New York hunting
Public hunting land in New York
Caliber maps 152 public hunting areas in New York, with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
New York · 152 areas
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 21,606 acres
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 19,592 acres
Finger Lakes National Forest
National forest · 16,389 acres
Connecticut Hill Wma
State wildlife area · 11,184 acres
Happy Valley Wma
State wildlife area · 8,904 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 152 by distance from you.
- 138
- State wildlife areas
- 1
- National forests
- 13
- National wildlife refuges
New York hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Phone
- 518-402-8843
- Resident license
- $22 — Annual Hunting License (resident, ages 16-69; covers small and big game)
- Nonresident license
- $100 — Annual Hunting License (nonresident, ages 16+; covers small and big game)
- Hunter education
- All first-time hunters must pass a hunter education course before they can get a New York hunting license.
- Good to know
- Bowhunting ($15/$30) and muzzleloading ($15/$30) privileges, turkey permit and Deer Management Permit ($10) are separate.
Fees and rules as published by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in New York
The 12 biggest of 152 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 21,606 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 19,592 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Finger Lakes National Forest | National forest | 16,389 | Open |
| Connecticut Hill Wma | State wildlife area | 11,184 | Open |
| Happy Valley Wma | State wildlife area | 8,904 | Open |
| Upper And Lower Lakes Wma | State wildlife area | 8,810 | Open |
| Perch River Wma | State wildlife area | 8,055 | Open |
| Littlejohn Wma | State wildlife area | 7,926 | Open |
| Northern Montezuma Wma | State wildlife area | 7,605 | Open |
| Bear Spring Mountain Wma | State wildlife area | 7,146 | Open |
| High Tor Wma | State wildlife area | 6,492 | Open |
| Lake Shore Marshes Wma | State wildlife area | 6,444 | Open |
State wildlife areas · 138
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National forests · 1
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws, except near developed sites and where posted. Some areas close for fire or wildlife.
National wildlife refuges · 13
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
New York hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in New York?
Caliber lists 152 public hunting areas in New York: 138 state wildlife areas, 1 national forests, 13 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in New York?
As published by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $22 — Annual Hunting License (resident, ages 16-69; covers small and big game); nonresident, $100 — Annual Hunting License (nonresident, ages 16+; covers small and big game). Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in New York?
All first-time hunters must pass a hunter education course before they can get a New York hunting license. Check New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in New York?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find New York hunting land near you
All 152 New York areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the managing agency before you hunt.
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