Hunting on Long Island

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Long Island’s greatest assets are the region's natural resources, including bountiful wildlife for hunting. Believe it or not, Long Island still offers opportunities for waterfowl, small and big game hunting.  

There are various small game seasons available on Long Island. Pheasant and quail hunting traditionally lasts for two-months at the end of the year. Permits for hunting squirrels and cottontail rabbits are usually valid from November through February. Various special seasons are opened throughout the year for woodcock, crow, and other small game, each offering different bag limits. For the 2016-2017 season, rabbits, squirrels, and quails are limited to a daily bag of 6, and quails have a season limit of 40. Pheasants have a daily bag limit of 2 for youth hunts, 4 for adult hunts, and 30 for the season.
 
According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, Long Island is home to the state’s majority of wintering waterfowl. There are at least 28 species of ducks and geese present on Long Island, including mallards, pintail, widgeon, gadwall and green-winged teal, and various seasons normally last from October to February.  
 
Big game hunting on Long Island is dominated by those seeking out white-tailed deer, though fox, turkey, and other moderately sized animals are also available for hunting. Populations of deer are spread across eastern Suffolk County, and have grown so much in past years that they have been seen in portions of Nassau County as well! Regular and bowhunting season typically lasts from October through December, while special firearms are more restricted. In 2015 hunters on Long Island took in 3,397 deer. 1,110 where through bowhunting, 1,869 were through DMP, and 163 where through DMAP.
 
Public hunting areas on Long Island are managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation, and require access permits for usage. Hunters within the Rocky Point Natural Resources Management Area as well as parts of Otis Pike Preserve are required to obtain daily access permits during Suffolk County’s January open season.  Access permits are free of charge.
 
Deer Management Permits (DMPs) applications are  typically due by October 1st of each year. If permits remain after the initial applicaiton period, an extended application period begins on or around November 1st of each year. These special permits allow hunters to harvest antlerless deer in cases of overpopulation. Right now only Suffolk County is still taking applications.
 
Don't forget to call in or go online to report your game harvest!
 
The following is a list of public hunting areas on Long Island:
 
Barcelona Neck - Route 114, offering 500 acres of coastal habitat and pine barrens, ideal for waterfowl, small and big game hunting.
 
David A. Sarnoff Pine Barrens Preserve - County Road104, offering 2,700 acres of mixed oak and pine woodland, ideal for small and big game hunting.
 
East Hampton Cooperative Area - Rt. 27 in the Town of East Hampton, offering 4,000 acres of coastal habitat and pine barrens including Napeague, Hither Hills and Montauk state parks, as well as portions of town and county land, ideal for waterfowl, small and big game hunting.
 
Otis Pike Preserve - Schultz Road and County Road 51 in Eastport, offering 5,400 acres of mixed oak, pine barrens, and open habitat along the Peconic River, ideal for waterfowl, small and big game hunting, with stocked pheasants.  
 
Rocky Point Natural Resources Management Area - County Road 21 in Rocky Point, offering 5,700 acres of oak-pine forest and fields, ideal for small and big game hunting, with stocked pheasants.  
 
Westhampton Management Area - Stewart Avenue in Westhampton, offering 20 acres of dwarf pitch pine and scrub oak, ideal for small and big game hunting.
 
West Tiana Cooperative Hunting Area - Bellows Pond Road, offering 250 acres, ideal for small and big game hunting.
 
Tidal Wetland Areas - ideal for waterfowling, with some small game and archery opportunities:
  • Timper Point
  • Bellport Bay and Fireplace Neck
  • John’s Neck Creek 
  • Havens Point
  • Long Beach Bay 

Wildlife Hunting Seasons

Large Game 2016-2017 Season

  Deer Season Turkey Season Weasel, Opossum, Raccoon, Skunk, & Fox
Suffolk

Oct. 1 - Jan. 31 (Bowhunting Only)
Oct. 1 - Oct. 15 (Antlerless Only [bow])
Dec. 14 - Dec. 22 (Antlerless Only [bow])
Jan. 1 - Jan. 31 (Special Firearms Season - Permit Req)

Fall: Nov. 19 - Dec. 2

Spring: May 1 - 31
&
April 22 - 23 for Youth Hunt

Nov. 1 - Feb. 25
Nassau None None Nov. 1 - Feb. 25

Small Game 2016-2017 Seasons

  Cottontail Rabbit Gray, Black, & Fox Squirrel Pheasant Bobwhite Quail Woodcock Crow (Fri. - Mon. Only)
Suffolk Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
(Daily Bag Limit 6)
Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
(Daily Bag Limit 6)

Nov. 1 - Dec. 31

(Hens illegal to hunt east of Shinnecock Canal & Inlet
(Daily Bag Limit 4, Season Limit 30)

Nov. 1 - Dec. 31
(Daily Bag Limit 6, Seaon Limit 40)
Oct. 1 - Nov. 14 Sept. 1 - Mar. 31
Nassau Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
(Daily Bag Limit 6)
Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
(Daily Bag Limit 6)
Nov. 1 - Dec. 31
(Daily Bag Limit 4, Season Limit 30)
Nov. 1 - Dec. 31
(Daily Bag Limit 6, Seaon Limit 40)
Oct. 1 - Nov. 14 Sept. 1 - Mar. 31

Waterfowl 2016-2017 Seasons

Species Long Island Dates Daily Limit Possession Limit
Youth Days November 12-13 xx xx
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers

November 24 - November 27
December 5 - January 29

6 18
Sea Ducks October 17 - January 31    
Snow Geese November 24 - March 10 25 No Limit
Brant November 24 - November 27
December 5 - January 29
2 6
Canada Goose See Map for Seasons and Limits

Additional Resources for Sports on Long Island: