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State park · 2026-27
Hither Hills State Park hunting rules, seasons and access
State park of 1,665 acres in Suffolk County, hunted under WMU 1C dates, for white-tailed deer, ducks and geese and migratory game birds.
Photo: TheeErin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Hither Hills State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Hither Hills State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 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.
Hither Hills State Park at a glance
Hunters find Hither Hills State Park, a state park with a hunting program, in Suffolk County. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 1, which spans Long Island. Hunting here is overseen by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The acreage used here is 1,665, taken from NY State Parks Property layer. It is number 25 by size out of 83 state parks.
From NYS Parks hither hills state park; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Hither Hills State Park
Hither Hills State Park: access and site rules
NYS Parks allows hunting on Hither Hills State Park under 6 NYCRR 372.7(q) and the OPRHP statewide hunting regulations:
- Hunting on Hither Hills 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 Hither Hills 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 hither hills state park, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Park hunting areas and permits at Hither Hills State Park
The NYS Parks hunting areas layer lists these species and implements for Hither Hills State Park.
| Species | Weapons |
|---|---|
| Deer | All legal |
| Waterfowl | All legal |
| Migratory game birds | All legal |
| Furbearers | All legal |
| Small game | All legal |
DEC's list of parks open to deer hunting marks it as needing a park permit. Call the park at (631) 668-2554.
Notes in the park layer for Hither Hills State Park
- Managed by DEC as the East Hampton Cooperative Hunting Area – Hither Hills and Hither Woods. Big and Small Game hunting, including waterfowl, permitted. Contact park office for additional information.
Quoted from the park page: In addition to statewide hunting regulations, special restrictions are in effect in state parks to protect visitors to ensure sound wildlife management. Hunters are advised to check with the state park regional office and with the local DEC wildlife management office for specific information. All hunters must have a valid New York State hunting license and, where applicable, a federal waterfowl permit. Waterfowl hunters should note that current state regulations prohibit the use of lead shot. Hither Hills State Park is open for small game hunting from 12/1-2/28 and waterfowl 12/1- end of …
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
Long Island public hunting rules for Hither Hills State Park
| Season | On this area |
|---|---|
| September Early Antlerless | Not Permitted |
| Regular Archery – Deer | Nov. 1 – Dec. 31 9 |
| Special Firearms – Deer | Permitted (weekdays only) 2 |
| Small Game | Dec. 1 – Feb. 28 3 |
| Fall Turkey | Not Permitted |
| Spring Turkey | Not Permitted |
| Waterfowl | Dec. 1 – end of season 3 |
| Trapping | Not Permitted |
Crossbow rules for Hither Hills State Park
| Period | Crossbow |
|---|---|
| September (Early Antlerless) | Not Permitted |
| October (Regular Season) | Not Permitted |
| November – December (Regular Season) | Permitted |
| January (Regular Season) | Not Permitted |
Permit required: 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.
Hither Hills State Park: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Hither Hills State Park (1C); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right 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 | Eastern Long Island goose | Sep 8, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Eastern Long Island goose | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Eastern Long Island goose | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 24, 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.
Hither Hills State Park and WMU 1C: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Hither Hills State Park is WMU 1C ground (Southern Zone, 903 sq. mi. across Suffolk). DEC lists 1C as unlimited for DMPs this year. No firearm deer season in 1C: archery only. Bear hunting is closed in 1C. Fall turkey here: Suffolk (1C) season.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1C | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 11.6% | 100% | No | Bow only | Closed to bear hunting | Suffolk (1C) season |
WMU 1C deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 1C 2,700 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Objective for bears 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.
Hither Hills State Park: species list
Hunters come to Hither Hills State Park for white-tailed deer, ducks and geese and migratory game birds above all.
White-tailed deer
Oct 1–Jan 31
Ducks and geese
Nov 21–Nov 29
Migratory game birds
Nov 21–Nov 29
Furbearers
Nov 1–Feb 25
Small game
Nov 1–Feb 28
Species from NYS Parks hither hills state park; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Hither Hills State Park: a DEC waterfowl place
The DEC waterfowl mapper includes Hither Hills State Park. Long Island duck zone. It lies in the Eastern Long Island Canada goose area.
| Property | Owner | Property type | Special rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hither Hills State Park | NYSOPRHP | State Park | Yes |
Note on the DEC map: See State Park webpage for current rules and access information. Some parks may only allow boat access to public waterways.
