The following are the dates for Turkey and Big Game hunting in NYS DEC Southern Zone, which covers all of the Finger Lakes Trail system. Make sure you know the regulations, trail closings, and hiking advice in your area. Remember, wear blaze orange during hunting season, and respect the rights of responsible hunters engaged in legal hunting activities.

This list is not a complete list of all hunting seasons, please refer to the NYS DEC website for specific information about hunting seasons and maps of the various zones. The dates of future deer and bear hunting seasons can be determined from the NYS DEC’s page on Deer and Bear Hunting Seasons.

Type of hunting Season 2023 Dates
Youth Turkey 30 min. before Sunrise to Noon. (Closed sections of trail are closed all day.) Apr 22 – 23
Spring Turkey 30 min. before Sunrise to Noon. (Closed sections of trail are closed all day.) May 1 – 31
Early Antlerless—Deer 30 min. before Sunrise to 30 min. after Sunset. 9 consecutive days beginning the 2nd Saturday of September. This season only includes a limited number of WMUs (9F, 8N, and 8G) that the FLT system passes through: parts of the Conservation Branch trail on maps CT8/CT9 (Genesee County) / CT10 (Erie County) and Bristol Hills Branch trails B1 and B2. Currently only CT8/CT9 include closures due to it. Sep 9 – Sep 17
Bowhunting—Deer and Bear October 1 through the day prior to the opening of the Regular Deer Season, nine days immediately following the close of the Regular Deer Season and one week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. 30 min. before Sunrise to 30 min. after Sunset. Oct 1 – Nov 17
Dec 11 – Dec 19
Dec 26 – Jan 1
Youth Firearms-Deer and Bear 30 min. before Sunrise to 30 min. after Sunset. Oct 7 – 9
Crossbow—Deer 30 min. before Sunrise to 30 min. after Sunset. Nov 6 – Nov 17
Regular—Deer 23 days beginning the third Saturday of November. 30 min. before Sunrise to 30 min. after Sunset. Nov 18 – Dec 10
Regular—Bear 23 days beginning the third Saturday of November. 30 min. before Sunrise to 30 min. after Sunset. Nov 18 – Dec 10
Muzzleloading—Deer and Bear The nine days immediately following the close of the Regular Deer Season and one week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. 30 min. before Sunrise to 30 min. after Sunset. Dec 11 – Dec 19
Dec 26 – Jan 1
Fall Turkey
(Southern)
Sunrise to Sunset Oct 15 – Oct 28