Hunting season has begun in the Finger Lakes

The following is information from the New York State Offices of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The Finger Lakes Visitors Center has highlighted areas that are in or near Ontario County by putting those areas in bold type. 

BIG GAME – DEER

Deer – Archery

Reference the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for archery hunting in the following parks:

Bonavista, Buttermilk Falls, Chimney Bluffs, Connecticut Hill, Fair Haven Beach, Fillmore Glen, Ganondagan, Harriet Hollister Spencer, Juniper Pond, Keuka Lake, Long Point, Mark Twain, Newtown Battlefield, Pinnacle, upper Robert H. Treman, Sampson, Stony Brook, Taughannock Falls, Two Rivers, and Watkins Glen State Parks.

Note:    Hunters at Buttermilk Falls State Park must sign in each day at the park office or upper contact station.   

Note:  Fair Haven Beach State Park will NOT be open for early archery. 

Note:   A separate park hunting permit is required at Fair Haven Beach State Park.  Contact the park office for details.  Permit reservations will be taken starting September 26, 2015 at 8:00am.    

Note:   Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area will NOT be open for the special late season. 

Note:   At Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, there will be NO hunting in the Reynolds Gull area. 

Note:    Archery deer hunting is allowed at Ganondagan State Historic Site from dawn to 9:00 a.m. only.  A separate hunting permit may be obtained from the visitor center the afternoon of the day prior to hunting. 

            Note:    Separate park hunting permit is required for deer hunting at Mark Twain State

                        Park.

Note:    Hunters at Newtown Battlefield Reservation State Park must sign in each day at the park office. 

Note:    Hunters at Robert H. Treman State Park must sign in each day at park office or upper contact station.  

Note:    Archery hunters at Sampson State Park must register at the park office prior to hunting, check out in person, and report their harvest.  Antler restriction applies.  Contact park office for details.

Note:    Archery deer hunting is allowed on the east side of the gorge only at Stony Brook State Park. 

Note:    Hunters at Two Rivers State Park must sign in each day at the Romtek bathroom on Banzhoff Road.

Deer – Cross Bow

Reference the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for crossbow hunting in the following parks:

Buttermilk Falls, Chimney Bluffs, Connecticut Hill, Fillmore Glen, Harriet Hollister Spencer, Keuka Lake, Long Point, Newtown Battlefield, upper Robert H. Treman, Taughannock Falls, Two Rivers, and Watkins Glen State Parks.

Note:    Hunters at Buttermilk Falls State Park must sign in each day at the park office or upper contact station each day.  

Note:   Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area will NOT be open for the special late season.

Note:   At Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, there will be NO hunting in the Reynolds Gull area. 

Note:    Hunters at Newtown Battlefield Reservation State Park must sign in each day at the park office. 

Note:    Hunters at Robert H. Treman State Park must sign in each day at park office or upper contact station. 

Note:    Hunters at Two Rivers State Park must sign in each day at the Romtek bathroom on Banzhoff Road.

Deer – Shotgun and Muzzleloading Rifle (No gun hunting during the Columbus Day Youth Season)

 Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for shotgun and muzzleloading rifle hunting in the following parks:  

Chimney Bluffs, Connecticut Hill, Harriet Hollister Spencer, Juniper Pond, Long Point, and Sampson State Park.

Note:  Harriet Hollister Spencer does not allow hunting during late special season (reference the DEC guidelines). 

Note:   At Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, there will be NO hunting in the Reynolds Gull area. 

Note:    Sampson State Park will conduct a ten day regular shotgun season hunt by lottery draw.  Antler restriction applies.  Contact the park office for details.

Note:    Rifles are NOT allowed in or on any State Park property with exception of muzzleloading rifles in designated areas during designated season.      

Deer – Muzzleloading only (no shotgun or rifle) allowed during regular shotgun season

Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for muzzleloading hunting in the following parks:

            Fillmore Glen, Pinnacle, Keuka Lake, and Two Rivers State Parks.

Note:    Hunters at Two Rivers State Park must sign in each day at the Romtek bathroom on Banzhoff Road.

SMALL GAME

Duck– Early and/or Late Seasons

Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for waterfowl hunting in the following parks:

Cayuga Lake, Dean’s Cove, Keuka Lake, Sampson, Seneca Lake, Chimney Bluffs, Fair Haven Beach (Sterling Creek), Juniper Pond and Long Point State Parks.

Note:  Federal Pier at Fair Haven Beach State Park is open for late season only.  Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules.

