New York

Adirondack wilderness tracking, prolific Western NY agricultural deer herds, and Finger Lakes waterfowl.

Public Access & WMAs

Public Lands to Hunt in New York

Official Regulatory Authority

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) manages more than 4 million acres of public land open to hunting, anchored by the iconic 3-million-acre state Forest Preserve in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, over 780,000 acres of reforestation State Forests, and 200,000+ acres across 130 designated Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). From tracking heavy-bodied big-woods whitetail bucks across wilderness peaks to mallards over the Finger Lakes and marsh shoots on Lake Ontario, the Empire State offers premier sporting variety.

Adirondack Park Forever Wild | 2,600,000 Public Acres

Adirondack Forest Preserve & High Peaks

Protected under the New York State Constitution as "Forever Wild." Vast tracts of remote boreal spruce-fir forest, northern hardwood ridges (maple, beech, birch), and pristine glacial wilderness lakes offer classic North Country wilderness tracking for trophy whitetail bucks, black bear, snowshoe hare, and ruffed grouse.

Catskill Mountain Hardwoods | 300,000 Public Acres

Catskill Forest Preserve & Rip Van Winkle Country

Located in Ulster, Greene, Delaware, and Sullivan counties, within a short drive of the New York metro region. Steep, rugged mountain summits, deep hardwood hollows, and hemlock-shaded trout streams provide high-quality public hunting for black bear, whitetail deer, and wild turkey.

Central Lakes & Waterfowl Marshes | 25,000+ Acres Combined

Finger Lakes National Forest & Montezuma Complex

Finger Lakes National Forest (16,212 acres) between Seneca and Cayuga lakes is New York's only national forest, featuring pastoral grasslands, brushlands, and hardwoods. The Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (10,000+ acres) along the Atlantic Flyway provides world-class public waterfowl hunting and trophy archery deer.

Tug Hill Plateau & St. Lawrence Valley | 120,000+ Acres

Northern Hardwoods & Tug Hill State Forests

Located in Oswego, Lewis, Oneida, and Jefferson counties. Known for massive winter lake-effect snowfalls, dense cedar swamps, and northern hardwood plateaus offering untamed public hunting for snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, black bear, and whitetail deer.

Southern Tier Forest & Hill Country | 20,000+ Acres Combined

Pharsalia & Upper Susquehanna WMAs

Pharsalia WMA (4,689 acres) in Chenango County was New York's first state game refuge, established in 1926. Features rolling transition forest, pine plantations, and wetland bogs providing exceptional public deer, wild turkey, and woodcock hunting across the Southern Tier.