Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge hunting rules, seasons and access

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR: access and site rules

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR entry and permit terms

• Hunting only in designated hunt units under 50 CFR 32.51(h) and New York regulations.
• (h) Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge.
• (1)-(2) [Reserved] (3) Big game hunting.
• We allow hunting of black bear, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions: (i) Hunters must purchase and possess a signed refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System) at all times while scouting and hunting on the refuge.
• (ii) You may hunt black bear, wild turkey, and deer using archery equipment only.
• (iii) We prohibit organized deer drives.
• We define a “deer drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer.
• (iv) Hunters may enter the refuge 2 hours before legal shooting time and leave no later than 2 hours after legal shooting time.
• (4) [Reserved]

Laws every Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 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.

Federal cite for these hunts: 50 CFR 32.51(h).

From eCFR section 32.51, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR and WMU 3J: permits, antlers and harvest

For tags and dates, Shawangunk Grasslands NWR is WMU 3J ground (Southern Zone, 356 sq. mi. across Ulster, Greene and Orange). The 2026 DMP target in 3J is 6,400, with 7.7% average success and high odds for a resident first permit. Bucks in 3J must show 3 or more points on one antler, except for junior hunters. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.

WMU 3J deer harvest by year

WMU tables give 3J 1,235 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.

Recent bear numbers for 3J: 2022: 20, 2023: 21, 2024: 18, 2025: 23.

Objective for bears in 3J: 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.

Harvest records behind Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

DEC puts the 2025 Ulster County deer take at 3,423.

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.

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 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 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR.

Coyote hunting is open at any hour; raccoon and fox after sunrise on opening day, then any hour.

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.

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR alternatives nearby

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR: what to double-check

Seasons and closures on Shawangunk Grasslands NWR can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.

Sources: eCFR section 32.51 · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · USFWS shawangunk grasslands · USFWS hunting; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.