Home › New York › Counties › Westchester County
Region 3 · 1 WMU
Westchester County Hunting
DEC rules and numbers for Westchester County: 1 WMU with their 2026-27 dates, 2026 DMP odds, bear and fall turkey areas, duck zones, 339 acres of DEC land and deer take since 2007.
Photo: Chrisbkes (CC BY 2.0)
Westchester County is 431 square miles of the lower Hudson Valley, and White Plains houses the county government. Census staff put the 2024 head count at 1,006,447, after a 0.2% rise since 2020. For DEC purposes it belongs to Region 3, headquartered in New Paltz. The county is carved into 1 WMU for big game: 3S. GIS puts DEC holdings in the county at around 339 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.
Westchester County: WMU seasons and antlerless permits
By area, 3S leads with 95%. The bowhunting-only deer season runs Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. Deer Management Permits this year: unlimited permits in 3S. 3S: bows and crossbows only, in every deer season there. September brings an antlerless-only window to 3S. Earn-a-2nd-Buck starts this season: an antlerless report unlocks another Antlered Deer Tag.
| Unit | Area share | Deer zone | Bowhunting | Gun season | Muzzle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3S | 95% | Southern | — | Oct. 1–Dec. 31 (bow only) | None |
| WMU | Target | DMP success | 1st odds | 2nd odds | Nonres odds | Antler rule | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3S | Unlimited | 9.5% | 100% | 100% | 100% | Bow only | Bow only | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 3S · 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.
Westchester County season dates for 2026-27
31 species and 43 dated windows reach Westchester County; the last column compares each with today.
| Quarry | Season | Units | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless, bowhunting only | WMU 3S | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Westchester County Regular (bow only) | WMU 3S | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bowhunting-only WMUs | WMU 3S | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 3S | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 3S | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 3S | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 3S | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 3S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3S | 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 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Long Island Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Long Island Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Southeastern Zone | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Long Island Zone | Jan 12, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Long Island Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Southeastern Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Long Island Zone | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Long Island Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Southeastern Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Long Island Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 3S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 3S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 3S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 3S | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 3S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 3S | 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.
Westchester County bucks, does and fawns
The 2025 calculated take for Westchester County was 859 deer, 0.4% of the 227,032 statewide. The best year in the 2007-2025 run is 2010 (1,910); the lowest is 2022 (815). Fawns made up 107 of the 2025 total. By town, the Yorktown area led in 2019 with 160 deer, then Somers and Bedford.
| Season | Males 1.5+ | Male fawns | Females 1.5+ | Female fawns | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 507 | 60 | 245 | 47 | 859 |
| 2024 | 490 | 37 | 257 | 66 | 850 |
| 2023 | 501 | 47 | 206 | 76 | 830 |
| 2022 | 526 | 54 | 180 | 55 | 815 |
| 2021 | 486 | 81 | 226 | 58 | 851 |
| 2020 | 677 | 94 | 422 | 89 | 1,282 |
| Year | Bucks 1.5+ | Deer |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 650 | 1,193 |
| 2018 | 599 | 1,167 |
| 2017 | 518 | 1,061 |
| 2016 | 574 | 1,258 |
| 2015 | 376 | 1,093 |
| 2014 | 403 | 1,079 |
| 2013 | 541 | 1,238 |
| 2012 | 509 | 1,410 |
| 2011 | 545 | 1,648 |
| 2010 | 614 | 1,910 |
| 2009 | 612 | 1,769 |
| 2008 | 609 | 1,740 |
| 2007 | 654 | 1,904 |
Deer and DMPs by WMU (2022)
| WMU | Deer 2022 | Bucks/sq mi | DMPs issued | DMP take | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3S | 841 | 1.2 | 3,201 | 283 | 8.8% |
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.
Westchester County bears, gobblers and ducks
Bear season
Southern Zone, bowhunting only: that is the bear area for 3S. Bear dates here: Bowhunting-only WMUs Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2026. County bear take tables run 2017-2022; 2022 shows 2 bears. In 2025, a record year of 1,759 bears statewide, the units here gave up 1 (whole-unit totals). Objective: Incompatible for bears.
| WMU | Early | Bow | Muzzle | Regular | Youth | Total | Per 100 sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3S | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.2 |
Turkey
Fall turkey (one bird of either sex) is open in 3S 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 New York City Transition aggregate, which covers part of the county, was about 36.
| Turkey aggregate | Units | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City Transition | 3R,3S | 55 | 17 | 36 |
Migratory birds
For waterfowl the county is Southeastern and Long Island zone.
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.
Westchester County state land and public ground
The 10 Westchester County listings break down as 8 nyc watershed recreation units, 1 state forest and 1 state parks with hunting. The 8 New York City watershed units require a free DEP Access Permit. Parks on the list need a park hunting permit or follow posted park rules.
