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What hunters need to know about Sampson State Park
Rules, WMU 8J season dates, maps and neighbors for a state park in Seneca County.
Photo: seabamirum (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Sampson State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Sampson State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Sampson State Park Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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.
What Sampson State Park is
Sampson State Park is a state park with a hunting program in Seneca County. It is a Region 8 property, in the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley. Rules on the ground come from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Size: 2,047 acres (NY State Parks Property layer). 15 others of the 83 state parks are larger.
From NYS Parks sampson state park; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Sampson State Park hunting rules for 2026-27
For Sampson State Park, the state parks hunting rules set the terms:
- NYS Parks opens only designated parts of Sampson State Park to hunters who hold the park's permit.
- Dates, species and implements differ by permit, so check yours.
- No permanent blinds or tree stands; a portable stand only if the permit allows it and it does not damage the tree.
- Posted Restricted Areas are closed to hunting, and take must be reported when the park asks.
Statewide rules that follow you onto Sampson State Park
- In firearm deer and bear seasons, wear the required orange or pink above the waist.
- Setbacks from occupied buildings: firearm 500 feet, crossbow 250 feet, bow 150 feet.
- Do not hunt over bait; New York bans it for big game, turkey, upland birds and waterfowl.
- Sunday hunting is legal everywhere in New York unless a property rule says otherwise.
From NYS Parks sampson state park, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Sampson State Park park permit details
NYS Parks maps 6 species groups for Sampson State Park, each with its implements.
| Species | Legal tools |
|---|---|
| Deer | Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun |
| Turkey (fall) | Archery |
| Turkey (spring) | All legal, Archery |
| Waterfowl | All legal |
| Furbearers | All legal |
| Small game | All legal |
DEC lists this park as permit required. Phone the park office at (315) 585-6392.
Park notes on Sampson State Park hunting areas
- Bow Only Area opens November 1st.
- Deer hunting is archery, shotgun, and muzzleloader only at Sampson State Park. Waterfowl hunting is late season only. Contact park office for additional information.
- North Boundary: Creek Mouth South of boat launch parking lot; South Boundary: Driven metal post next to creek mouth to the South
- North Boundary: Creek mouth North of site #222; South Boundary: Driven metal post directly West of Southern border of loop 5
- North Boundary: Lake Shore Trail Gate North; South Boundary: Lake Shore Trail Gate South
- Spring Turkey Zone 1 – Bowhunting Only
The park website says: Hunting is allowed with a daily permit during published seasons Deer, turkey, small game, and waterfowl hunting is allowed at Sampson State Park by special permit only. Hunting dates and legal hunting implement will vary from the NYS DEC Hunting and Trapping Guide, but DEC rules of hunting will still apply. 2026/27 Big Game Hunting Season Schedule – All information must be complete to receive a permit (Phone number you can be reached at WHILE hunting, Vehicle information, Address, and Emergency contact)
Permit paperwork: Hunting Rules · Hunting Rules
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
What is open on Sampson State Park, and when
This calendar is cut down to Sampson State Park: its WMU (8J), duck zone and goose area decide which of the 2026-27 rows appear.
| Game | Hunt | Unit or zone | From | To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 8J | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 8J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 8J | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 8J | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 8J | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 8J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 8J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 8J | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 8J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 8J | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 8J | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 8J | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 8J | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 8J | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (cocks only) | WMU 8J | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 8J | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Western Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Western Zone | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | West Central goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | West Central goose area | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Western Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Western Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 8J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 8J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 8J | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 8J | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 8J | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 8J | 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.
Sampson State Park: WMU 8J numbers
Deer, bear and turkey rules here follow WMU 8J, 712 square miles in the Southern Zone covering parts of Ontario, Seneca and Yates. There is no cap on DMPs in 8J in 2026. The bear area for 8J is Southern Zone. Fall turkey in 8J: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | DMP success | Resident odds | Antler rule | Deer weapons | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8J | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 14.0% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Calculated deer take, 8J
In 2022, 8J produced 4,724 deer by DEC's estimate (5,137 in 2016).
| Season | Total take | Bucks 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5,137 | 1,870 |
| 2017 | 4,272 | 1,909 |
| 2018 | 4,627 | 1,892 |
| 2019 | 4,592 | 2,049 |
| 2020 | 4,973 | 1,969 |
| 2021 | 4,192 | 1,965 |
| 2022 | 4,724 | 2,155 |
Bear harvest in 8J for 2025 was 1, or 0.1 per 100 square miles.
The bear objective DEC lists for 8J is to maintain infrequent bear presence.
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.
