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WMA · Region 4
Stockport Flats: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wma in Columbia County, 478 acres.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Stockport Flats
Where Stockport Flats is and who runs it
Stockport Flats sits in Columbia County, filed as a DEC wildlife management area. Its towns are Stuyvesant and Stockport. Region 4 of DEC covers it, along with the rest of the Capital District and northern Catskills. 478 acres are on record from DEC Lands layer ACRES. Sorted by acreage, the 119 WMAs put it 66th.
The property page says: Hunt in season with a valid state license except in Hudson River Islands State Park, where hunting is not allowed.
From DEC stockport flats; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Stockport Flats
Stockport Flats pinned with nearby tracts
The nearest public land to Stockport Flats is Vosburgh Swamp WMA, 0.7 mi away to the northwest. Combined: 2,340 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vosburgh Swamp | WMA | 311 | 4S | 0.7 mi | northwest |
| Stockport | WMA | 354 | 4T | 1.2 mi | southeast |
| Hudson River Islands | State park | 180 | 4T | 2.1 mi | north |
| Charles Flood WMA At | WMA | 590 | 4T | 2.2 mi | north |
| New Baltimore | Detached parcel | 78 | 4S | 5.6 mi | north |
| Rogers Island | WMA | 322 | 4T, 4Y | 6.1 mi | southwest |
| Athens | Detached parcel | 81 | 4S | 6.6 mi | west |
| Livingston | State forest | 319 | 4Y | 8.7 mi | south |
| Coxsackie | Detached parcel | 33 | 4S | 9.6 mi | northwest |
| Seward's Island | WMA | 72 | 3J, 4Y | 11 mi | southwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Stockport Flats regulations, plainly
Part 51 of 6 NYCRR lays out what is allowed on Stockport Flats:
- Target shooting on Stockport Flats is banned unless a posted range allows it.
- Written permission from DEC comes before any camp.
- Vehicles leave the roads only where a permit or posting allows.
- No cutting vegetation and no permanent structures, blinds, stands or hardware in trees.
- Only labeled stands (name and address or DEC ID) may stay on Stockport Flats overnight, and they come out at season end; other gear leaves with you.
- Signs reading "No Trespassing" close those parts without written permission.
- Overnight mooring is banned and fires serve only cooking or warmth.
State law reminders for Stockport Flats
- 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 DEC stockport flats, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 4T facts for Stockport Flats
The WMU map puts Stockport Flats in 4T; 4T spans 132 square miles of Columbia and Rensselaer. DEC set a 2026 target of 3,900 Deer Management Permits for 4T; average DMP success there runs 6.1%, and a resident's first DMP chance is rated high. Southern Zone bear rules cover 4T. The fall turkey window for 4T is Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Deer zone | DMP goal | Success rate | Odds (resident) | APR | Implements | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4T | Southern | 3,900 | 6.1% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer take in WMU 4T
4T yielded 595 deer in 2022; the WMU tables stop at 2022.
| Year | Total | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 886 | 382 |
| 2017 | 767 | 292 |
| 2018 | 769 | 340 |
| 2019 | 676 | 333 |
| 2020 | 839 | 374 |
| 2021 | 480 | 214 |
| 2022 | 595 | 274 |
The 2025 bear harvest in 4T came to 1.
DEC's bear plan for 4T reads "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.
Every season window on Stockport Flats
32 species have open dates on Stockport Flats this license year; the table holds 47 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Getting into Stockport Flats: parking and maps
Park at one of the 3 access points DEC gives for Stockport Flats.
| Access and location | Map |
|---|---|
| in the Nutten Hook part of the property: 42.3543, -73.7874 | Open map |
| in the Nutten Hook part of the property: 42.3583, -73.7873 | Open map |
| in the southern part of the property: 42.3103, -73.7719 | Open map |
Map download: View the Stockport Flats Map · DECinfo Locator · Stockport Flats Map (PDF)
Accessible facilities: From the Nutten Hook-Ferry Road Parking Area on Hudson River , wheelchair accessible features include the: Fishing/viewing platform From the Nutten Hook Icehouse Historic Site Parking Area , wheelchair accessible features include the: Picnic pavilion; and Portable toilet (seasonal)
Parking points and maps from DEC stockport flats; checked October 27, 2026.
Stockport Flats: town and county harvest
DEC's last take-by-town table (2019) credits the town of Stuyvesant with 129 deer, 68 of them adult bucks.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuyvesant | Columbia | 168 | 157 | 140 | 128 | 129 | 68 |
| Stockport | Columbia | 101 | 68 | 79 | 50 | 70 | 32 |
Bears reported by town: Stuyvesant 1 in 2022.
Columbia County deer, 2025: 2,872.
| Year | County deer | Adult bucks | Adult 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.
Stockport Flats hunting-hour table
Sun times below are calculated for Stockport Flats; 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 | 6:46 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.
Stockport Flats: nearby towns and services
Hudson is the nearest town with its own page, 3.6 mi from Stockport Flats.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson | Columbia | 3.6 mi | 5,735 | 2,490 |
| Catskill | Greene | 7.4 mi | 3,723 | 6,441 |
| Chatham | Columbia | 10.0 mi | 1,547 | 5,146 |
| Copake Lake | Columbia | 14 mi | – | 1,730 |
Stockport Flats falls inside these county guides: Columbia County.
Stockport Flats: businesses close by
8 licensed guides are registered in Columbia County, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Stockport Flats
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.
Nearest public range for Stockport Flats hunters
From Stockport Flats, Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range is the nearest DEC or government-run range (27 miles). Nearby rod and gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Stockport Flats in pictures
Stockport Flats: short answers
How long is spring turkey on Stockport Flats?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, with shooting until noon.
When does bear hunting open near Stockport Flats?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
Which town page is closest to Stockport Flats?
Hudson, about 3.6 mi away.
What are the stand rules on Stockport Flats?
No permanent stands or screw-in steps; a labeled portable stand may stay during the season.
What colors are required at Stockport Flats in gun season?
Orange or pink, 250 square inches, when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
What time does hunting end at Stockport Flats?
Big game ends 30 minutes after sunset; upland birds at sunset.
How does access work on Stockport Flats?
No special permit is listed; a valid license and the open seasons are what count.
What does Stockport Flats measure?
About 478 acres by the source used here.
Which WMU rules apply on Stockport Flats?
WMU 4T, in the Southern Zone.
When does the main deer season run on Stockport Flats?
WMU 4T: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
When can I bowhunt deer on Stockport Flats?
Bowhunting opens Oct 1, 2026 (WMU 4T).
What are the DMP odds near Stockport Flats?
Resident first-permit odds in 4T are high; the target is 3,900.
Stockport Flats: what to double-check
After a deer, bear or turkey on Stockport Flats, report it: paper tags within 48 hours, e-tags right away in HuntFishNY.
Sources: DEC stockport flats · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0).