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State park · 2026-27
Bonavista State Park hunting rules, seasons and access
State park of 250 acres in Seneca County, hunted under WMU 8S dates, for white-tailed deer and wild turkey.
Photo: seabamirum (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Bonavista State Park
Bonavista State Park at a glance
Hunters find Bonavista State Park, a state park with a hunting program, in Seneca County. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 8, which spans the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley. Hunting here is overseen by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The acreage used here is 250, taken from NY State Parks Property layer. It is number 70 by size out of 83 state parks.
From NYS Parks bonavista state park; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bonavista State Park
Bonavista State Park: access and site rules
NYS Parks allows hunting on Bonavista State Park under 6 NYCRR 372.7(q) and the OPRHP statewide hunting regulations:
- Hunting on Bonavista State Park happens only in designated park hunting areas and needs the park's regional hunting permit.
- The permit sets the species, areas, implements and dates.
- Leave permanent blinds and stands at home; portable ones need the permit's OK.
- Restricted Areas are posted and closed; parks may ask you to report take.
Laws every Bonavista State Park hunter carries in
- Gun hunters after deer or bear wear orange or pink: 250 square inches above the waist or a mostly orange or pink hat.
- The discharge setback is 500 feet for guns, 250 feet for crossbows and 150 feet for bows from homes, farm buildings, schools and churches.
- Hunting over bait is illegal; scents and lures are allowed.
- There is no Sunday ban in New York; some parks set their own.
From NYS Parks bonavista state park, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Park hunting areas and permits at Bonavista State Park
The NYS Parks hunting areas layer lists these species and implements for Bonavista State Park.
| Species | Weapons |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery |
| Turkey (fall) | Archery |
Notes in the park layer for Bonavista State Park
- Deer hunting will be by bow only and will be limited to one hunter per zone by first come first serve basis. Fall turkey hunting is bow only. Contact park office for additional information.
Quoted from the park page: . The 9-hole course can be played twice from different tees for an 18-hole round. There is also an attractive clubhouse/ restaurant. The park has shaded picnic areas and food is available at the snack bar. Bow hunting is allowed in season, call for details. Deer hunting (archery only) is permitted in season. Reference the for current dates and rules for archery hunting. Note: At Bonavista State Golf Course, deer hunting will be limited to one hunter per zone on a first-come, first-served basis each day. Hunters must sign in and out daily at the maintenance barn and indicate their zone. …
Permit and rules links: Hunting Schedule · NYS DEC Hunting & Trapping Guide · Bonavista Hunting Rules & Regulations · Bonavista Hunting Rules & Regulations
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
Bonavista State Park: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Bonavista State Park (8S); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 8S | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 8S | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 8S | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 8S | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 8S | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 8S | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 8S | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8S | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 8S | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 8S | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 8S | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 8S | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (cocks only) | WMU 8S | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 8S | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8S | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8S | 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 | WMU 8S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 8S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 8S | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 8S | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 8S | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 8S | 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 |
Season rows from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, matched to the DEC WMU, duck zone and goose area layers; checked October 27, 2026. All New York seasons.
Bonavista State Park and WMU 8S: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Bonavista State Park is WMU 8S ground (Southern Zone, 256 sq. mi. across Schuyler, Seneca and Tompkins). DEC lists 8S as unlimited for DMPs this year. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8S | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 19.0% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 8S deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 8S 2,470 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,649 | 883 |
| 2017 | 1,644 | 801 |
| 2018 | 1,766 | 795 |
| 2019 | 1,640 | 836 |
| 2020 | 2,366 | 947 |
| 2021 | 2,026 | 968 |
| 2022 | 2,470 | 1,074 |
Recent bear numbers for 8S: 2022: 0, 2023: 0, 2024: 1, 2025: 1.
Objective for bears in 8S: maintain low bear density.
WMU facts from the 2026 DMP table, the 2026-27 DEC guide, DEC deer take reports and the DEC bear harvest dashboard; WMU from the DEC WMU layer; checked October 27, 2026.
Bonavista State Park: species list
Hunters come to Bonavista State Park for white-tailed deer and wild turkey above all.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Species from NYS Parks bonavista state park; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Bonavista State Park access points
Official map sheet: Hunting Map
Parking points and maps from NYS Parks bonavista state park; checked October 27, 2026.