Sampson State Park game species
Expect white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese and furbearers on Sampson State Park.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Wild turkey
May 1–May 31
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Nov 1
Furbearers
Oct 25–Feb 15
Small game
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from NYS Parks sampson state park; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Waterfowl hunting on Sampson State Park
DEC's map of waterfowl hunting places shows Sampson State Park. The duck zone here is Western. For Canada geese it is in the West Central area.
| Name on the map | Owner | Type | Extra rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sampson State Park | NYSOPRHP | State Park | Yes |
The map adds: 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.
Maps and parking around Sampson State Park
Map in print form: Hunting Map · Hunting Map b/w · Waterfowl Hunting Map & Rules · Sampson State Park, Hunting Map B/W
Parking points and maps from NYS Parks sampson state park; checked October 27, 2026.
Sampson State Park and the public land around it
10 public places within 40 miles are pinned around Sampson State Park, starting with Bonavista State Park. Combined: 24,742 acres.
| Area | Category | Acreage | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonavista | State park | 250 | 8S | 4.9 mi | southeast |
| Willard | WMA | 439 | 8S | 5.7 mi | southeast |
| Deans Cove Boat Launch | Park boat launch | 9 | 8J | 7.2 mi | east |
| Seneca Lake | State park | 155 | 8J | 9.5 mi | north |
| Long Point State Park | State park | 253 | 7H | 11 mi | east |
| Canoga Marsh | WMA | 104 | 8J | 12 mi | northeast |
| Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area | Co-op area | 22,479 | 7H | 13 mi | east |
| Cayuga Lake | State park | 139 | 8J | 14 mi | northeast |
| Keuka Lake | State park | 632 | 8R | 16 mi | southwest |
| Cayuga Shores | WMA | 282 | 7H | 16 mi | southeast |
Points: NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer (hunting-area polygons) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest numbers for the towns under Sampson State Park
The 2025 deer take for Seneca County was 2,361.
| Year | Deer | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,734 | 823 | 714 |
| 2022 | 2,152 | 848 | 965 |
| 2023 | 1,921 | 862 | 764 |
| 2024 | 2,040 | 996 | 791 |
| 2025 | 2,361 | 1,079 | 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.
Sampson State Park trip planning
Penn Yan sits 9.0 mi from Sampson State Park, the shortest hop to a town.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Yan | Yates | 9.0 mi | 5,024 | 1,380 |
| Lodi | Seneca | 9.8 mi | 280 | 14,257 |
| Waterloo | Seneca | 12 mi | 4,722 | 8,592 |
| Cayuga | Cayuga | 16 mi | 541 | 11,296 |
Open the county guide for Sampson State Park: Seneca County.
Sampson State Park: businesses close by
Seneca County is home to 10 DEC-licensed guides (see DEC's guide list). DEC licensed guides
Sampson 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.
Sampson State Park and nearby events
Mentored pheasant hunt: 1 upcoming event, on site or a few miles off.
Still ahead
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2026 | South Seneca Sportsmens Club Pheasant Hunt · mentored pheasant hunt | 6 | South Seneca Sportsmens Club Ovid | Reserve a spot | Source |
Sampson State Park: nearest firing lines
MacDougall Sportsmen's Club, 8 miles away, is the nearest range to Sampson State Park; check its access rule before going.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Sampson State Park: first and last legal light
The DEC guide prints sunrise and sunset for Albany only. The times here are worked out for the centre of Sampson State Park and match the Albany table within four minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 6:59 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:03 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:30 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:06 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:30 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:38 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:03 a.m. | 8:06 p.m. | 5:33 a.m. to 8:36 p.m. | 5:33 a.m. to 8:06 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.
The look of Sampson State Park country
Sampson State Park questions, answered from the record
What is the bowhunting window on Sampson State Park?
Archery runs Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 to start.
What species go with Sampson State Park?
You will find white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, furbearers and small game on the list.
When does turkey season open on Sampson State Park?
Yes: May 1 to May 31, 2027, mornings only.
What are the bear dates for Sampson State Park?
WMU 8J is open for bears Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
Can I hunt ducks on Sampson State Park?
Duck split one runs Oct 10 to Nov 1, 2026 (Western Zone).
How far is Sampson State Park from a town?
Penn Yan is 9.0 mi away.
Is Sunday hunting allowed at Sampson State Park?
Check the permit and DEC's park list; some parks close Sundays.
Does the orange law apply on Sampson State Park?
During firearm deer and bear hunting, for you and anyone with you.
Is Sampson State Park open to public hunting?
Yes, with a park hunting permit, inside the mapped hunting areas only.
What does Sampson State Park measure?
The record lists 2,047 acres.
What zone and WMU is Sampson State Park?
The DEC WMU layer gives 8J (Southern Zone).
When does the regular deer season open on Sampson State Park?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 for the regular Season in WMU 8J.
Sampson State Park: confirm these before you go
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted areas on Sampson State Park.
Sources: NYS Parks sampson 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: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); cazalegg (CC BY 2.0); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).