas: 3Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area (6,416 acres*), Bashakill Wildlife Management Area (3,090 acres*), Cherry Island Wildlife Management Area (14 acres)
- National wildlife refuges, 1 listedWallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (323 acres)
DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program) · DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl (statewide map)
Nearest land outside Orange
- Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest15 miles by map · 1,137 acres
- Sullivan Forest Preserve Detached Parcel17 miles by map · 361 acres
- Roosa Gap State Forest17 miles by map · 1,184 acres
- Ulster Forest Preserve Detached Parcel17 miles by map · 471 acres
- Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge17 miles by map · 582 acres
Leave Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, Knox Headquarters State Historic Site, National Purple Heart Hall of Honor State Historic Site, New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, Senate House State Historic Site, Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, Goosepond Mountain and Mount Peter Hawk Watch Trailway out of the plan; hunting is not allowed there.
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 Orange County
Orange 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 Orange 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.
Orange County DEC offices, processors and shops
Businesses in Orange County come first; the nearest in bordering counties fill each group. For a licensed guide, DEC's list has 16 in Orange County. Town clerks count for 22 of the license outlets in Orange County.
DEC offices
For Orange County, DEC's regional office is in New Paltz. New Paltz has the nearest DEC office, 26 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.
Orange County town guides and neighbours
Orange County has 4 town guides, seat first; each lists the public land within reach and the nearest shops.
- Goshenseat · 5,760 residents (2024) · 2,756 public ac nearby
- Maybrook3,141 residents (2024) · 6,618 public ac nearby
- Sparrow Bush8,191 public ac nearby
- Unionville632 residents (2024) · 3,113 public ac nearby
5 New York counties touch Orange County; Passaic (NJ), Pike (PA) and Sussex (NJ) lie beyond the border.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Orange 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 | 6:48 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:18 a.m. | 6:05 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:35 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:52 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:15 a.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:23 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:55 a.m. | 7:53 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 8:23 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 7:53 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.
What Orange County has scheduled
1 upcoming event (hunter education course), checked October 27, 2026.
Upcoming here
| Dates | What | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Hunter Education Course – The Gun Lady · hunter education course | The Gun Lady Port Jervis | Register with DEC | Source |
Orange County ranges and match dates
Up to six Orange County ranges show as cards; any others are in the table below.
| Range or club | Town | Shooting | Who may shoot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawangunk Trap Range (a sporting clays course) | Middletown | trap/sporting clays/shotgun | Access not stated |
Nearest public range: Coyne Park Rifle and Pistol Range in Westchester County, about 41 miles from the county center. Range page
Shoots coming up here
| Date and event | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7-8, 2026 / Middletown Firearm & Knife Show | Gun show | Listing |
| Nov 27-30, 2026 / 2026 NY State Cup Match | CMP pistol | Enter |
| Feb 13-14, 2027 / 2027 NY CMP 3PAR State Championship | Smallbore | Enter |
| Feb 20-21, 2027 / Middletown Firearm & Knife Show | Gun show | Listing |
| Apr 6, 2027 / Class at Master Class Shooters Supply, Inc. | Class | Listing |
| May 1-2, 2027 / Middletown Gun Show at Orange County Fairgrounds | Gun show | Listing |
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Orange County hunting questions
Is there a late muzzleloader season in Orange County?
Yes: Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Where does a Orange County deer go for cutting and wrapping?
Quaker Creek Store is closest on our list; phone before dropping off.
Are there antler restrictions in Orange County?
Yes, in 3K: three points of an inch or more on one antler.
What are the DMP odds in WMU 3M?
Resident first DMP: 100%; second: 100%.
How many bears may one hunter take in Orange County?
One per license year.
Where does Orange County rank for deer?
It placed 15th among the 56 counties DEC reports for 2025, with 4,926 deer.
Which Canada goose area covers Orange County?
Goose areas here: Hudson Valley and South.
When does spring turkey open in Orange County?
May 1, 2027; youth hunt Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027.
How far from a house can I shoot in Orange County?
500 feet with a firearm, 250 with a crossbow and 150 with a bow, unless the owner consents.
How much Forest Preserve is in Orange 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.
Orange County trip checklist
Units in and around Orange 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.
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