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Region 3 county guide
Putnam County Hunting
Hunting Putnam 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: Skellig2008 (CC BY 2.0)
Within the lower Hudson Valley, Putnam County takes up 230 square miles and is run from Carmel Hamlet. The 2024 Census estimate is 98,409 residents, near 427 to the square mile. Hunters here deal with DEC Region 3; the head office is in New Paltz. Deer, bear and turkey dates come from WMUs 3N and 3G. State land managed by DEC adds up to near 4,230 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.
How DEC divides Putnam County
WMU 3N takes in 79% of Putnam County, and 3G split the rest. Firearms deer hunting opens with the Southern Zone regular season, Nov. 21 to Dec. 13. Here the permit map shows target-based DMPs in 3N and 3G. DEC took limited DMP applications from Aug 3 through Oct 1, 2026. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3N | 79% | Southern | Oct. 1–Nov. 20 | Nov. 21–Dec. 13 | Dec. 14–Dec. 22 Dec. 26–Jan. 1 |
| 3G | 21% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3N | 3,200 | 4.9% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
| 3G | 5,200 | 6.9% | High | High | High | None | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 3N · WMU 3G · 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 Putnam County
For Putnam County, 49 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.
Putnam County deer numbers since 2007
DEC estimates hunters took 524 deer in Putnam County in 2025, 342 of them adult bucks. That is 51% below the 1,078 of 2007; the high point was 2009 at 1,275. The 2025 split: 342 adult males, 144 adult females, 15 male fawns and 23 female fawns. Carmel produced the most deer of any town in 2019 (174).
| Season | Bucks | Buck fawns | Does | Doe fawns | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 342 | 15 | 144 | 23 | 524 |
| 2024 | 330 | 18 | 143 | 18 | 509 |
| 2023 | 293 | 12 | 129 | 10 | 444 |
| 2022 | 333 | 24 | 210 | 21 | 588 |
| 2021 | 295 | 10 | 144 | 11 | 460 |
| 2020 | 232 | 23 | 219 | 27 | 501 |
| Year | Adult bucks | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 442 | 697 |
| 2018 | 431 | 696 |
| 2017 | 373 | 626 |
| 2016 | 412 | 725 |
| 2015 | 411 | 786 |
| 2014 | 423 | 815 |
| 2013 | 451 | 917 |
| 2012 | 588 | 1,079 |
| 2011 | 545 | 1,012 |
| 2010 | 606 | 1,075 |
| 2009 | 590 | 1,275 |
| 2008 | 604 | 1,263 |
| 2007 | 603 | 1,078 |
Putnam WMUs in 2022
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.
Putnam County bear take, turkey dates and duck zones
Bear areas and take
For bear, the county falls in the Southern Zone area through 3N and 3G. Bears may be taken from Oct 1 through Dec 22, 2026, segment by segment. Bear take reached 6 in its best year here. 2025 bear take by unit is in the table; 3G led locally with 18. Bear management goal here: maintain low bear density.
Turkey dates
Autumn turkey hunting: 3N and 3G 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; Hudson Valley took about 1,639 birds in 2026.
| Turkey region | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 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 |
Waterfowl
Duck zone: Southeastern. Canada goose area: South.
| Goose area | Segment | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| South | Sep 1–Sep 25, 2026 | 15 |
| South | Oct 24–Jan 11, 2027 | 5 |
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.
Putnam County public land with acreage
The map pins 25 tracts inside Putnam County and 5 neighbours just beyond it. Watershed recreation units need DEP's free Access Permit; there are 15 here. Check the park page: each one sets its own hunting permit and season. The pheasant release program reaches Putnam County.
