WMU 7P, New York
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 7
- Area
- 477 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 10
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
- 2,585
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
AI-compiled · sourcedWMU 7P covers the Catskill-Taconic transition zone across Greene and Columbia counties, offering rugged hardwood ridges, mountain hollows, and valley agricultural edges that support healthy whitetail and black bear populations. Hunters have access to extensive Catskill Forest Preserve lands, NYC DEP watershed properties, and DEC-managed state forests totaling hundreds of thousands of public acres. Deer pressure is moderate given the terrain difficulty, making this a strong option for backcountry hunters willing to work for their buck.
Rugged Catskill Mountains terrain in the western portion (Greene County) transitioning to gentler Taconic foothills in the east (Columbia County). Elevations range from valley floors near 200 ft to ridgelines above 3,500 ft. Mixed hardwood forest dominates — northern red oak, maple, beech, and birch — with hemlock drainages, mountain laurel thickets, and open agricultural edges in the valley corridors along Schoharie Creek and its tributaries. The Catskill-Taconic transition creates diverse habitat that holds deer year-round.
moderate
WMU 7P falls within the Southern Zone for deer management. Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for antlerless deer must be applied for by October 1 annually; 7P DMP availability is limited (not listed in the unlimited-quota tier), so hunters should apply early. A new mid-September antlerless-only season was added to select WMUs in 2026 — verify current DEC list to confirm 7P inclusion. The Earn-a-Second-Buck program applies: harvest and register an antlerless deer to unlock a second antlered tag valid any season.
DEER (Southern Zone): Archery Oct 1–Nov 20. Regular firearm Nov 21–Dec 13. Muzzleloader Dec 14–22 (confirm WMU 7P inclusion with DEC). Holiday Hunt Dec 26–Jan 1 (bow and muzzleloader). Antlerless via DMP (limited quota for WMU 7P — apply before Oct 1 deadline). BEAR: Present and huntable — one bear per license year. Early archery bear season opens mid-September in Southern Zone; firearm bear season overlaps regular deer season (November). Catskill region consistently ranks among top bear-producing areas in the state. TURKEY: Spring May 1–31 statewide; valley hardwoods and agricultural edges along the Schoharie Creek watershed hold good gobbler numbers. Fall Southern Zone turkey Oct 17–30; WMU 7P's mast-producing oak stands and hardwood ridges are prime fall turkey habitat. FIREARM RULES: No restrictions — WMU 7P is not a Long Island shotgun-only unit; all legal firearms permitted.
Expansive Catskill Forest Preserve public land, NYC DEP watershed access, healthy black bear population in the Catskill core, solid spring gobbler hunting in valley hardwoods, and relatively low hunting pressure on deep ridgelines despite proximity to the Hudson Valley metro area.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU 7P— 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 7P.
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Boundaries: NYSDEC official Wildlife Management Units. Community info last updated 23d ago.