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State park · WMU 1C
Brookhaven State Park for hunters
Everything we could verify about this state park in Suffolk County (1,652 acres).
Photo: TheeErin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Brookhaven State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Brookhaven State Park
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Acres and location of Brookhaven State Park
Brookhaven State Park counts as a state park with a hunting program; its ground is in Suffolk County. DEC handles it from Region 1, the office for Long Island. The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation runs it. Recorded size: 1,652 acres, from NY State Parks Property layer. By acres it places 26th among 83 state parks.
From NYS Parks brookhaven state park; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Brookhaven State Park
Brookhaven State Park and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Brookhaven State Park, starting with Panamoka Pine Barrens State Forest. Together they add 8,137 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panamoka Pine Barrens | State forest | 100 | 1C | 1.0 mi | southeast |
| Brookhaven Pine Barrens | State forest | 35 | 1C | 1.5 mi | southwest |
| Ridge Pine Barrens State | State forest | 190 | 1C | 2.0 mi | southwest |
| Shoreham Pine Barrens | State forest | 740 | 1C | 2.1 mi | north |
| Calverton Pine Barrens | State forest | 191 | 1C | 2.2 mi | east |
| Rocky Point Pine Barrens | State forest | 5,796 | 1C | 3.1 mi | west |
| Longwood Pine Barrens | State forest | 165 | 1C | 3.8 mi | southwest |
| Wildwood | State park | 788 | 1C | 4.7 mi | northeast |
| East Bartlett Pine Barrens | State forest | 105 | 1C | 5.5 mi | southwest |
| Carmans River Pine Barrens | State forest | 27 | 1C | 6.8 mi | southwest |
Points: NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer (hunting-area polygons) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Brookhaven State Park
The OPRHP hunting regulations, in force since May 11, 2016, cover Brookhaven State Park:
- You need the park hunting permit, and you may hunt only inside the mapped hunting areas of Brookhaven State Park.
- Read the permit: it lists the species, implements, areas and dates allowed.
- A portable stand is allowed only where the permit says so, and never a permanent one.
- The park can request a harvest report, and Restricted Areas stay closed.
Beyond the site rules: state law on Brookhaven State Park
- The orange-or-pink rule covers firearm deer and bear hunters and their companions.
- Boundary houses matter: no gun discharge within 500 feet of a dwelling without consent.
- Bait piles and mineral blocks are not allowed for deer or bear.
- State law no longer limits Sunday hunting anywhere.
From NYS Parks brookhaven state park, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Hunting areas inside Brookhaven State Park
Here is what the park hunting layer allows on Brookhaven State Park, by species.
| Species group | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery |
| Turkey (fall) | Archery |
Brookhaven State Park: park hunting notes
- Managed by DEC as the Brookhaven State Park Cooperative Hunting Area. Hunting is archery only. Contact park office for additional information.
From the park page: Brookhaven State Parks allows bow hunting 11/1/25 – 1/31/26 Hunters should obey all current signage.
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
Long Island hunting table for Brookhaven State Park
Comprised of State park land, County park land and NYSDEC property, Brookhaven State Park Cooperative Hunting Area is 1,550 huntable acres of mixed oak and coastal pine barrens managed through a cooperative management agreement. Take I-495 to exit 68, then head north on the William Floyd Parkway for about 5 miles. Parking areas are located west of the property on the William Floyd Parkway and south of the property on Middle Country Road/Route 25. All deer taken must be checked at the Ridge Hunter Check Station.
| Season type | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| September Early Antlerless | Not Permitted |
| Regular Archery – Deer | Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 9 |
| Special Firearms – Deer | Not Permitted |
| Small Game | Not Permitted |
| Fall Turkey | Archery Only |
| Spring Turkey | Not Permitted |
| Waterfowl | Not Permitted |
| Trapping | Permitted on DEC land only |
Brookhaven State Park crossbow table
| Period | Crossbow |
|---|---|
| September (Early Antlerless) | Not Permitted |
| October (Regular Season) | Not Permitted |
| November – December (Regular Season) | Permitted |
| January (Regular Season) | Permitted |
What you need: DEC Managed Land Access Permit (free, 3-year) required; Daily Access Permit where noted, and for all January firearms deer hunting on DEC-managed areas.
