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WMA · 2026-27
Stockport Wildlife Management Area hunting rules, seasons and access
WMA of 354 acres in Columbia County, hunted under WMU 4T dates, for white-tailed deer, ducks and geese and ring-necked pheasant.
Photo: andyarthur (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Stockport Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Stockport Wildlife Management Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Murderers Creek Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 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.
Stockport WMA at a glance
Hunters find Stockport Wildlife Management Area, a DEC wildlife management area, in Columbia County. DEC places it in the towns of Greenport and Stockport. In DEC terms it belongs to Region 4, which spans the Capital District and northern Catskills. The acreage used here is 354, taken from DEC Lands layer ACRES. It is number 75 by size out of 119 WMAs. DEC plans it under the Stockport HMP unit management plan.
Hunting section, quoted: Pheasants are released in the fall to provide hunting opportunity for this popular upland game bird. White tailed deer, waterfowl, and a variety of small game species offer ample hunting and trapping opportunities.
From DEC stockport wildlife management area; acreage DEC Lands layer ACRES (sum of the matched facility polygons); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Stockport Wildlife Management Area
Stockport WMA: access and site rules
Stockport WMA is run under the wildlife management area rules in 6 NYCRR Part 51:
- No target practice on Stockport WMA except where DEC posts that it is allowed.
- No camping without a written OK from DEC.
- Off-road vehicles are allowed only by permit or posting.
- Vegetation stays uncut, and permanent blinds, stands or tree hardware are not allowed.
- Personal property, trail cameras among it, must leave with you; a marked stand can stay for the season.
- Stay out of any section posted "No Trespassing" unless DEC gives written approval.
- Keep fires small and for cooking or heat; boats leave at night.
Laws every Stockport WMA 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.
From DEC stockport wildlife management area, DEC Places to Hunt, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Stockport WMA: dates by species
Dates below apply to the WMU and zones under Stockport WMA (4T); trapping and falconry rows sit on the species pages.
| Game | Season type | Area | Begins | Through | Right 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.
Stockport WMA and WMU 4T: permits, antlers and harvest
For tags and dates, Stockport WMA is WMU 4T ground (Southern Zone, 132 sq. mi. across Columbia and Rensselaer). The 2026 DMP target in 4T is 3,900, with 6.1% average success and high odds for a resident first permit. Bear area: Southern Zone. Fall turkey here: Oct. 17-30.
| Unit | Zone | Permits | Success | Res. 1st DMP | Antler points | Deer hunting | Bear | Fall turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4T | Southern | 3,900 | 6.1% | high | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
WMU 4T deer harvest by year
WMU tables give 4T 595 deer for 2022, the last year DEC published by unit.
| Year | Total deer | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 886 | 382 |
| 2017 | 767 | 292 |
| 2018 | 769 | 340 |
| 2019 | 676 | 333 |
| 2020 | 839 | 374 |
| 2021 | 480 | 214 |
| 2022 | 595 | 274 |
Recent bear numbers for 4T: 2022: 0, 2023: 4, 2024: 5, 2025: 1.
Objective for bears 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.
Stockport WMA: species list
Hunters come to Stockport WMA for white-tailed deer, ducks and geese and ring-necked pheasant above all.
White-tailed deer
Nov 21–Dec 13
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Oct 18
Ring-necked pheasant
Oct 1–Feb 28
Small game
Oct 1–Feb 28
Species from DEC stockport wildlife management area; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Stockport WMA: DEC pheasant release site
Expect stocked birds: DEC plans 4 releases and 471 pheasants on Stockport WMA this fall.
| Site | Property type | Town | Fields (ac) | Type | Events | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockport WMA | Public – special rules | Stockport | 154 | Youth, regular | 4 | 471 |
| Stocking week | Pheasants |
|---|---|
| 09/21 | 110 |
| 09/28 | 95 |
| 10/05 | 66 |
| 10/12 | 59 |
| 10/19 | 51 |
| 10/26 | 45 |
| 11/02 | 45 |
| NA | – |
Special rule: Respect the no discharge areas and nearby residences
DEC pheasant hunting and the 2026 DEC pheasant properties layer; checked October 27, 2026. All pheasant release sites.
Stockport WMA: a DEC waterfowl place
The DEC waterfowl mapper includes Stockport WMA. Southeastern duck zone. It lies in the Hudson Valley Canada goose area.
| Property | Owner | Property type | Special rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockport WMA | NYSDEC | WMA | Yes |
Note on the DEC map: Not all units open to hunting. See WMA webpage for details.
