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WMA · the Capital District and northern Catskills
Great Vly Wildlife Management Area: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
Seasons and access for hunting in Greene County and 1 more: white-tailed deer, ducks and geese and small game.
Photo: pedrik (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Great Vly Wildlife Management Area
Great Vly WMA: size, towns and manager
Listed as a DEC wildlife management area, Great Vly Wildlife Management Area lies in Greene and Ulster counties. On the ground it lies within Catskill and Saugerties. The DEC region is Region 4 (the Capital District and northern Catskills). It measures 202 acres, per DEC Lands layer ACRES. Size rank: 88th of 119 WMAs. Page text and map differ: the page prints 184 acres. DEC groups it in the Hudson Valley planning unit.
In DEC's words: The primary hunting opportunity at this WMA is for waterfowl and other water-dependent game birds. Due to the limited amount of upland acreage, there are few hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer or small game species.
From DEC great vly wildlife management area; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Great Vly Wildlife Management Area
Great Vly WMA hunting calendar
Season windows for Great Vly WMA, filtered from the 2026-27 guide by WMU 3J and the Southeastern waterfowl zone.
| Species | Segment | Where | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 3J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 3J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 3J | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 3J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 3J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 3J | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 3J | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Firearms Season | WMU 3J | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 3J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 3J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 3J | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 3J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 3J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 3J | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 3J | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 3J | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 3J | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 3J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 3J | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 3J | 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 | Hudson Valley goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Hudson Valley goose area | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| 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 | WMU 3J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 3J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 3J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 3J | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 3J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 3J | 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.
How you may hunt Great Vly WMA
Expect the standard WMA rules (6 NYCRR Part 51) on Great Vly WMA:
- Target shooting needs a posted exception on Great Vly WMA.
- Camping on Great Vly WMA is by written permission only.
- Off-road travel by vehicle requires a permit or a posted route.
- Hardware in trees, permanent blinds and cut vegetation are all prohibited.
- Take your belongings out each day (trail cameras too), except a stand marked with your name and address or DEC ID, which may stay until season end.
- Areas posted "No Trespassing" need written DEC permission to enter.
- Fires are limited to cooking and warmth, and boats cannot stay moored overnight.
New York rules that apply on Great Vly WMA too
- Firearm deer and bear hunters, and anyone with them, wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist, or a hat that is at least half orange or pink.
- Mind the 500-foot firearm setback from dwellings and farm buildings near the boundary.
- Bait, salt licks and mineral attractants are illegal for deer and bear, and feeding them is banned year-round.
- Sundays are open statewide; only a site rule can close them.
From DEC great vly wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Parking and maps for Great Vly WMA
Great Vly WMA has 1 listed parking spot on the DEC page.
| Lot or pull-off | Map |
|---|---|
| West Camp Road, gravel area: 42.1430, -73.9450 | Directions |
Boundary map file: Great Vly WMA Map
Parking points and maps from DEC great vly wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Great Vly WMA game species
3 game groups are named for Great Vly WMA; each card shows the main 2026-27 window for its WMU.
Species from DEC great vly wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Great Vly WMA on the DEC waterfowl map
Great Vly WMA appears on the DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl map. Ducks: Southeastern zone dates. The Hudson Valley goose area dates apply.
| Property | Held by | Kind | Special regs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Vly WMA | NYSDEC | WMA | No |
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026. Waterfowl zones.
WMU 3J rules that reach Great Vly WMA
WMU 3J is the unit that counts for Great Vly WMA: Southern Zone, 356 square miles, in Ulster, Greene and Orange. 6,400 Deer Management Permits are the 2026 goal for 3J (average success 7.7%; resident first DMP: high). Antler restrictions cover 3J, so a legal buck has 3 points on a side. Bear rules in 3J follow the Southern Zone area. 3J fall turkey season: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | 2026 DMPs | Avg success | 1st DMP odds | 3-point rule | Deer | Bear area | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3J | Southern | 6,400 | 7.7% | high | Yes | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
3J: deer by season
The 3J deer take moved from 1,768 (2016) to 1,235 (2022).
| Year | Deer taken | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,768 | 907 |
| 2017 | 1,484 | 808 |
| 2018 | 1,572 | 879 |
| 2019 | 1,693 | 974 |
| 2020 | 1,974 | 988 |
| 2021 | 1,005 | 565 |
| 2022 | 1,235 | 697 |
3J bear take by year: 2020 31; 2021 25; 2022 20; 2023 21; 2024 18; 2025 23.
