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No season

New York Spruce Grouse status, 2026-27

No 2026-27 season for spruce grouse: what the rules say.

Details

None openSeason

No seasonKind

Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)

There is no spruce grouse season in the 2026-27 New York guide. Here is what DEC and the ECL say about spruce grouse.

How the guide sums up spruce grouse

What you may keep: Protected
Worth knowing: Endangered.

DEC guide page (as of Aug 24, 2026), checked October 27, 2026.

Spruce Grouse: no open season

Endangered; occurs in WMUs 5C, 5F, 6F, 6J; do not confuse with ruffed grouse.

Statute: Endangered/threatened species (11-0535): Up to $4,000 plus $700 per item (71-0925(13)).

DEC guide, ECL on the NY Senate site, checked October 27, 2026.

Spruce Grouse range and the open seasons there

Open rows in the 4 WMUs named for spruce grouse.

WMU	Species	Season	Dates
5C	White-tailed deer	Early Bowhunting	Sep 27–Oct 23
5C	White-tailed deer	Early Muzzleloading (deer of either sex)	Oct 17–Oct 23
5C	White-tailed deer	Regular Season	Oct 24–Dec 6
5C	White-tailed deer	Youth Firearms Deer Hunt	Oct 10–Oct 12
5C	Black bear	Regular Season (Adirondacks)	Sep 19–Dec 6
5C	Black bear	Youth Firearms Bear Hunt	Oct 10–Oct 12
5C	Wild turkey	Fall Season	Oct 1–Oct 14
5C	Wild turkey	Youth Spring Turkey Hunt	Apr 24–Apr 25
5C	Wild turkey	Spring Season	May 1–May 31
5C	Cottontail	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 21
5C	Snowshoe hare	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 21
5C	Gray squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
5C	Black squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
5C	Fox squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
5C	Pheasant	Regular Season (cocks and hens)	Oct 1–Feb 28
5C	Pheasant	Youth Pheasant Hunt	Sep 26–Sep 27
5C	Ruffed grouse	Hunting	Sep 20–Feb 28
5C	Coyote	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 28
5C	Raccoon	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5C	Red fox	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5C	Gray fox	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5C	Skunk	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5C	Opossum	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5C	Weasel	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5C	Bobcat	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5C	Woodcock	Hunting	Oct 1–Nov 14
5C	Snipe	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
5C	Rails	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
5C	Gallinule	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
5C	Crow	Hunting	Sep 1–Mar 31
5F	White-tailed deer	Early Bowhunting	Sep 27–Oct 23
5F	White-tailed deer	Early Muzzleloading (deer of either sex)	Oct 17–Oct 23
5F	White-tailed deer	Regular Season	Oct 24–Dec 6
5F	White-tailed deer	Youth Firearms Deer Hunt	Oct 10–Oct 12
5F	Black bear	Regular Season (Adirondacks)	Sep 19–Dec 6
5F	Black bear	Youth Firearms Bear Hunt	Oct 10–Oct 12
5F	Wild turkey	Fall Season	Oct 1–Oct 14
5F	Wild turkey	Youth Spring Turkey Hunt	Apr 24–Apr 25
5F	Wild turkey	Spring Season	May 1–May 31
5F	Cottontail	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 21
5F	Snowshoe hare	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 21
5F	Gray squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
5F	Black squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
5F	Fox squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
5F	Pheasant	Regular Season (cocks and hens)	Oct 1–Feb 28
5F	Pheasant	Youth Pheasant Hunt	Sep 26–Sep 27
5F	Ruffed grouse	Hunting	Sep 20–Feb 28
5F	Coyote	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 28
5F	Raccoon	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5F	Red fox	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5F	Gray fox	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5F	Skunk	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5F	Opossum	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5F	Weasel	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5F	Bobcat	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
5F	Woodcock	Hunting	Oct 1–Nov 14
5F	Snipe	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
5F	Rails	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
5F	Gallinule	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
5F	Crow	Hunting	Sep 1–Mar 31
6F	White-tailed deer	Early Bowhunting	Sep 27–Oct 23
6F	White-tailed deer	Early Muzzleloading (deer of either sex)	Oct 17–Oct 23
6F	White-tailed deer	Regular Season	Oct 24–Dec 6
6F	White-tailed deer	Youth Firearms Deer Hunt	Oct 10–Oct 12
6F	Black bear	Regular Season (Adirondacks)	Sep 19–Dec 6
6F	Black bear	Youth Firearms Bear Hunt	Oct 10–Oct 12
6F	Wild turkey	Fall Season	Oct 1–Oct 14
6F	Wild turkey	Youth Spring Turkey Hunt	Apr 24–Apr 25
6F	Wild turkey	Spring Season	May 1–May 31
6F	Cottontail	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 21
6F	Snowshoe hare	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 21
6F	Gray squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
6F	Black squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
6F	Fox squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
6F	Pheasant	Regular Season (cocks and hens)	Oct 1–Feb 28
6F	Pheasant	Youth Pheasant Hunt	Sep 26–Sep 27
6F	Ruffed grouse	Hunting	Sep 20–Feb 28
6F	Coyote	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 28
6F	Raccoon	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6F	Red fox	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6F	Gray fox	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6F	Skunk	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6F	Opossum	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6F	Weasel	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6F	Bobcat	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6F	Woodcock	Hunting	Oct 1–Nov 14
6F	Snipe	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
6F	Rails	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
6F	Gallinule	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
6F	Crow	Hunting	Sep 1–Mar 31
6J	White-tailed deer	Early Bowhunting	Sep 27–Oct 23
6J	White-tailed deer	Early Muzzleloading (deer of either sex)	Oct 17–Oct 23
6J	White-tailed deer	Regular Season	Oct 24–Dec 6
6J	White-tailed deer	Youth Firearms Deer Hunt	Oct 10–Oct 12
6J	Black bear	Regular Season (Adirondacks)	Sep 19–Dec 6
6J	Black bear	Youth Firearms Bear Hunt	Oct 10–Oct 12
6J	Wild turkey	Fall Season	Oct 1–Oct 14
6J	Wild turkey	Youth Spring Turkey Hunt	Apr 24–Apr 25
6J	Wild turkey	Spring Season	May 1–May 31
6J	Cottontail	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 21
6J	Snowshoe hare	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 21
6J	Gray squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
6J	Black squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
6J	Fox squirrel	Hunting	Sep 1–Feb 28
6J	Pheasant	Regular Season (cocks and hens)	Oct 1–Feb 28
6J	Pheasant	Youth Pheasant Hunt	Sep 26–Sep 27
6J	Ruffed grouse	Hunting	Sep 20–Feb 28
6J	Coyote	Hunting	Oct 1–Mar 28
6J	Raccoon	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6J	Red fox	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6J	Gray fox	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6J	Skunk	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6J	Opossum	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6J	Weasel	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6J	Bobcat	Hunting	Oct 25–Feb 15
6J	Woodcock	Hunting	Oct 1–Nov 14
6J	Snipe	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
6J	Rails	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
6J	Gallinule	Hunting	Sep 1–Nov 9
6J	Crow	Hunting	Sep 1–Mar 31

