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New York County Finder

Answer six questions and get New York counties ranked by habitat fit, 2026–27 season dates, public land and DEC deer harvest estimates.

How the New York finder works

DEC estimates deer harvest for every county from hunter reports. This tool scores all 62 counties using deer harvest for 2021 and 2023–2025, USGS land-cover and elevation data, and the share of public land such as the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves, state forests and wildlife management areas. Bear and turkey are ranked on habitat and access.

Season fit uses the 2026–2027 New York Hunting & Trapping Guide: Northern and Southern Zone bowhunting, regular and late seasons, the bowhunting-only counties, youth hunts, bear, turkey, grouse, pheasant and waterfowl zones.

Species covered

  • White-tailed deer
  • Black bear
  • Wild turkey

Upland birds (ranked by county)

  • Ring-necked pheasant
  • Forest grouse

Waterfowl and migratory birds (ranked by county)

  • Ducks
  • Canada and dark geese
  • Snow and Ross's geese
  • American woodcock

About every species on the species page →

Data sources

New York hunting FAQ

When does New York's 2026 regular deer season open?

Oct. 24 in the Northern Zone (through Dec. 6) and Nov. 21 in the Southern Zone (through Dec. 13). Southern Zone early bowhunting runs Oct. 1–Nov. 20.

Which New York counties have the most deer?

Steuben, Chautauqua, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Livingston counties lead DEC's estimates. Pick white-tailed deer to rank every county.

Is there a dove season in New York?

No. Mourning doves are not a game bird under New York law, so there is no season.

New York harvest leaders

The counties with the highest average reported harvest for each species. High totals often reflect large areas and many hunters; the tool above also weighs harvest per square mile, hunter success, habitat and access.

White-tailed deer (2021–2025 average)

  1. Steuben County: 14,701 per year
  2. Chautauqua County: 9,090 per year
  3. Allegany County: 8,628 per year
  4. Cattaraugus County: 8,364 per year
  5. Livingston County: 6,771 per year

Ducks (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Suffolk County: 23,180 per year
  2. Jefferson County: 16,890 per year
  3. Wayne County: 13,366 per year
  4. St. Lawrence County: 10,160 per year
  5. Essex County: 8,670 per year

Canada and dark geese (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Suffolk County: 12,225 per year
  2. St. Lawrence County: 8,206 per year
  3. Wayne County: 6,191 per year
  4. Jefferson County: 6,067 per year
  5. Nassau County: 5,871 per year