WMU 9K, New York
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zone 9
- Area
- 445 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 25
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
- 3,389
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 9K spans the lower Catskill region across parts of Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, and Greene counties, offering rugged mixed hardwood terrain with strong deer and black bear populations supported by large blocks of public land including the Catskill Forest Preserve, Mongaup Valley WMA, and Bashakill WMA. Hunting pressure is moderate relative to downstate WMUs, with good opportunities for archery, regular firearm, and muzzleloader deer seasons under standard Southern Zone dates, plus legitimate bear and turkey hunting throughout the unit.
Mixed hardwood ridges and valleys in the lower Catskills, elevations ranging roughly 400-2,500 ft. Hemlock and hardwood forest dominates, with agricultural bottomland in the valleys of the Neversink, Mongaup, and Basha Kill drainages. Dense second-growth forest transitions to open ridgelines. High-quality edge habitat supports robust deer and bear populations.
moderate
Southern Zone WMU. Archery antlerless and regular firearm antlered tags included with license. Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for additional antlerless deer available — WMU 9K historically receives DMP allocations (check annual DEC DMP quota table released each August). 2026 DEC regulations expanded antlerless opportunities statewide. Holiday Deer Hunt (Dec 26-Jan 1) applies in 9K under standard Southern Zone rules.
DEER: Southern Zone seasons — Archery Oct 1 through end of regular season and into late bow; Regular Firearm (Southern Zone) opens Nov 15; Muzzleloader Dec 8-16 and Dec 26-Jan 1 (Holiday Hunt). Antlered buck limit 1 per season. Antlerless via DMP tags. BEAR: Southern Zone bear seasons apply — Early Bear Season (archery/crossbow, ~Sept 6-21 in eligible Southern Zone WMUs); Regular Season concurrent with deer firearm season Nov 15 onward; Muzzleloader season. WMU 9K confirmed active bear harvest unit with viable population. TURKEY: Spring season May 1-31 (Southern Zone), hunting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to noon, bag limit 2 bearded birds (no more than 1/day). Fall turkey season runs approximately Oct 17-30 in Southern Zone. Standard upstate turkey regulations apply — no Long Island restrictions.
Strong black bear population — DEC 2025 harvest data recorded 14 bears taken in WMU 9K (8 archery, 6 firearm), among the higher Catskill unit tallies. Large contiguous blocks of public land via Catskill Forest Preserve and Mongaup Valley WMA. Both spring and fall turkey seasons available. Moderate hunting pressure compared to suburban downstate units. No Long Island shotgun-only restrictions — rifle and centerfire firearms legal for deer and bear.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about WMU 9K— 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 9K.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: NYSDEC official Wildlife Management Units. Community info last updated 23d ago.