- State parks with hunting, 1 listedRockefeller State Park Preserve (1,773 acres)
- NYC watershed recreation units, 8 hereBig Peninsula (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (303 acres), Turkey Mountain West (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (298 acres), Angle Fly (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (269 acres), New Croton (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (211 acres), Louden Point (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (165 acres), Muscoot East (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (154 acres), Stayback Hill (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (142 acres), Turkey Mountain East (NYC DEP Recreation Unit) (96 acres)
- State forests, 1 listedSalt Hill State Forest (271 acres)
NYC DEP Watershed Recreation Lands
Nearest land outside Westchester
- Lockwood (NYC DEP Recreation Unit)19 miles by map · 491 acres
- Dixon (NYC DEP Recreation Unit)19 miles by map · 241 acres
- California Hill State Forest20 miles by map · 983 acres
- West Point Military Reservation20 miles by map · 15,386 acres
- Nimham Mountain Multiple Use Area21 miles by map · 1,020 acres
Leave Amawalk Fishing Access Area (NYC DEP recreation unit), Amawalk Outlet (NYC DEP recreation unit), Cross River Dam Day Use Area (NYC DEP recreation unit), Cross River Fishing Access Area (NYC DEP recreation unit), Cross River Outlet (NYC DEP recreation unit), Croton Falls Outlet (NYC DEP recreation unit), Kensico Dam Day Use Area (NYC DEP recreation unit) and Kensico Fishing Access Area (NYC DEP recreation unit) and 14 more out of the plan; hunting is not allowed there.
New York public land · WMA list · State forest list · Watershed hub
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 Westchester County
Leave the rifle home in Westchester and Long Island (no rifles at all, ECL 11-0931(5)). The guide limits Westchester (3S) to bows and crossbows. Without the owner's consent, stay 500 feet out with a firearm, 500 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 Westchester 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.
Westchester County DEC offices, processors and shops
Businesses in Westchester County come first; the nearest in bordering counties fill each group. For a licensed guide, DEC's list has 9 in Westchester County. Town clerks count for 13 of the license outlets in Westchester County.
DEC offices
For Westchester County, DEC's regional office is in New Paltz. Tarrytown has the nearest DEC office, 8 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.
Westchester County town guides and neighbours
Westchester County has 4 town guides, seat first; each lists the public land within reach and the nearest shops.
- White Plainsseat · 62,561 residents (2024)
- Mount Vernon71,999 residents (2024)
- New Rochelle85,512 residents (2024) · 68 public ac nearby
- Yonkers211,040 residents (2024)
4 New York counties touch Westchester County; Bergen (NJ) and Western Connecticut Planning Region (CT) lie beyond the border.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Westchester 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 | 6:46 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 | 7:15 a.m. | 6:03 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:49 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:12 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:20 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:54 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 7:50 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.
Westchester County ranges and match dates
Up to six Westchester County ranges show as cards; any others are in the table below.
| Range or club | Town | Shooting | Who may shoot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon Shooting Center (an indoor range) | Mount Vernon | rifle/handgun/smallbore rimfire | Access not stated |
| North End Rod & Gun Club (a rod and gun club) | Scarsdale | Members only | |
| The Sportsman Center at Blue Mountain (a rod and gun club) | Cortland Manor | trap/skeet/shotgun/rifle/archery/muzzleloader | Access not stated |
| Traditional Archers of Southern New York (an indoor range) | Yonkers | archery | Access not stated |
Shoots coming up here
| Date and event | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2026 / CT / NJ Concealed Carry Firearms Safety / Qualifications Course at Mount Vernon Shooting Center | Class | Course page |
| Oct 29, 2026 / Connecticut, NJ and/or Utah Non-Resident CCW Class at Mount Vernon Shooting Center | Class | Course page |
| Oct 30, 2026 / Pistol Speed Clinic at Artemis Arms LLC, Elmsford, NY | Class | Course page |
| Nov 9, 2026 / Pistol Skill Builder at Artemis Arms LLC, Elmsford, NY | Class | Course page |
| Nov 14-15, 2026 / NYC/NY State Approved 16 Hour Safety Lecture + 2 Hour Range Training Class at Mount Vernon Shooting Center | Class | Course page |
| Nov 14-15, 2026 / NYS 18 hour Concealed Carry Firearms Permit Safety Course at Mount Vernon Shooting Center | Class | Course page |
Ranges from DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Westchester County hunting questions
Are there antler restrictions in Westchester County?
No. None of the units here is an antler point restriction unit.
What are the DMP odds in WMU 3S?
Resident first DMP: 100%; second: 100%.
How many bears may one hunter take in Westchester County?
One per license year.
Where does Westchester County rank for deer?
It placed 53rd among the 56 counties DEC reports for 2025, with 859 deer.
Which Canada goose area covers Westchester County?
The goose area could not be matched; check the guide map.
When does spring turkey open in Westchester County?
May 1, 2027; youth hunt Apr 24 to Apr 25, 2027.
How far from a house can I shoot in Westchester County?
500 feet with a firearm, 500 with a crossbow and 150 with a bow, unless the owner consents.
How much Forest Preserve is in Westchester County?
None by the DEC Lands layer.
Where does a Westchester County deer go for cutting and wrapping?
MJ Amato Farm is closest on our list; phone before dropping off.
How far is Westchester County from a DEC office?
NYSDEC Region 3 Tarrytown Sub-Office, about 8 miles away.
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.
Westchester County trip checklist
Units in and around Westchester 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.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); aaron.michael_ebird (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).