Note:  Duck hunting at Sampson State Park is late season only and is limited to ten hunters per day.

Note:  Cayuga Lake State Park, Dean’s Cove, and Seneca Lake State Park is late season ONLY.  All hunters must be in boats at all times.

Note:    Keuka Lake State Park is late season ONLY.  Hunters may hunt from shore but ONLY BETWEEN HIGH WATER MARK AND LAKE. 

Canada Geese

Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for goose hunting in the following parks:

Cayuga Lake, Chimney Bluffs, Dean’s Cove, Fair Haven Beach (Sterling Creek & Federal Pier), Juniper Pond, Keuka Lake, Long Point and Seneca Lake State Parks.

Note:  Chimney Bluffs State Park and Federal Pier at Fair Haven Beach State Park is open for late season ONLY.  Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates.

Note:   Cayuga Lake State Park, Dean’s Cove, Keuka Lake State Park, and Seneca Lake

            State Park is late season ONLY.  All hunters must be in boats along shoreline.

Brant and Snow Geese

Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for brant and snow geese hunting in the following parks:

Cayuga Lake, Chimney Bluffs, Dean’s Cove, Fair Haven Beach (Sterling Creek), Juniper Pond and Long Point State Parks.

Note:    Cayuga Lake State Park and Dean’s Cove is late season ONLY.  All hunters must be in boats along the shoreline. 

Turkey

Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for turkey hunting in the following parks:

Chimney Bluffs, Connecticut Hill, Juniper Pond, Keuka Lake (spring only), Pinnacle and Sampson State Parks.

Note:    Spring turkey hunting at Keuka Lake State Park in on park property south of Hill Road only.  Hunters must sign in at the park office.                 

Note:    Spring turkey hunting at Sampson State Park is zone specific for gun and bow.  Zone reservations begin April 1, 2016.  Contact park office for details. 

Note:    Fall turkey hunting at Sampson State Park is bow only. 

Other Small Game

Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for small game hunting in the following parks:

Chimney Bluffs, Connecticut Hill, Long Point, Juniper Pond, Mark Twain, Pinnacle, and Sampson State Parks.

            Note:    Small game hunting is not allowed during any deer season at Mark Twain and Pinnacle

            State Parks.

Note:   Small game hunting at Sampson State Park begins December 23, 2015 after all deer seasons are complete.  No early season small game hunting is allowed. 

Note:   There is no small game hunting at Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area at any time. 

Park Specific Rules and Regulations:

-       A separate special park permit is required for all hunting at Sampson State Park along with blaze orange hat or vest.       

-       At Bonavista State Golf Course, deer hunting will be by bow only and will be limited to one hunter per zone by first come, first serve basis.  Hunters must sign in and out daily at the maintenance barn and indicate their zone.  Harvests must be recorded.  No reservations can be made.  Contact Sampson State Park office for details.  

-       On the Catharine Valley Trail, a one-mile section of the trail near the Village of Montour Falls will be closed for approximately four (4) weeks during regular gun season.  Reference the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Hunting and Trapping Guide for current dates and rules for regular gun season. 

-       At Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, there will be NO hunting in the Reynolds Gull area. 

-       At Long Point State Park, special DEC permits for big and small game hunting are required from the check station at King Ferry (315-364-7777) from October 1 – January 15.

-       All portable tree stands must have the owner’s name, address, and phone number and must be removed at the end of the season.  At Long Point State Park, tree stands must be removed daily.  At Ganondagan State Historic Site, no tree stands are permitted.    

-       At Watkins Glen State Park, bow hunting on the west side of the railroad is open during DEC regulated archery seasons. The east side of the railroad opens November 1 through the end of DEC regulated archery seasons. 

-       Safety zones and restricted areas are posted to ensure the safety of other park patrons and regional personnel.  Signs will be posted at all parks during hunting season to notify patrons of this activity.  Handguns will not be permitted in any of the parks.

-       No trapping is allowed at any of the State Parks in the Finger Lakes Region.

-       Note: A valid New York State hunting license with the proper hunting stamps will serve as the regional hunting permit. Except where otherwise stated, this is the only permit necessary. 

-       No Hunting Allowed At:

              Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

              Black Diamond Trail

              Canandaigua State Marine Park

              Honeoye Lake State Marine Boat Launch

              Indian Hills State Golf Course

             Sonnenberg Gardens State Historic Site

            Springbrook Greens State Golf Course

             Jennings Pond

Fred Bonn Regional Director, Finger Lakes State Park (607) 387-7041