- State parks with hunting, 3 hereClarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park (15,537 acres), Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve (9,779 acres*), Wonder Lake State Park (1,188 acres)
- NYC watershed recreation units, 15Horse Pound Brook (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (1,029 acres), Boyd Corners North (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (642 acres), West Branch Headwaters (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (562 acres), Lockwood (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (491 acres), Dixon (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (241 acres), Richardsville (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (236 acres), Dean Pond (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (199 acres), White Pond (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (197 acres*), Knapp Road (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (187 acres), Adams (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (176 acres), Farmers Mills (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (164 acres), Taconic (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (117 acres), Mount Nimham (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (86 acres), Summit (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (57 acres), North Putnam (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (32 acres)
- Wildlife management areas (2)Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area (1,193 acres), Great Swamp Wildlife Management Area (560 acres)
- Multiple use areas: 3Nimham Mountain Multiple Use Area (1,020 acres), White Pond Multiple Use Area (263 acres), Big Buck Mountain Multiple Use Area (181 acres)
- State forests, 1 hereCalifornia Hill State Forest (983 acres)
- Unique areas, 1 listedBog Brook Unique Area (132 acres)
NYC DEP Watershed Recreation Lands · DEC Pheasant Release Sites (statewide program)
Just past the Putnam County line
- East Fishkill (NYC DEP Recreation Unit)6 miles from centre · 803 acres
- Angle Fly (NYC DEP Recreation Unit)10 miles from centre · 269 acres
- Grape Hollow State Forest10 miles from centre · 507 acres
- Muscoot East (NYC DEP Recreation Unit)10 miles from centre · 154 acres
- Depot Hill Multiple Use Area11 miles from centre · 256 acres
Off-limits to hunters: Bog Brook Fishing Access Area (NYC DEP recreation unit), Boyd Corners Fishing Access Area (NYC DEP recreation unit), Boyd Corners Outlet (NYC DEP recreation unit), Boyd Corners South (NYC DEP recreation unit), Carver Hill (NYC DEP recreation unit), Croton Falls Fishing Access Area (NYC DEP recreation unit), Diverting Fishing Access Area (NYC DEP recreation unit) and Diverting Outlet (NYC DEP recreation unit) and 13 more.
Land statewide · WMA pages · State forest index · Watershed recreation
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 Putnam County
Rifle limits here: Putnam County. 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.
Putnam County help after the shot
Licenses sell online, by phone and at town clerks and license agents; the license year starts Sept. 1. 4 licensed guides list a Putnam County address. 6 clerk offices sell licenses in Putnam County.
Regional contacts
DEC Region 3 is run from New Paltz; call (845) 256-3000 for general questions. By straight line, NYSDEC Region 3 Tarrytown Sub-Office (26 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.
Putnam County towns and bordering counties
Use a Putnam County town page to see the closest public land by distance.
- Carmel4,139 public ac inside 10 mi
- Lake Carmel4,976 public ac inside 10 mi
- Putnam Lake4,017 public ac inside 10 mi
Counties sharing a line with Putnam County: 4 in New York, plus Western Connecticut Planning Region (CT).
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Putnam County legal hunting light
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 | 6:46 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:02 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:50 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:13 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:21 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:53 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 8:21 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 7:51 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.
Putnam County ranges and match dates
Putnam County has 6 listed ranges, all of them clubs, shops or private ranges.
Coyne Park Rifle and Pistol Range in Westchester County is the nearest public range, roughly 37 miles. Open it
Upcoming here
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 19-20, 2026 / MAG20 – Armed Citizen’s Rules OF Engagement WITH Massad Ayoob at Hudson Valley Shooting Sports | Class | Sign up |
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Putnam County hunters ask
How many bears come from Putnam County?
6 in 2022, the latest county table.
How many adult bucks came from Putnam County in 2025?
342.
Is there a youth waterfowl hunt in Putnam County?
Yes, Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 (Southeastern Zone).
Does DEC count turkeys by county in Putnam County?
No. Spring take is reported by WMU aggregate; see the table above.
Is CWD found in Putnam County?
No. CWD is not known in wild New York deer; the last wild positives were in 2005.
Can I leave a tree stand on state land in Putnam County?
Only a portable stand labeled with your name and address or DEC ID, removed at season end; no permanent stands.
Which processors take deer from Putnam County?
Kroll Farms, MJ Amato Farm and Quaker Creek Store, sorted by distance from mid-county.
What is the DEC phone for Putnam County?
(845) 256-3000; wildlife (845) 256-3098.
When is the DMP deadline for Putnam County?
Oct 1, 2026 for limited units; unlimited units accept applications any time.
Which WMUs cover Putnam County?
3N and 3G; 3N is the largest at 79% of 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.
Putnam 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: edenpictures (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); PEHart (CC BY-SA 2.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); Fyn Kynd (CC BY 2.0).