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026. Waterfowl zones.
Stockport WMA access points
The DEC directions name 1 place to leave a truck at Stockport WMA.
| Parking or access point and coordinates | Link |
|---|---|
| Rod and Gun Road: 42.2915, -73.7651 | Navigate |
Official map sheet: Stockport WMA Map
Open Stockport WMA in DECinfo Locator
Parking points and maps from DEC stockport wildlife management area; checked October 27, 2026.
Stockport WMA pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Stockport WMA and 10 neighbors; Stockport Flats sits 1.2 mi off. The tracts listed total 2,464 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | WMU | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockport Flats | WMA | 478 | 4T | 1.2 mi | northwest |
| Vosburgh Swamp | WMA | 311 | 4S | 1.9 mi | northwest |
| Charles Flood WMA At | WMA | 590 | 4T | 3.2 mi | north |
| Hudson River Islands | State park | 180 | 4T | 3.2 mi | north |
| Rogers Island | WMA | 322 | 4T, 4Y | 5.7 mi | southwest |
| New Baltimore | Detached parcel | 78 | 4S | 6.8 mi | north |
| Athens | Detached parcel | 81 | 4S | 7.2 mi | west |
| Livingston | State forest | 319 | 4Y | 8.1 mi | southwest |
| Seward's Island | WMA | 72 | 3J, 4Y | 11 mi | southwest |
| Coxsackie | Detached parcel | 33 | 4S | 11 mi | northwest |
Points: DEC Lands layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest records behind Stockport WMA
The town of Greenport, where Stockport WMA lies, produced 50 deer in 2019 by DEC's calculation.
| Town | County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Adult bucks 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenport | Columbia | 84 | 86 | 80 | 73 | 50 | 32 |
| Stockport | Columbia | 101 | 68 | 79 | 50 | 70 | 32 |
DEC bear tables list 1 for Greenport (2020), 1 for Greenport (2021).
DEC puts the 2025 Columbia County deer take at 2,872.
| Season | Deer taken | Males 1.5+ | Females 1.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 WMA: nearby towns and services
Closest base: Hudson, about 2.8 mi away.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson | Columbia | 2.8 mi | 5,735 | 2,490 |
| Catskill | Greene | 7.1 mi | 3,723 | 6,441 |
| Chatham | Columbia | 9.8 mi | 1,547 | 5,146 |
| Copake Lake | Columbia | 13 mi | – | 1,730 |
Season tables by county for Stockport WMA: Columbia County.
Stockport WMA: businesses close by
For a guided hunt, DEC's list shows 8 licensed guides in Columbia County. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Stockport WMA
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 Wildlife Management Area hunters
Black Creek Marsh WMA Archery Range, 28 miles off, is the public range nearest Stockport Wildlife Management Area. Closer club ranges are shown as well.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Stockport WMA 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 Stockport WMA.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 WMA in pictures
Answers on Stockport WMA access and seasons
When is bear season at Stockport WMA?
Yes: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (WMU 4T).
When is spring turkey season at Stockport WMA?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, half an hour before sunrise to noon.
When are pheasants stocked at Stockport WMA?
DEC plans 471 birds here in 2026.
What zone sets duck dates for Stockport WMA?
Southeastern Zone dates, starting Oct 10, 2026.
How does access work on Stockport WMA?
Yes, with a New York hunting license during the open seasons.
How far is Stockport WMA from a town?
Hudson, about 2.8 mi away.
Which WMU rules apply on Stockport WMA?
Southern Zone, WMU 4T.
Is Stockport WMA a large property?
354 acres, per the record.
When can I bowhunt deer on Stockport WMA?
Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026 for early Bowhunting.
How long is deer season at Stockport WMA?
It opens Nov 21, 2026 and closes Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
What game does the source list for Stockport WMA?
White-tailed deer, ducks and geese, ring-necked pheasant and small game.
Are antlerless permits issued for Stockport WMA?
Yes. DMPs are issued by WMU, and 4T gets 3,900 in 2026.
Stockport WMA: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Stockport WMA can change mid-season; DEC notices and posted signs have the final word.
Sources: DEC stockport wildlife management area · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC · DEC GIS · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0); andyarthur (CC BY 2.0).