Hunting Season 2004-2005

New York and New Jersey have announced their hunting schedules for large game and times when firearms are permitted. We strongly urge hikers to wear safety orange clothing during these times. There are also small game seasons which are less dangerous but hikers should still be aware and consider wearing safety orange. Dates listed are inclusive.

Links to State Sites

• NYSDEC - Hunting
• NYSDEC - Hunting Seasons
• NYSDEC - Special Regulations for Long Island
• Hunting in New Jersey 
• NJ - Full deer hunting season by zones PDF file
• NJ - Bear Season
• White-tailed Deer Information Web Pages 
• NJ Fish and Wildlife

New York - Southern Zone (including Catskills - South Taconics)

Deer

Archery: Oct. 15 - Nov. 21, Dec. 14-19
Archery (Westchester Co. only): Nov. 1-Dec. 31
Firearms: Nov. 22- Dec. 14
Muzzleloaders: Dec. 10-16

Bear (Catskills)

Archery: Oct. 15 - Nov. 21, Dec. 15-19
Firearms: Nov. 27 - Dec. 14
Muzzleloaders: Dec. 15-19

Hunting is not allowed in Bear Mountain-Harriman State Parks. However, it is allowed in parts of Minnewaska  and Sterling Forest State Parks. Contact (845- 786-2701 for more details about hunting in these parks.

Black Rock Forest closes to hikers from Nov. 22 to Dec. 14 inclusive, including that portion of the Highlands Trail in the Forest. For details, call 845-534-4517. 

Schunemunk is open and hunting is not allowed on OSI (former Mountainville Conservancy) lands, but, again, we advise extra caution in that area. 

Hubbard-Perkins obeys the same rules as Fahnestock (archery only) but has a long history of hunting so use extra caution. Limited hunting is allowed on the private inholding (parts of the Perkins Trail).

Parts of Minnewaska allow hunting.

For more information about the New York hunting schedules, call the Office of Parks & Recreation, (518) 474-0456, or the hunting, fishing and game licensing/sales office (518) 457-3521.

NYSDEC - Hunting  NYSDEC - Hunting Seasons

New Jersey

New Jersey has very complicated hunting seasons that vary depending on the location and kind of weapon permit. Hunting is not allowed on Sundays in New Jersey. Most of Ramapo Mountain State Forest is closed to hunting. For more information about the New Jersey hunting season, call (609) 292-6685 (M-F) or (908) 637-4125 (Any day). Here are the dates that cover all the zones - not all dates apply in any given zone. See Full deer hunting season by zones (PDF) for zone specific dates.

Deer

Archery: Sept. 11 - Dec. 24, Dec. 27-31, Jan. 1 - Jan. 31, 2005 (exclude Dec. 25)
Firearms: Dec. 6 - Dec. 11
Shotgun: Nov. 22-24, 26, Dec. 6-11, 15-17, Jan. 3- Feb. 12, 2005
Muzzleloaders: Dec. 1, 2, 15, 16, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31 and Jan. 1 - Jan. 31, 2005

Bear

No bear this year.

Hunting in New Jersey NJ - Full deer hunting season by zones NJ Fish and Wildlife

High Point State Park

High Point typically has it own closing days. Consult the park.

Folks wanting more information on these seasons should call the park office at 973-875-4800.

V3 Last updated: February 7, 2005   Copyright © 1996-2008  New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Privacy Statement.