New York bear season 2026: dates and free maps
Season dates
Southern Zone early bear season: Saturday, September 12 to Sunday, September 27, 2026
WMUs 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, 4R and 4W. Firearms, crossbows or vertical bows.
Source: New York State DEC
Northern Zone: Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, December 6, 2026
Regular firearms Sept. 19-Dec. 6 in WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H and 6J. In WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K and 6N: early bowhunting Sept. 19-Oct. 23, early muzzleloading Oct. 17-23, regular firearms Oct. 24-Dec. 6.
Source: New York State DEC
Southern Zone early bowhunting: Thursday, October 1 to Friday, November 20, 2026
Throughout most of the Southern Zone. DEC posts the Southern Zone regular and late season dates in its regulations guide.
Source: New York State DEC
Checked on the agency's site November 6, 2026. Licenses, units, bag limits and shooting hours differ, and dates can vary by unit: the regulations are what count, so read them before you go.
Legal shooting hours for big game in New York, generally: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Bear country is big timber and steep ground, usually with no signal. Download the maps for your spot ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can stay on public ground, find your stand or bait site and get back out after dark.
Free public land maps in New York
Before you go
Cartahaven is not affiliated with or endorsed by New York State DEC. Season dates come from the agency pages linked above.