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DEC Region 8 · 2026-27
Orleans County Hunting
Orleans County in the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley: which Wildlife Management Units cover it, what each one allows, how many deer and bears hunters take, and the state land, towns and shops close by.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Orleans County covers 391 square miles of land and 426 of water, with county offices in Albion. Roughly 39,686 residents share that ground, or 101 per square mile. Its DEC regional headquarters sits in Avon (Region 8). Unit boundaries, not the county line, decide dates: 8A and 8G apply here. DEC land polygons cover about 364 acres inside the county by GIS measure.
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.
Orleans County WMUs, dates and DMP odds
2 units touch Orleans County; 8A alone is 34% of it. In the Southern Zone, archers open Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 and the regular firearms season runs Nov. 21 to Dec. 13. Antlerless permit picture for 2026: open-ended DMPs in 8A and 8G. The September antlerless season (Sep 12 to Sep 20, 2026) covers 8A and 8G, on DMP and DMAP tags only. Youth with a firearm may hunt deer Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2026 with a mentor. The second Antlered Deer Tag now has to be earned with an antlerless harvest.
| WMU | % of county | Zone | Early bow | Regular | Late or early ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8A | 34% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 8G | 14% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| Unit | DMP target | Success rate | Res 1st | Res 2nd | NR 1st | APR | Bear hunting | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8A | Unlimited | 16.8% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 8G | Unlimited | 14.1% | 100% | 100% | 100% | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 8A · WMU 8G · Antlerless permits · Three-point units
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.
What opens and closes around Orleans County
WMU lines, not county lines, set most New York dates. Rows marked with a WMU apply only in that part of Orleans County.
| Species | Season | Covers | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | All WMUs here | 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 (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.
Orleans County harvest record
In 2025, 4,494 deer came out of Orleans County, placing it 21st among counties. Compared with 2007, 2025 is +51%. Adult bucks were 43% of the 2025 take. Town tables (last published for 2019) put Barre first at 735.
| Year | Bucks | Fawns (m) | Does | Fawns (f) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,911 | 232 | 2,087 | 264 | 4,494 |
| 2024 | 1,913 | 312 | 1,875 | 316 | 4,416 |
| 2023 | 1,701 | 378 | 1,806 | 329 | 4,214 |
| 2022 | 1,745 | 387 | 2,008 | 363 | 4,503 |
| 2021 | 1,503 | 304 | 2,011 | 285 | 4,103 |
| 2020 | 1,655 | 409 | 2,285 | 358 | 4,707 |
| Season | Adult bucks | Sum |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,782 | 4,563 |
| 2018 | 1,661 | 4,560 |
| 2017 | 1,516 | 3,949 |
| 2016 | 1,344 | 3,586 |
| 2015 | 1,292 | 3,562 |
| 2014 | 1,173 | 3,619 |
| 2013 | 1,340 | 3,949 |
| 2012 | 1,212 | 3,605 |
| 2011 | 1,151 | 3,490 |
| 2010 | 1,192 | 3,592 |
| 2009 | 1,013 | 2,974 |
| 2008 | 1,018 | 2,872 |
| 2007 | 1,084 | 2,972 |
Whole-unit take
| Unit | Total take | Adult bucks/sq mi | Permits issued | Permit deer | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8A | 4,260 | 4.1 | 13,491 | 2,402 | 17.8% |
| 8G | 7,802 | 4.3 | 27,044 | 4,467 | 16.5% |
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.
Orleans County bears, gobblers and ducks
Bear numbers
Bear hunting is open in 8A and 8G (Southern Zone). The bear calendar runs from Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 22, 2026 across its segments. DEC county tables list 1 bears from 2014 to 2014. The 2025 bear take in 8A and 8G totalled 0, counting the full units. Bear objective: maintain infrequent bear presence.
Gobblers and fall birds
Fall turkey dates by unit: 8A and 8G Oct. 17-30. The spring season, May 1 to May 31, 2027, allows two bearded birds, one a day. No county turkey count exists; Great Lakes Plain are the DEC areas that overlap it.
| Area | WMUs | 2024 take | 2025 take | 2026 take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Plain | 8A,8C,8F,8G,8H,8J,9A,9C,9F | 1,804 | 1,809 | 1,820 |
Orleans ducks and geese
DEC maps the county's lands in the Western duck zone. The Canada goose map lists West Central here.
| Area | Season | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| West Central | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| West Central | Nov 7–Dec 21, 2026 | 3 |
Bear hunting areas · Fall turkey units · Duck and goose 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.