3J bear objective: reduce 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.
Great Vly WMA and the public land around it
Around Great Vly WMA lie 10 more public tracts; Catskill Forest Preserve Detached Parcel is the closest (0.8 mi). Combined: 11,624 acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | WMU | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catskill | Detached parcel | 23 | 3C | 0.8 mi | northwest |
| Seward's Island | WMA | 72 | 3J, 4Y | 3.1 mi | northeast |
| Clermont | Historic site | 601 | 4Y | 4.3 mi | southeast |
| Livingston | State forest | 319 | 4Y | 6.0 mi | northeast |
| Kaaterskill | Wild forest | 8,099 | 3A | 6.6 mi | west |
| Tivoli Bays WMA And | WMA | 1,679 | 3F, 3J | 7.2 mi | south |
| Rogers Island | WMA | 322 | 4T, 4Y | 7.9 mi | northeast |
| South Roundtop | Watershed unit | 302 | 3A | 8.2 mi | west |
| Schoharie Headwaters | Watershed unit | 67 | 3A | 8.4 mi | west |
| Turkey Point | State forest | 140 | 3J | 8.8 mi | south |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Great Vly WMA trip planning
Head to Palenville, 5.5 mi off, for supplies.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palenville | Greene | 5.5 mi | – | 46,141 |
| Tivoli | Dutchess | 6.1 mi | 1,019 | 11,394 |
| Catskill | Greene | 6.5 mi | 3,723 | 6,441 |
| Haines Falls | Greene | 9.1 mi | – | 59,768 |
County pages that list Great Vly WMA: Greene County, Ulster County.
Great Vly WMA: businesses close by
The DEC licensed guide list counts 13 in Greene County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Great Vly WMA
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.
Great Vly WMA: town and county harvest
Deer take for the town of Catskill reached 205 in 2019, per DEC.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catskill | Greene | 216 | 236 | 202 | 247 | 205 | 134 |
| Saugerties | Ulster | 212 | 206 | 274 | 287 | 280 | 153 |
Black bears by town: Catskill, 2020, 4; Catskill, 2021, 10; Catskill, 2022, 2; Saugerties, 2020, 11; Saugerties, 2021, 7; Saugerties, 2022, 7.
Across Greene County, DEC counted 2,318 deer taken in 2025.
| Season | Total | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,079 | 1,348 | 639 |
| 2022 | 2,318 | 1,272 | 866 |
| 2023 | 1,898 | 1,266 | 515 |
| 2024 | 2,078 | 1,299 | 639 |
| 2025 | 2,318 | 1,461 | 672 |
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.
Great Vly Wildlife Management Area: nearest firing lines
It is about 36 miles from Great Vly Wildlife Management Area to Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range, the closest public range. Nearby rod and gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Great Vly WMA: first and last legal 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.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:48 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:03 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:54 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:18 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:25 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:53 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 5:23 a.m. to 7:54 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.
Around Great Vly WMA: photos
Great Vly WMA: short answers
What do I need to hunt Great Vly WMA?
Open in season to anyone with a New York hunting license.
Are tree stands allowed on Great Vly WMA?
Only portable stands: no hardware in trees, label it, take it out when the season closes.
Which unit sets deer dates for Great Vly WMA?
3J, a Southern Zone unit.
What does Great Vly WMA measure?
202 acres on file.
When does bow season start on Great Vly WMA?
Early Bowhunting: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the main deer season run on Great Vly WMA?
The regular Season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
What species go with Great Vly WMA?
Named game: white-tailed deer, ducks and geese and small game.
How many DMPs are there for the WMU around Great Vly WMA?
6,400 DMPs are targeted for 3J, with 7.7% average success.
Is Great Vly WMA in a bear hunting area?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Is there a spring gobbler season at Great Vly WMA?
It opens May 1, 2027 and ends May 31, 2027.
How far is Great Vly WMA from a town?
Palenville is 5.5 mi away.
What are the duck dates for Great Vly WMA?
Oct 10 to Oct 18, 2026 for the first split.
Great Vly WMA: confirm these before you go
Confirm access and permits for Great Vly WMA before the drive.
Sources: DEC great vly wildlife management area · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); tr.robinson (CC BY-SA 2.0).