WMU 4W, New York
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 4
- Area
- 434 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 49
Draw odds for Black Beararen't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 1,467
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for Black Bear, White-tailed Deer so far. Deer, Turkey, Bear also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
Sign in to contributeWMU 4W covers the rolling hills of Dutchess and Columbia counties east of the Hudson River, offering solid whitetail hunting on a mix of private farmland, hardwood ridges, and DEC-managed public land. The unit carries a mandatory antler point restriction requiring at least 3 points on one antler, and antlerless tags (DMPs) are available but quota-limited, making early application important. Bear and turkey are both present, rounding out a versatile big-game unit in the heart of the lower Hudson Valley.
Rolling hardwood hills and agricultural valleys in the Hudson Valley foothills; mix of oak-maple ridges, overgrown fields, hedgerows, and creek bottoms. Elevation modest (400-1,200 ft). Good edge habitat supports strong deer and turkey populations. Private farmland dominates but DEC parcels provide meaningful access.
Public land access via DEC Wildlife Management Areas and State Forests scattered across Dutchess and Columbia counties. Notable areas include Shenandoah WMA (Dutchess), Charles Flood WMA at Empire Brickyard (Columbia), Doodletown WMA (Columbia), and several DEC state forest parcels. DEC Region 3 (Dutchess) and Region 4 (Columbia) manage access. Much of the best habitat is private; landowner permission or DMAPS cooperative agreements expand options considerably.
moderate
DMPs (antlerless tags) are quota-limited in WMU 4W — apply early in August when the DMP application window opens. Under 2026 regulation changes hunters may apply for up to 2 DMPs in quota WMUs. Mandatory antler point restriction in effect: antlered bucks must have at least 3 points (each 1 inch+) on at least one antler; youth hunters ages 12-16 are exempt from APR. New earn-a-buck provision in 2026: harvest and report an antlerless deer with a valid tag to unlock a second antlered deer tag.
DEER: Southern Zone seasons — Archery Oct 1-Nov 20 (plus Dec 8-16 and Dec 26-Jan 1 Holiday Hunt); Regular Firearms Nov 21-Dec 13; Muzzleloader Dec 14-22; Holiday Deer Hunt Dec 26-Jan 1. Crossbow legal during all bow seasons with bowhunting privileges. APR mandatory (3 pts on one antler). BEAR: Early bear season Sept 6-21 in WMU 4W (firearms, crossbow, and vertical bow all legal). Bear season also overlaps with regular firearms deer season in fall. TURKEY: Spring season May 1-31, shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to noon, bag limit 2 bearded birds (1/day); Youth hunt weekend late April. Fall turkey season open in WMU 4W, dates vary — typically October into December. No firearm restrictions (not a Long Island WMU); all legal firearms permitted.
Mandatory antler point restriction (3-pt minimum on one beam) protects yearling bucks and grows quality deer; early bear season opens September 6; strong turkey populations on agricultural edge habitat; Holiday Deer Hunt extension (Dec 26-Jan 1) adds late-season opportunity; accessible from NYC metro area making weekend hunts viable.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU 4W— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about WMU 4W.
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Boundaries: NYSDEC official Wildlife Management Units. Community info last updated 114d ago.