BirdHuntRuffed Grouse (Northern Zone)
- Sep 20, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Ruffed Grouse (Northern Zone)4 dailyNo limit poss.
← All states
Upland birds 2026-27
New York upland hunting
Ruffed grouse · Pheasant
Open now
3
Ruffed Grouse (Northern Zone), Ruffed Grouse (Southern Zone), Pheasant (eastern and northern New York)
Pheasant
2 a day
Opens Oct 1
Species
2
Ruffed grouse, Pheasant
How nonresidents hunt upland birds in New York
Nonresidents buy the nonresident hunting license over the counter; no extra upland stamp. DEC releases about 50,000 pheasants a year on public and cooperating private land (some sites close on stocking days in western New York). Grouse are the main wild upland bird.
Ruffed grouse from Sept. 20 (Northern Zone) or Oct. 1 (Southern Zone) through Feb. 28, 2027; pheasant from Oct. 1 in eastern and northern New York and Oct. 17 in western New York.
Season calendar
SepOctNovDecJanFeb
Ruffed Grouse (Northern Zone)
Ruffed Grouse (Southern Zone)
Pheasant (eastern and northern New York)
Pheasant (western New York)
Today
Seasons & bag limits
Ruffed Grouse (Southern Zone)
- Oct 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Ruffed Grouse (Southern Zone)4 dailyNo limit poss.
Pheasant (eastern and northern New York)
- Oct 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Pheasant (eastern and northern New York)2 dailyNo limit poss.
Pheasant (western New York)
- Oct 17, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Pheasant (western New York)2 dailyNo limit poss.
What a nonresident needs to buy
Nonresident Hunting License
Source · checked Sep 28, 2026 ·
$100.00
Total for the season
$100.00