Bonavista State Park pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Bonavista State Park and 10 neighbors; Willard WMA sits 0.8 mi off. The tracts listed total 42,789 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willard | WMA | 439 | 8S | 0.8 mi | southeast |
| Sampson | State park | 2,047 | 8J | 4.9 mi | northwest |
| Deans Cove Boat Launch | Park boat launch | 9 | 8J | 7.2 mi | northeast |
| Long Point State Park | State park | 253 | 7H | 9.4 mi | east |
| Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area | Co-op area | 22,479 | 7H | 12 mi | northeast |
| Finger Lakes National Forest | National forest | 16,389 | 8S | 12 mi | south |
| Cayuga Shores | WMA | 282 | 7H | 13 mi | east |
| Seneca Lake | State park | 155 | 8J | 14 mi | north |
| Keuka Lake | State park | 632 | 8R | 15 mi | southwest |
| Canoga Marsh | WMA | 104 | 8J | 15 mi | northeast |
Points: NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer (hunting-area polygons) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Bonavista State Park
DEC puts the 2025 Seneca County deer take at 2,361.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,734 | 823 | 714 |
| 2022 | 2,152 | 848 | 965 |
| 2023 | 1,921 | 862 | 764 |
| 2024 | 2,040 | 996 | 791 |
| 2025 | 2,361 | 1,079 | 1,042 |
DEC deer take by town and county (towns 2007-2019), county deer take 2021-2025 and DEC bear take by town; checked October 27, 2026.
Bonavista State Park: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Lodi, about 4.9 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lodi | Seneca | 4.9 mi | 280 | 14,257 |
| Penn Yan | Yates | 9.2 mi | 5,024 | 1,380 |
| Waterloo | Seneca | 16 mi | 4,722 | 8,592 |
| Burdett | Schuyler | 18 mi | 323 | 28,919 |
Season tables by county for Bonavista State Park: Seneca County.
Bonavista State Park: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 10 licensed guides in Seneca County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Bonavista State Park
Towns and populations from Census 2024 estimates; businesses from store locators and listings; DEC offices and licensed guide counts from DEC. Checked October 27, 2026.
Scheduled near Bonavista State Park
2 upcoming events held on this property or within about 10 miles (NWTF chapter banquet and mentored pheasant hunt). Checked October 27, 2026.
Next on the list
| Dates | What | Miles | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2026 | South Seneca Sportsmens Club Pheasant Hunt · mentored pheasant hunt | 2 | South Seneca Sportsmens Club Ovid | Reserve a spot | Source |
| Apr 24, 2027 | Between the lakes Ropers NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 8 | Interlaken | Get tickets | Source |
Bonavista State Park: nearest firing lines
Hunters on Bonavista State Park can sight in at Interlaken Sportsmens Club (8 miles), the nearest listing; public ranges are all more than 60 miles off.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Bonavista State Park shooting hours by key date
East and west matter: sunrise in Buffalo comes about 20 minutes after sunrise in Albany, so use local times for Bonavista State Park.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:59 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:03 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:30 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:06 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:30 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:38 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:03 a.m. | 8:06 p.m. | 5:33 a.m. to 8:36 p.m. | 5:33 a.m. to 8:06 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.
Bonavista State Park in pictures
Answers on Bonavista State Park access and seasons
How far is Bonavista State Park from a town?
Lodi, about 4.9 mi away.
When is bear season at Bonavista State Park?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 8S).
Do I need orange or pink on Bonavista State Park?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Which parts of Bonavista State Park are open?
Only the mapped hunting areas; restricted areas are posted.
How does access work on Bonavista State Park?
A park permit is needed, and only the hunting areas are open.
What hours apply on Bonavista State Park?
Sunrise minus 30 minutes for big game; the hours table above has local times.
Which WMU rules apply on Bonavista State Park?
Southern Zone, WMU 8S.
Is Bonavista State Park a large property?
250 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Bonavista State Park?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Bonavista State Park?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
When is spring turkey season at Bonavista State Park?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
What game does the source list for Bonavista State Park?
White-tailed deer and wild turkey.
Bonavista State Park: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Bonavista State Park can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: NYS Parks bonavista state park · NYS Parks state parks · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · NYS Parks StatewideHuntingRegulationsinNYStatePa; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).