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026. Waterfowl zones.
Hither Hills State Park pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Hither Hills State Park and 10 neighbors; Hither Woods sits 2.4 mi off. The tracts listed total 9,761 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hither Woods | Park unit | 558 | 1C | 2.4 mi | northeast |
| Amsterdam Beach | State park | 199 | 1C | 7.1 mi | east |
| Northwest Harbor | Tidal wetland | 47 | 1C | 11 mi | west |
| Linda A. Gronlund Memorial | State forest | 289 | 1C | 12 mi | west |
| Long Beach Bay | Tidal wetland | 410 | 1C | 16 mi | northwest |
| Henrys Hollow Pine Barrens | State forest | 272 | 1C | 29 mi | west |
| Westhampton Dwarf Pine Plains | State forest | 789 | 1C | 33 mi | west |
| David A. Sarnoff Pine | State forest | 2,689 | 1C | 34 mi | west |
| Otis Pike Pine Barrens | State forest | 3,860 | 1C | 38 mi | west |
| Eastport Pine Barrens | State forest | 648 | 1C | 38 mi | west |
Points: NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer (hunting-area polygons) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Hither Hills State Park
DEC puts the 2025 Suffolk County deer take at 3,765.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Hither Hills State Park: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Noyack, about 17 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noyack | Suffolk | 17 mi | – | 452 |
| Shelter Island Heights | Suffolk | 17 mi | – | 452 |
| Riverhead | Suffolk | 34 mi | – | 8,693 |
| Riverside | Suffolk | 34 mi | – | 8,275 |
Season tables by county for Hither Hills State Park: Suffolk County.
Hither Hills State Park: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 43 licensed guides in Suffolk County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Hither Hills 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 Hither Hills State Park
1 upcoming event held on this property or within about 10 miles (DU cocktail party). Checked October 27, 2026.
Next on the list
| Dates | What | Miles | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2026 | Eastern Suffolk Cocktail Party · DU cocktail party | 10 | The Clubhouse East Hampton | Get tickets | Source |
Hither Hills State Park: nearest firing lines
Hunters on Hither Hills State Park can sight in at Mattituck Gun Club (24 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.
Hither Hills 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 Hither Hills State Park.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Hither Hills State Park in pictures
Answers on Hither Hills State Park access and seasons
Which WMU rules apply on Hither Hills State Park?
Southern Zone, WMU 1C.
Is Hither Hills State Park a large property?
1,665 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Hither Hills State Park?
Sep 12 to Sep 20, 2026 for September antlerless, bowhunting only.
How long is deer season at Hither Hills State Park?
It opens Oct 1, 2026 and closes Jan 31, 2027 (Suffolk County Regular (bow only)).
When is spring turkey season at Hither Hills State Park?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
What game does the source list for Hither Hills State Park?
White-tailed deer, ducks and geese, migratory game birds, furbearers and small game.
How far is Hither Hills State Park from a town?
Noyack, about 17 mi away.
What zone sets duck dates for Hither Hills State Park?
Long Island Zone dates, starting Nov 21, 2026.
Do I need orange or pink on Hither Hills State Park?
Yes for firearm deer and bear hunting: 250 square inches of orange or pink, or a qualifying hat.
Which parts of Hither Hills State Park are open?
Only the mapped hunting areas; restricted areas are posted.
How does access work on Hither Hills State Park?
A park permit is needed, and only the hunting areas are open.
What hours apply on Hither Hills State Park?
Sunrise minus 30 minutes for big game; the hours table above has local times.
Hither Hills State Park: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Hither Hills State Park can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: NYS Parks hither hills state park · NYS Parks state parks · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · NYS Parks StatewideHuntingRegulationsinNYStatePa · DEC state parks that allow hunting · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Under the same moon… (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).