November Brings Hunting Season Excitement Across New York

Beginning Saturday, November 15, 2025, the most popular big game hunting season begins in New York State. Welcome to regular Deer and Bear Season in the Empire State.

The season runs through December 7, 2025. New York State wants all hunters to take steps for their safety and take precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of deer diseases.

This November, hundreds of thousands of big game hunters will head afield to enjoy the outdoors and a chance to harvest deer or bear in New York's Southern Zone. As stewards of hunting traditions and New York’s deer population, all hunters should keep their conservation responsibilities as a top priority while enjoying time afield. Foremost among these responsibilities are following safe hunting practices and protecting the health of New York State’s deer population by harvesting antlerless deer and preventing the spread of deer diseases such as CWD. - New York State DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton

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Big Game Hunter Safety Tips And Reminders

Don't take Hunter safety for granted. Here are some tips from the New York State DEC:

• Daily hunting hours for deer and bear begin 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Check the sunrise and sunset times before hunting each day.
• Hunters must wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing (either a hat, vest, or jacket which are visible in all directions) when pursuing deer or bear with a firearm.
• Point your gun in a safe direction.
• Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
• Be sure of your target and beyond.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

Help Prevent Deer Chronic Wasting Disease From Spreading

In 2024, there was an isolated detection of CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) in southern Herkimer County, so the NYS DEC continues to monitor the region.

According to the DEC, in cooperation with landowners, hunters, taxidermists, and processors, they tested samples from just under 200 wild deer and found that CWD was not detected in samples. Sampling will continue this year and in future years.

Successful deer hunters in the Herkimer Counties of Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren, or Winfield, or the Otsego County town of Richfield, are asked to submit the deer’s head for CWD testing. There are eight drop-off locations. For those locations and instructions, visit the NYS DEC website.

So much more great information about this big game hunting is available on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website. Check it out and happy hunting!