Orleans County tracts open to hunters
By kind, Orleans County public land counts 1 wildlife management area, 1 national wildlife refuge and 1 state parks with hunting. A state park hunt means the park's permit and dates, not just a license. Orleans County is among 35 counties on the DEC waterfowl areas map.
- National wildlife refuges (1)Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (10,810 ac*)
- Wildlife management areas, 1 hereOak Orchard And Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas (8,350 ac*)
- State parks with hunting (1)Lakeside State Park (706 ac)
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl (statewide map)
Over the line
- Golden Hill State Park14 miles off · 372 ac
- Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area17 miles off · 20 ac
- Hartland Swamp Wildlife Management Area19 miles off · 402 ac
- John White Wildlife Management Area20 miles off · 329 ac
- Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area27 miles off · 2,865 ac
Closed to hunting: Oak Orchard Marine Park.
All land pages · WMAs statewide · Reforestation areas
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.
Orleans County firearm limits, orange and baiting
The no-rifle list in the guide does not name Orleans County. Distance rules: 500 feet (firearm), 250 feet (crossbow), 150 feet (bow). Wear 250 sq. in. of solid orange or pink above the waist when hunting deer or bear with a gun. No bait, feed, salt licks or mineral blocks for deer or bear at any time. There is no Sunday restriction: hunt seven days a week in season.
Chronic wasting disease
Since testing began in 2002, DEC has sampled 71,973 wild deer; the only positives were 2 in 2005. Whole carcasses and intact heads of deer, elk, moose or caribou from outside New York may not be brought in.
| Year | Deer sampled | 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 |
See DEC's opt-in map for 12- and 13-year-old firearm deer hunters. Opt-in map
Hunting law page · CWD testing · Youth and veterans
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.
Orleans County hunting services and contacts
Processors marked with donated venison are flagged on the DEC 2026 processor list. DEC licenses 3 hunting guides with an address in Orleans County; the DEC list gives each name and phone. Municipal clerks selling licenses in Orleans County: 10.
Phone list for Orleans
Avon is home to the DEC Region 8 office that covers Orleans County. The nearest DEC office to the county centre is NYSDEC Region 8 Headquarters (Avon), about 40 miles away.
Deer processors
Mounts
Guided hunts
Outdoor stores
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.
Orleans County seat, towns and next-door counties
Pick a base in Orleans County: every town below links to a page with nearby state land and services.
- Albioncounty seat · 5,704 people in 2024 · 648 open ac in a 10-mi circle
- Medina5,912 people in 2024 · 19,170 open ac in a 10-mi circle
Orleans County borders 3 New York counties.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Orleans County shooting time on key dates
Sun times below are calculated for Orleans County; the game column adds the big game half hour and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:09 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:36 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 6:17 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:13 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:37 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:45 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:07 a.m. | 8:13 p.m. | 5:37 a.m. to 8:43 p.m. | 5:37 a.m. to 8:13 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.
Orleans County ranges and match dates
3 ranges in Orleans County as of October 27, 2026, each card with its access rule.
Within 60 miles of central Orleans County there is no DEC, town, county or city range; the listings above are clubs and businesses.
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Fishing in Orleans County
Lakes, rivers, boat ramps and bait shops for Orleans County are on State Fishing Spots, our sister site.
Orleans County questions, short answers
Is there a late muzzleloader season in Orleans County?
Yes: Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
What is the 2026 DMP target for WMU 8A?
Unlimited, per the 2026 DMP table.
Is any part of Orleans County bowhunting only?
No. Firearms are legal in the regular season in every unit here.
Is the Orleans County deer harvest going up?
DEC puts 2025 at 4,494 deer against 4,416 the season before, a +2% move.
How many bears may one hunter take in Orleans County?
One per license year.
When does spring turkey open in Orleans County?
May 1, 2027; youth hunt Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027.
Which Canada goose area covers Orleans County?
Goose areas here: West Central.
How much Forest Preserve is in Orleans County?
None by the DEC Lands layer.
How far from a house can I shoot in Orleans County?
500 feet with a firearm, 250 with a crossbow and 150 with a bow, unless the owner consents.
How does a Orleans County resident buy a hunting license?
Online, by phone, or at a town clerk or license agent; 10 clerk offices sell them in the 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.
Double-check before Orleans County
DEC can change dates and rules between license years. The guide and 6 NYCRR are the legal reference.
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 Mountain Prairie (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); z2amiller (CC BY-SA 2.0).