ALBANY, NY (November 15, 2025) — New York’s regular firearms season for deer and bear hunting opens Saturday, Nov. 15, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 7, marking the state’s most popular big game hunting period.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation reminded hunters that most hunting-related injuries occur when climbers enter or exit tree stands. Officials urged hunters to “Strap Up Before You Go Up” and stay connected to a safety harness from the moment they leave the ground until they return.
Safety guidelines include reading the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings before using a tree stand, checking all stands—including straps and chains—before every season, replacing any worn or missing parts, and never climbing with a loaded firearm.
Daily hunting hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and hunters must check sunrise and sunset times each day. Fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing—a hat, vest, or jacket visible from all directions—is required when pursuing deer or bear with a firearm.
Basic firearm safety rules remain in effect: point the gun in a safe direction, treat every gun as if it were loaded, be sure of the target and what is beyond it, and keep the finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
For the 2025-26 Southern Zone regular season, DEC recommends choosing non-lead ammunition to reduce lead exposure risk to hunters and non-target wildlife. Back tags are no longer required anywhere in the state.
Hunters using paper carcass tags must protect their license and tags, fill out, date, sign, and attach the tags to the animal as required, and store completed tags in waterproof protection.
The agency directed hunters to the 2025-2026 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide for full regulations and open areas.
Amid warnings that nearly 3 million New Yorkers could lose federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in November, DEC is encouraging hunters to donate harvested deer through the Venison Donation Program.
Each year the program, in partnership with Feeding New York State, distributes 50,000 to 70,000 pounds of venison to food pantries and banks.
Hunters can drop off legally harvested, tagged, and reported deer at participating processors after calling ahead and completing the processor’s donation log sheet. DEC and Feeding New York State cover processing costs while funding lasts. Those without a deer to donate can contribute financially through the “Donations” link on the DEC Automated Licensing System page or when purchasing a hunting license.
More information is available on the DEC website.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.