DEC Long Island Public Hunting Areas (2026-27 tables); checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Brookhaven State Park
Brookhaven State Park lies in WMU 1C, a Southern Zone unit of 903 square miles reaching Suffolk. 1C is an unlimited-DMP unit this year. Guns are out for deer in 1C; it is bow only. 1C is closed to bear hunting. 1C fall turkey: Suffolk (1C) season.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1C | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 11.6% | 100% | No | Bow only | Closed to bear hunting | Suffolk (1C) season |
Deer reported from 1C
DEC calculated 2,700 deer taken in 1C in 2022, against 3,207 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,207 | 1,321 |
| 2017 | 3,253 | 1,320 |
| 2018 | 3,407 | 1,281 |
| 2019 | 4,124 | 1,594 |
| 2020 | 4,525 | 1,861 |
| 2021 | 3,022 | 1,457 |
| 2022 | 2,700 | 1,310 |
Bear management goal in 1C: incompatible for bears.
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.
Brookhaven State Park season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 1C and the waterfowl zones over Brookhaven State Park are listed: 34 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless, bowhunting only | WMU 1C | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Suffolk County Regular | WMU 1C | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Suffolk County Special Firearms | WMU 1C | Jan 3, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 1C | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 1C | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 1C | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 1C | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Long Island | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Long Island east of | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Hunting | Long Island | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 1C | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| 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 | Long Island Zone | Jan 12, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Central Long Island goose | Sep 8, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Central Long Island goose | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Central Long Island goose | Dec 5, 2026 | Feb 3, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Long Island Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Long Island Zone | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Long Island Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Long Island Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 1C | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 1C | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 25, 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.
Brookhaven State Park: species list
2 species groups lead the list for Brookhaven State Park, each linked to its species page.
White-tailed deer
Oct 1–Jan 31
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Species from NYS Parks brookhaven state park; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Brookhaven State Park: lots, pull-offs and map files
Map on file: Brookhaven Hunting Map · Brookhaven Hunting Map
Parking points and maps from NYS Parks brookhaven state park; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Brookhaven State Park
County-wide, Suffolk produced 3,765 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,022 | 1,457 | 927 |
| 2022 | 2,632 | 1,309 | 812 |
| 2023 | 2,637 | 1,190 | 871 |
| 2024 | 2,973 | 1,426 | 1,049 |
| 2025 | 3,765 | 1,761 | 1,296 |
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.
Brookhaven State Park: first and last legal 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.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:42 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:46 a.m. | 6:35 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:35 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:11 a.m. | 5:59 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:45 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:07 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:15 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:50 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 5:20 a.m. to 7:46 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.
Brookhaven State Park trip planning
The quickest town stop is Rocky Point (3.9 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Point | Suffolk | 3.9 mi | – | 9,323 |
| Shirley | Suffolk | 8.8 mi | – | 10,495 |
| Riverhead | Suffolk | 10 mi | – | 8,693 |
| Riverside | Suffolk | 10 mi | – | 8,275 |
Read Brookhaven State Park alongside its county page: Suffolk County.
Brookhaven State Park: businesses close by
DEC lists 43 licensed guides with an address in Suffolk County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Brookhaven State Park: the nearest DEC offices
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.
What is planned around Brookhaven State Park
Checked October 27, 2026: 1 upcoming event at or close to the property (mentored pheasant hunt).
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | How far | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2–5, 2026 | 2026 Region 1 Pheasant Hunt · mentored pheasant hunt | 5 | Longwood Public Library Middle Island | Reserve a spot | Source |
Brookhaven State Park: nearest firing lines
Closest range open to everyone from Brookhaven State Park: Islip Rifle & Pistol Range, roughly 22 miles. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Brookhaven State Park in pictures
Brookhaven State Park questions, answered from the record
What are legal shooting hours on Brookhaven State Park?
Deer and bear: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; small game sunrise to sunset.
Is fluorescent pink legal at Brookhaven State Park?
Yes, pink counts the same as orange for the firearm deer and bear rule.
Who may hunt Brookhaven State Park?
Only in the designated hunting areas, with the park's NYS Parks regional hunting permit.
What about Sundays on Brookhaven State Park?
State law allows it.
What zone and WMU is Brookhaven State Park?
It is 1C ground, Southern Zone.
What does Brookhaven State Park measure?
1,652 acres (NY State Parks Property layer).
When does archery open near Brookhaven State Park?
WMU 1C: Sep 12 to Sep 20, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Brookhaven State Park?
Suffolk County Regular (bow only): Oct 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 (WMU 1C).
What are the spring turkey dates for Brookhaven State Park?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
Which animals are named for Brookhaven State Park?
Listed: white-tailed deer and wild turkey.
Is Sunday hunting allowed at Brookhaven State Park?
Yes. Each park issues a regional hunting permit.
How far is Brookhaven State Park from a town?
Rocky Point, 3.9 mi straight-line.
Brookhaven State Park: confirm these before you go
Print the Brookhaven State Park map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: NYS Parks brookhaven state park · NYS Parks state parks · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · NYS Parks StatewideHuntingRegulationsinNYStatePa · DEC public hunting areas; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).