If you’ve been watching the calendar, the wait is just about over. Archery season for deer opens Sunday, September 27 across the Northern Zone — which includes all of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties — and runs through Friday, October 23.
That’s nearly a full month of early-season hunting before the firearms seasons start stacking up behind it: early muzzleloader runs October 17–23, and the regular firearms season opens Saturday, October 24 and runs through December 6.
A few practical reminders before you head out:
- Check your WMU. Season details and antler rules can vary by Wildlife Management Unit, so confirm yours on DEC’s site before opening day rather than assuming.
- Licenses and tags in order. Make sure your bowhunting privilege and tags are sorted now, not Saturday night.
- Report your harvest. DEC requires deer harvests to be reported — it’s quick online and it keeps the management data honest.
And if you don’t hunt but you hike, walk the dog, or ride the trails: bowhunters will be in the woods starting Sunday. A blaze orange hat or vest is cheap insurance, and it costs you nothing. Sharing the woods is a two-way street.
Full season dates and regulations are on DEC’s site — worth a bookmark if you haven’t already.
Sources:
- NYSDEC, Deer and Bear Hunting Seasons — https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/deer-bear/seasons
- NYSDEC, Hunting and Trapping Seasons — https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/seasons