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Hudson River Islands State Park for hunters
Everything we could verify about this state park in Columbia County (180 acres).
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Hudson River Islands State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Hudson River Islands State Park
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Ferry Road LotTrailhead · 1.5 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
- Coxsackie Riverside Park state boat launchBoat ramp · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 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 Hudson River Islands State Park
Hudson River Islands State Park counts as a state park with a hunting program; its ground is in Columbia County. DEC handles it from Region 4, the office for the Capital District and northern Catskills. The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation runs it. Recorded size: 180 acres, from NY State Parks Property layer. By acres it places 72nd among 83 state parks.
From NYS Parks hudson river islands state park; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Hudson River Islands State Park
Hudson River Islands State Park and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Hudson River Islands State Park, starting with Charles Flood WMA At The Empire Brickyard. Together they add 3,745 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | WMU | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Flood WMA At | WMA | 590 | 4T | 0.6 mi | east |
| Vosburgh Swamp | WMA | 311 | 4S | 1.8 mi | south |
| Stockport Flats | WMA | 478 | 4T | 2.1 mi | south |
| Stockport | WMA | 354 | 4T | 3.2 mi | south |
| New Baltimore | Detached parcel | 78 | 4S | 3.6 mi | northwest |
| Athens | Detached parcel | 81 | 4S | 7.1 mi | southwest |
| Rogers Island | WMA | 322 | 4T, 4Y | 7.9 mi | southwest |
| Coxsackie | Detached parcel | 33 | 4S | 8.4 mi | northwest |
| Schodack Island | State park | 1,179 | 4K, 4S | 10.0 mi | north |
| Livingston | State forest | 319 | 4Y | 11 mi | south |
Points: NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer (hunting-area polygons) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules and access on Hudson River Islands State Park
The OPRHP hunting regulations, in force since May 11, 2016, cover Hudson River Islands State Park:
- You need the park hunting permit, and you may hunt only inside the mapped hunting areas of Hudson River Islands 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 Hudson River Islands 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 hudson river islands state park, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Hunting areas inside Hudson River Islands State Park
Here is what the park hunting layer allows on Hudson River Islands State Park, by species.
| Species group | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun |
| Bear | Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun |
| Turkey (fall) | Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun |
| Waterfowl | Shotgun |
| Migratory game birds | Shotgun |
| Furbearers | Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun |
| Small game | Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun |
A park permit is noted on DEC's deer hunting list. Phone the park office at (518) 872-1237.
Hudson River Islands State Park: park hunting notes
- Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun. Contact Schodack Island State Park for additional information.
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
The WMU behind Hudson River Islands State Park
Hudson River Islands State Park lies in WMU 4T, a Southern Zone unit of 132 square miles reaching Columbia and Rensselaer. Antlerless permits: 3,900 DMPs targeted for 4T in 2026, 6.1% average success, resident first-permit chance high. 4T bear hunting: Southern Zone. 4T fall turkey: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | 2026 target | DMP success | Resident chance | Antler rule | Deer | Bear | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4T | Southern | 3,900 | 6.1% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer reported from 4T
DEC calculated 595 deer taken in 4T in 2022, against 886 in 2016.
| Year | All deer | Adult males |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 886 | 382 |
| 2017 | 767 | 292 |
| 2018 | 769 | 340 |
| 2019 | 676 | 333 |
| 2020 | 839 | 374 |
| 2021 | 480 | 214 |
| 2022 | 595 | 274 |
DEC's bear dashboard credits 4T with 4 (2023), 5 (2024), 1 (2025).
Bear management goal in 4T: 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.
Hudson River Islands State Park season dates for 2026-27
Only rows that cover WMU 4T and the waterfowl zones over Hudson River Islands State Park are listed: 47 windows in all.
| Species | Season | Applies to | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4T | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 4T | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 4T | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4T | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4T | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 4T | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 4T | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 4T | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 4T | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 4T | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 4T | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 4T | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 4T | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 4T | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 4T | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 4T | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (either sex) | WMU 4T | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Hunting | WMU 4T | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4T | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4T | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 4T | 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 4T | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 4T | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 4T | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 4T | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 4T | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 4T | 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.
Hudson River Islands State Park: species list
7 species groups lead the list for Hudson River Islands State Park, each linked to its species page.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Black bear
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Oct 18
Migratory game birds
Oct 10–Oct 18
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Small game
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from NYS Parks hudson river islands state park; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Deer and bear take around Hudson River Islands State Park
County-wide, Columbia produced 2,872 deer in 2025.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,600 | 1,497 | 931 |
| 2022 | 2,989 | 1,586 | 1,143 |
| 2023 | 2,446 | 1,444 | 772 |
| 2024 | 2,600 | 1,425 | 956 |
| 2025 | 2,872 | 1,558 | 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.
Hudson River Islands 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 | 6:46 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:50 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:01 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:31 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:52 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:15 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:23 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:51 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 5:21 a.m. to 8:22 p.m. | 5:21 a.m. to 7:52 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.
Hudson River Islands State Park trip planning
The quickest town stop is Hudson (5.6 mi).
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson | Columbia | 5.6 mi | 5,735 | 2,490 |
| Catskill | Greene | 9.1 mi | 3,723 | 6,441 |
| Chatham | Columbia | 9.4 mi | 1,547 | 5,146 |
| Copake Lake | Columbia | 16 mi | – | 1,730 |
Read Hudson River Islands State Park alongside its county page: Columbia County.
Hudson River Islands State Park: businesses close by
DEC lists 8 licensed guides with an address in Columbia County; the names are in the DEC dataset. DEC licensed guides
Hudson River Islands 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.
Hudson River Islands State Park: nearest firing lines
Closest range open to everyone from Hudson River Islands State Park: Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range, roughly 25 miles. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Hudson River Islands State Park in pictures
Hudson River Islands State Park questions, answered from the record
When does archery open near Hudson River Islands State Park?
WMU 4T: Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
When does the regular deer season open on Hudson River Islands State Park?
Regular Season: Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 4T).
Which animals are named for Hudson River Islands State Park?
Listed: white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ducks and geese, migratory game birds and furbearers.
How likely is a DMP for Hudson River Islands State Park?
Resident first DMP odds in 4T: high; average success 6.1%.
What bear season covers Hudson River Islands State Park?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 4T.
What are the spring turkey dates for Hudson River Islands State Park?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
How far is Hudson River Islands State Park from a town?
Hudson, 5.6 mi straight-line.
Can I hunt ducks on Hudson River Islands State Park?
The Southeastern Zone opens Oct 10, 2026.
Who may hunt Hudson River Islands State Park?
Only in the designated hunting areas, with the park's NYS Parks regional hunting permit.
Is Sunday hunting allowed at Hudson River Islands State Park?
Yes. Each park issues a regional hunting permit.
What zone and WMU is Hudson River Islands State Park?
It is 4T ground, Southern Zone.
What does Hudson River Islands State Park measure?
180 acres (NY State Parks Property layer).
Hudson River Islands State Park: confirm these before you go
Print the Hudson River Islands State Park map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: NYS Parks hudson river islands state park · NYS Parks state parks · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · NYS Parks StatewideHuntingRegulationsinNYStatePa · DEC state parks that allow hunting; 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); Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0).