If You Hunt Deer in Dutchess County, New York Don’t Do This

Hunters should make note of this big game hunting rule in Dutchess County, NY.

The Hudson Valley is known for many things including amazing scenery, hiking, and apples, and in November most years, it's a popular place for hunters to come and attempt to harvest a deer during hunting season.

Big game hunting is something that many Hudson Valley area "lifers" have grown up with and the odds say if you don't big game hunt you or someone in your family heads out into the woods a few times a year hoping to harvest a deer. Many years there are hunters that will spend weeks hiding in the woods trying to find the biggest deer they can so they can harvest it and enjoy some of the best meat ever.

Hunting in Dutchess County, New York

If you're not familiar with hunting, there are a few ways hunters can harvest big game with two methods being the most popular in New York. Bow and rifle hunting is the way most hunters hunt in the area, with each having their own seasons to legally hunt. Each season starts and ends at different times of the year all across New York State and to hunt legally, there are numerous rules hunters need to follow, which the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) lists here. Two of the most important rules hunters need to follow are when and where they hunt.

When is Big Game Riffle Season in the Hudson Valley, NY 2023?

The big game "regular season" in the Hudson Valley runs during different dates every year, this year it's from November 18th through December 10th. Most hunters have a specific place they go hunting every year and if they don't some will attempt to hunt on various lands across the area. It's important that hunters DO NOT hunt on land that is POSTED! Most places will have POSTED signs that say you aren't allowed to hunt there unless you have permission from the owners.

SEE ALSO: These Are the Most Expensive Towns in Dutchess County

Can You Hunt in Any Dutchess County Parks?

Our friends at the Dutchess County Parks Department shared a reminder for deer hunters in Dutchess County earlier this month saying,

"For many of our outdoor sports enthusiasts, hunting season is here in the Hudson Valley, so we wanted to put out a friendly reminder that there is on any Dutchess County Park property."

It's unclear if any or all of the Dutchess County Parks land has posted signs throughout but even if you don't see signs hunters are still prohibited from hunting on Dutchess Park land.