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State park · 2026-27
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this state park in Ulster County, 23,887 acres.
Photo: ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Parking, trailheads and gates near Minnewaska State Park Preserve
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Witches Hole Access ParkingParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Long Path Pull-OffParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Route 44/55 OverlookParking · 3.1 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.
Where Minnewaska State Park Preserve is and who runs it
Minnewaska State Park Preserve sits in Ulster County, filed as a state park with a hunting program. Region 3 of DEC covers it, along with the rest of the lower Hudson Valley. It is managed by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. 23,887 acres are on record from NY State Parks Property layer. Sorted by acreage, the 83 state parks put it 3rd.
From NYS Parks minnewaska state park preserve; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Minnewaska State Park Preserve pinned with nearby tracts
The nearest public land to Minnewaska State Park Preserve is Witch's Hole Multiple Use Area, 1.8 mi away to the west. Combined: 9,473 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Witch's Hole | Multiple use area | 592 | 3J | 1.8 mi | west |
| Ulster | Detached parcel | 471 | 3C, 3H | 5.2 mi | south |
| Vernooy Kill | State forest | 3,721 | 3C | 5.8 mi | northwest |
| Shawangunk Ridge | State forest | 1,538 | 3J, 3M | 6.4 mi | southwest |
| Oak Ridge | Multiple use area | 96 | 3H | 7.8 mi | west |
| Shawangunk Grasslands | Wildlife refuge | 582 | 3J | 7.9 mi | southeast |
| Sholam | Watershed unit | 272 | 3C | 8.0 mi | northwest |
| Roosa Gap | State forest | 1,184 | 3M | 8.3 mi | southwest |
| Painter Hill | Multiple use area | 104 | 3H | 8.9 mi | west |
| South Rondout | Watershed unit | 913 | 3H | 9.3 mi | northwest |
Points: NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer (hunting-area polygons) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve regulations, plainly
Hunters on Minnewaska State Park Preserve follow the NYS Parks statewide hunting regulations:
- Permit first, then the designated areas: that is how hunting on Minnewaska State Park Preserve works.
- Implements, dates, species and areas are printed on the permit.
- Only portable stands the permit allows, set without tree damage; no permanent blinds.
- No hunting in posted Restricted Areas; harvest reports go to the park on request.
State law reminders for Minnewaska State Park Preserve
- Fluorescent orange or pink (250 square inches above the waist, or a hat at least half orange or pink) is required for anyone hunting deer or bear with a gun.
- Firearms may not be discharged within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, farm building, school, playground or church without permission; bows 150 feet, crossbows 250 feet.
- No baiting for big game, upland birds, turkey or waterfowl, and no salt or mineral licks for deer or bear.
- New York allows hunting on Sundays in every county.
From NYS Parks minnewaska state park preserve, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve hunting areas, species and implements
The park layer pairs each species on Minnewaska State Park Preserve with legal implements.
| Game | Allowed implements |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery, Crossbow, Handgun, Muzzleloader, Rifle, Shotgun |
Park phone: (845) 255-0753.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve hunting area notes
- Deer hunting only. Archery, rifle, shotgun, handgun, crossbow and muzzleloader hunting is permitted. Contact park office for additional information.
NYS Parks writes: Deer Hunting only. A hunting permit issued by Minnewaska is required. Deer hunting is allowed in specific areas of the park preserve during hunting season. Minnewaska's hunting dates coincide with the NYS DEC hunting dates. Bow, rifle/shotgun/pistol, crossbow and muzzleloader hunting is permitted. Anyone interested in hunting on Minnewaska State Park Preserve lands must get a free hunting permit. Permits for Minnewaska and the Sam's Point Area can be obtained by completing the application under the attachments tab and emailing over to All hunters must have a current hunting license first …
Park hunting files: 2025 Hunting Permit Application
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 3J facts for Minnewaska State Park Preserve
The WMU map puts Minnewaska State Park Preserve in 3J; 3J spans 356 square miles of Ulster, Greene and Orange. DEC set a 2026 target of 6,400 Deer Management Permits for 3J; average DMP success there runs 7.7%, and a resident's first DMP chance is rated high. 3J carries the antler point restriction: an antlered buck needs at least 3 points on one side (junior hunters excepted). Southern Zone bear rules cover 3J. The fall turkey window for 3J is Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Deer zone | DMP goal | Success rate | Odds (resident) | APR | Implements | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3J | Southern | 6,400 | 7.7% | high | Yes | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer take in WMU 3J
3J yielded 1,235 deer in 2022; the WMU tables stop at 2022.
| Year | Total | Adult 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 |
The 2025 bear harvest in 3J came to 23.
DEC's bear plan for 3J reads "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.
Every season window on Minnewaska State Park Preserve
32 species have open dates on Minnewaska State Park Preserve this license year; the table holds 48 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve game species
The source names white-tailed deer on Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Species from NYS Parks minnewaska state park preserve; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Getting into Minnewaska State Park Preserve: parking and maps
Map download: Hunting Maps
Parking points and maps from NYS Parks minnewaska state park preserve; checked October 27, 2026.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: town and county harvest
Ulster County deer, 2025: 3,423.
| Year | County deer | Adult bucks | Adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,647 | 1,633 | 857 |
| 2022 | 3,423 | 2,081 | 1,110 |
| 2023 | 3,062 | 2,049 | 825 |
| 2024 | 3,565 | 2,190 | 1,114 |
| 2025 | 3,423 | 2,083 | 1,062 |
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.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve hunting-hour table
Sun times below are calculated for Minnewaska State Park Preserve; the game column adds the big game half hour and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and bear | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:48 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:04 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 6:54 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:17 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:25 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 5:54 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 5:24 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.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: nearby towns and services
Napanoch is the nearest town with its own page, 3.7 mi from Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napanoch | Ulster | 3.7 mi | – | 19,085 |
| Watchtower | Ulster | 6.2 mi | – | 5,134 |
| Wallkill | Ulster | 11 mi | – | 7,399 |
| Wurtsboro | Sullivan | 13 mi | 1,086 | 14,492 |
Minnewaska State Park Preserve falls inside these county guides: Ulster County.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: businesses close by
25 licensed guides are registered in Ulster County, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Minnewaska State Park Preserve
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.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: nearest firing lines
Nearest range to Minnewaska State Park Preserve: Wawarsing Rod and Gun Club, roughly 4 miles. DEC has no firearm range, and no local public range is close.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve in pictures
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: short answers
What game is found on Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
White-tailed deer.
How long is spring turkey on Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, with shooting until noon.
When does bear hunting open near Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Which town page is closest to Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
Napanoch, about 3.7 mi away.
Can I hunt anywhere in Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
No, only the designated hunting areas.
What colors are required at Minnewaska State Park Preserve in gun season?
Orange or pink, 250 square inches, when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
How does access work on Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
Get the regional hunting permit for this park; it lists areas, species and dates.
What does Minnewaska State Park Preserve measure?
About 23,887 acres by the source used here.
Which WMU rules apply on Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
WMU 3J, in the Southern Zone.
When does the main deer season run on Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
WMU 3J: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
When can I bowhunt deer on Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
Bowhunting opens Oct 1, 2026 (WMU 3J).
What are the DMP odds near Minnewaska State Park Preserve?
Resident first-permit odds in 3J are high; the target is 6,400.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: what to double-check
After a deer, bear or turkey on Minnewaska State Park Preserve, report it: paper tags within 48 hours, e-tags right away in HuntFishNY.
Sources: NYS Parks minnewaska state park preserve · 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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); GRI SHA (CC BY-SA 2.0); ke9tv (CC BY-SA 2.0).