WMU 7S, New York
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 7
- Area
- 660 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 30
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
- 4,703
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 7S sits in the Catskill-Hudson transition zone spanning portions of Ulster and Sullivan counties, offering a mix of state forest, DEC Wildlife Management Areas, and rugged hardwood terrain that supports healthy deer, black bear, and wild turkey populations. Antlerless deer tags (DMPs) are available with no quota cap in this unit, making it one of the more accessible units for antlerless harvest in the Southern Zone. Hunting pressure is moderate — the terrain keeps casual hunters close to roads while dedicated backcountry hunters find genuine solitude on the interior ridges and hollows.
Rugged Catskill hardwood ridges and valleys in the Ulster/Sullivan county transition zone. Mixed northern hardwood forest dominated by oak, maple, and beech with hemlock in stream drainages. Elevations range from river bottoms around 400 ft to ridge tops approaching 2,500 ft. The Catskill-Hudson transition produces classic deer edge habitat where agricultural remnants meet second-growth forest. Stream corridors (Neversink and Rondout watersheds) provide excellent travel routes for deer and bear.
moderate
WMU 7S carries no DMP quota for 2026, meaning antlerless Deer Management Permits are available without the competitive draw process. Hunters can apply for up to 2 DMPs in no-quota WMUs and have DMPs automatically replaced upon harvest and reporting of an antlerless deer. This makes antlerless opportunity generous relative to higher-pressure downstate WMUs. Antlered deer tags come with license purchase; a second antlered tag is earned by harvesting and reporting an antlerless deer first.
DEER: Southern Zone archery Oct 1 - Nov 14 and Dec 8-16; regular firearms Nov 21 - Dec 13; muzzleloader Dec 14-22 (verify WMU eligibility); Holiday Hunt Dec 26 - Jan 1. Antlered deer tag with license, second antlered tag earned after reporting antlerless harvest. DMPs available with no quota in 7S. BEAR: WMU 7S falls within the Southern Zone black bear range; the Catskill-Sullivan corridor consistently produces the highest bear densities and harvest in the state. Bear archery season aligned with archery deer season; bear firearms season runs with regular deer season (Nov 21 - Dec 13 Southern Zone); one bear per license year. TURKEY: Spring season May 1-31, 2 bearded birds limit (1/day); fall season approximately Oct 17-30 in Southern Zone, either-sex, 1 carcass tag. No Long Island firearm restrictions apply — standard statewide implements legal.
No-quota DMPs make antlerless deer harvest accessible. Sullivan County leads New York State in bear harvest density most years, and bear populations in the WMU 7 series are robust. Turkey populations are healthy on both spring and fall seasons. Watershed lands (NYC DEP) add significant huntable acreage when free permits are obtained. Interior ridge hunting for deer and bear sees light pressure beyond the first week of firearms season.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU 7S— 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.
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Boundaries: NYSDEC official Wildlife Management Units. Community info last updated 23d ago.