DEC guide, checked October 27, 2026.

Spruce Grouse among closed species

Species	Rule
All wildlife not listed as game or unprotected (songbirds, hawks, owls, endangered species)	Fully protected; may not be taken.
Gray wolf	Endangered in NY; very rare (3 confirmed in 25 years incl. one shot by a coyote hunter in 2021). Canines over 4.5 ft/50 lb in traps: call DEC law enforcement before dispatching.
Spruce grouse	Endangered; occurs in WMUs 5C, 5F, 6F, 6J; do not confuse with ruffed grouse.
Bear cubs, bears in groups, denned bears (Southern Zone)	May not be shot in the Southern Zone; bear under 1 year illegal (ECL 71-0921(2)).
Native snakes, lizards and salamanders; all turtles except snapping turtle; diamondback terrapin	No take or possession.
Northern cricket frog and eastern spadefoot toad; leopard frogs in 1A, 1C, 2A	No take.
Clapper and king rails	Closed.
Mourning dove, sandhill crane, swans	No season in New York.
Moose, elk, caribou	Big game with no open season; report moose sightings.
Eurasian boar and hybrids	Hunting, trapping or taking free-ranging boar is illegal (eradication program); report sightings.
Bald and golden eagles	ECL 11-0537; class B/A misdemeanor (ECL 71-0921(11)).

From the DEC guide and ECL 11-0535 and 11-0537, checked October 27, 2026.

What you can hunt instead of spruce grouse

Species	Season	Where	Dates
Ruffed Grouse	Hunting	Northern Zone and 7A	Sep 20–Feb 28
Ruffed Grouse	Hunting	Rest of upstate	Oct 1–Feb 28
American Woodcock	Hunting	Upstate New York and Long Island	Oct 1–Nov 14
Snowshoe Hare	Hunting	Northern Zone	Oct 1–Mar 21
Snowshoe Hare	Hunting	Southern Zone central/east	Dec 14–Feb 28
Snowshoe Hare	Hunting	Southwestern WMUs	Jan 1–Jan 31
American Marten	Trapping	Central Adirondacks	Dec 1–Dec 31

DEC guide, checked October 27, 2026.

Questions about spruce grouse

Can a DEC permit open spruce grouse hunting?

No license, privilege or permit in the 2026-27 fee table covers spruce grouse.

What should grouse hunters in the Adirondacks know?

WMUs 5C, 5F, 6F and 6J. Ruffed grouse season is open there from Sept. 20, so identify the bird before shooting.

What is the legal status of spruce grouse?

Endangered; occurs in WMUs 5C, 5F, 6F, 6J; do not confuse with ruffed grouse. No dates exist for spruce grouse.

What else is off the calendar besides spruce grouse?

Moose, Mourning Dove, Sandhill Crane, Clapper and King Rails, Eurasian Boar and Gray Wolf; each has its own page here.

What fine applies to taking spruce grouse?

Endangered/threatened species (11-0535): Up to $4,000 plus $700 per item (71-0925(13)).

Can you hunt spruce grouse in New York?

Not in 2026-27. Endangered; occurs in WMUs 5C, 5F, 6F, 6J; do not confuse with ruffed grouse.

Are spruce grouse open on refuges or state forests?

No. With no season, spruce grouse cannot be taken on state land or anywhere else.

What open seasons are close to spruce grouse?

Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, Snowshoe Hare and American Marten; each has its own page with dates and limits.

How current is this spruce grouse page?

From the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide and the ECL sections linked on this page, checked October 27, 2026.

Other photos on this page: tuchodi (CC BY 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); DenaliNPS (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).