Why do hunters love owning hunting property in the Adirondack Mountains? The proximity to the vast array of wildlife is certainly one of them! As avid hunters ourselves, we know the thrill of the hunt–but you must make sure you’re following New York State law to help conserve Adirondack wildlife for future generations to enjoy.
As fall quickly approaches, locals know it’s time to make sure their hunting and fishing licenses are ready to go. We’re avid sportsmen ourselves and our clients who own hunting properties here in the mountains enjoy a wilderness experience every outdoorsman dreams about.
NYSDEC Moves to Plain Paper – Print Your Own License & Tags
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced that the paper used for state sporting licenses and carcass tags will change from synthetic paper to plain paper for the 2024-2025 seasons. This change will give Adirondack hunters, trappers, and anglers quicker access to licenses and tags and offer at-home license and tag printing options for online purchases.
To get more information on the change, read this Q&A on the Transition from Valeron to Plain Paper Sporting Licenses and Tags.
Polular Hunting Seasons in the Adirondack Mountains
Below is an overview of the primary 2024-2025 hunting season dates for the NYSDEC’s Northern Zone, which covers the Adirondack region. For specific questions, refer to NYSDEC’s 2023-2024 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. If you’ve picked up a hard copy guide at a licensing agent, be sure to check the corrections to the Wildlife Management Units used for Doe Permits.
Hunting seasons and restrictions in New York State are governed by region. The following are hunting seasons by species for the Adirondack Park only.
Deer
Early Bowhunting (All WMUs): September 27, 2024 – October 25, 2024
Crossbow: October 16, 2024 – October 25, 2024
Regular: October 26, 2024 – December 8, 2024
Late Bowhunting (Only WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6G, and 6H): December 9, 2024 – December 15
Hunting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
Black Bear
Bowhunting: September 14, 2024 – October 25, 2024
Crossbow: October 16, 2024 – October 25, 2024
Muzzleloading: October 19, 2024 – October 25, 2024
Regular: October 26, 2024 – December 8, 2024
Hunting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
2024 Fall Turkey
October 1-14, 2024
Statewide Bag Limit: 1 bird of either sex
Hunting hours: From sunrise to sunset
2025 Spring Turkey
May 1-31, 2025
Statewide Bag Limit: 2 bearded birds
Hunting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to noon
Bobcat
October 25, 2024 – February 15, 2025
Daily Bag Limit: None
Hunting hours: After sunrise on opening day; and at any hour, day or night, for the rest of the hunting season.
Rabbit
October 1, 2024 – March 16, 2025
Daily Bag Limit: 6
Hunting hours: From sunrise to sunset
Fox
October 325, 2024 – February 15, 2025
Daily Bag Limit: None
Hunting hours: Any hour
Pheasant
October 1, 2024 – February 28, 2025
Cocks and hens allowed
Daily Bag Limit: 2
Hunting hours: From sunrise to sunset
Adirondack Anglers Enjoy the Best Fishing in New York State
With all the lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams throughout the Adirondack region, keeping track of fishing regulations can be challenging.
The New York State Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide provides a useful overview that covers specific regions throughout the State (Regions 5 and 6 are Adirondacks).
The guide includes:
- Statewide species regulations.
- General regulations (definitions, taking and possessing of fish, methods of taking fish, regulations for harvested fish, push and sale of fish).
- Baitfish regulations.
- Special regulations.
- Fish health advisories.
For bodies of water with specific regulations, the guide includes information on species and uses easy-to-follow symbols to denote season, minimum length, and daily limit as well as whether ice fishing is permitted.
Hunt from Your Backyard in Your Own NY Hunting Property!
At Adirondack Mountain Land we’ve been telling hunting and fishing tales for decades. Call Mike Black today to learn more about how you can find an Adirondack property that any sportsman would be proud to call home. As hunters ourselves, we know just what features make Adirondack land great for a cabin. We have a handful of properties that would make great hunting land in sought-after locations throughout the Adirondacks. Browse our available Adirondack hunting properties today!