Town of East Hampton Hunting Guide

An Enduring East Hampton Tradition

Hunting in East Hampton Town is a tradition that dates back to the middle 1600’s when the area was first settled. Before the first three hundred years of Long Island and New York State’s existence, there was very little in the way of conservation or hunting regulation. Many game and waterfowl species, which we refer to today as nongame species (hawks, owls, songbirds, shorebirds, and the like) were hunted to the verge of extinction. Today, hunting is no longer a means of survival, but is an outdoor sport, one highly regulated by the federal and state governments. Hunting rules and regulations are set by the state and enforced by state conservation officers, as well as federal Fish and Wildlife agents, where migratory birds are concerned. Hunting is still a popular sport, and everyone who hunts in New York today must have an up-to-date state hunting license.

Who Makes the Laws?

Local municipalities can’t pass local laws regulating hunting seasons, but can decide whether or not to permit hunting within their jurisdiction. For example, the incorporated villages of North Haven and East Hampton do not allow recreational hunting, while some villages and all townships in Suffolk County do. Private landowners may or may not permit hunting to take place on their properties, the same holds true for lands held by municipalities, local Town Trustees, the County and State. The local municipalities by local law and resolution can affirm which of their holdings are able to be hunted, and which are not.

Who Can Hunt?

Only East Hampton Town residents or taxpayers and their guests (with a Town guest license) can hunt big game on East Hampton Town lands. Permanent tree stands or ground blinds are not permitted and will be removed outside of hunting seasons. Small game may be hunted by anyone with a valid New York State hunting license.

Permits 

To hunt deer in East Hampton Town a hunter needs to have a Town access permit and/or landowner’s endorsement form from the Town Clerk’s office in his or her possession in addition to a valid state hunting license. When hunters are bow hunting deer or hunting turkey in the spring season on Town/County co-owned lands, they must park in designated parking areas and display a copy of their Town landowner’s endorsement form or County permit in their windshield. For State lands, and “cooperative hunting areas” which include state, county and municipal holdings as an aggregate and the big game hunting on them is managed by the state, each hunter needs to be signed up with the State and assigned a designated parking and hunting area before hunting.

The East Hampton Town Trustees have jurisdiction for hunting that takes place on their lands, which they hold in commonality for the towns-people. They issue annual permits for the waterfowl blinds situated on their lands. According to Trustee policy these blinds need to be removed when the waterfowl hunting season is over. Contact the Town Clerk’s Office to obtain a permit for waterfowl blinds on Town property.

Lottery for January Big Game Firearms Season

East Hampton Town residents and their guests (with a Town guest license) may hunt big game during the January firearms season only after signing up for the lottery. In December of each year, the Town Clerk will hold a lottery for all hunters interested in hunting Town lands during the January season. Each hunter will receive a specific property and period of time that they will be permitted to hunt. Sign up sheets are posted on each property (see maps on p.15-45) and hunters must sign in each day that they use the property.

Hunters may only hunt on their specific properties and during the permitted time periods. 

For more information or to sign up for the lottery, please contact the Town Clerk at (631) 324-4142.

Bonus DMP Tags Procedure

Bonus Deer Management Permits (DMP) are available free of charge to hunters who take a deer on a DMP or a Bonus DMP for Wildlife Management Unit 1C . To obtain a Bonus DMP, submit by mail (NYS DEC Bureau of Wildlife, 50 Circle Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790; Attention: 1C Bonus), e-mail (wildlife.r1@dec.ny.gov) or in person (at an approved check station or the East Hampton Town Clerk’s office), a photocopy, photo, or scanned copy of both sides of a completed DMP or Bonus DMP report tag. Town Clerk office hours are Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm. The Hither Hills State Park check station in Montauk is open only during the January firearms season Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm.

Rules, Regulations, and Etiquette

It goes without saying that all hunters, in addition to observing the state rules and regulations governing hunting, should also practice good hunting etiquette. They should eat what they kill, and not leave wounded animals to suffer and die in the field. Only game species listed for hunting by New York State can legally be hunted or possessed. Some species that can be hunted legally elsewhere in the state, such as ruffed grouse, cannot be hunted here. Some local game species, e.g., woodcock and bobwhite quail are in such short supply that they should not be hunted at all.

It is illegal to discharge a firearm or longbow:

• so that the load or arrow passes over any part of a public highway,
• within 500 feet (for a firearm), or 150 feet (for a longbow) of any school, playground, or an occupied factory or church,
• within 500 feet (for a firearm), or 150 feet (for a longbow) of a dwelling, farm building or structure in occupation or use unless you own it, lease it, are an immediate member of the family, an employee, or have the owner’s consent.

You may hunt waterfowl with a firearm or longbow, over water, within 500 feet of a dwelling or public structure as long as neither are within 500 feet (for a firearm) or 150 feet (for a longbow) in the direction you are shooting. Non-toxic shot must be used when hunting waterfowl. Hunting with a rifle or crossbow is not permitted at anytime in Suffolk County.

Extreme care must be taken at all times when hunting in East Hampton because these lands are also used by hikers, bicyclists, and other non-hunters.

For More Information

For more information concerning hunting on New York State lands and cooperative hunting areas in East Hampton Town, the state’s regional Bureau of Wildlife may be contacted at (631) 444-0310. For information regarding hunting on Suffolk County lands in East Hampton Town call (631) 854-4949. To hunt on Town Trustee lands or over Town Trustee waters, the Trustees may be reached at (631) 267-8688.

For general information regarding hunting on Town of East Hampton lands call the Land of Acquisition and Management Department (631) 324-7420.

Following is a list of East Hampton Town lands for the current season, along with maps for each showing the nearest access roads. Road boundaries of these lands have been posted by the Town’s Land Acquisition and Management Department. Hunting on these lands is subject to change.

The maps in this guide provide a reference for town hunting areas, and are to be used in conjunction with hunting signs that are posted on the designated properties. These maps are not to be used for navigation, but only as a reference. Please be sure that which ever Town Lands you are hunting on are posted as to allow hunting. If you do not see hunting signs bordering the property, you may not be on the corresponding property.

There is a set of larger aerial photo maps available on display in the Town Clerk’s office for those who wish to see a more detailed map of a specific parcel area.

CHANGES from Previous Seasons

• Town Board Resolution 2023-531 prohibits Spring Turkey hunting on Town parklands during the Memorial Day weekend of each year, such prohibition to commence the Thursday before the Memorial Day weekend and to continue to and including Memorial Day each year.
• John’s Hole Accabonac Road Property has been removed from allowable hunting properties. SCTM No. 125-01-001.
• Residents may now be eligible for the issuance of a guest license permitting a non-resident to hunt during any legal season set by New York State.
• The Town of East Hampton has waived the requirement for a hunter to obtain a DEC Town permit. (Resolution 2015-577). Town access permit and/or landowners endorsement is still required.
• Bow hunting of big game is now restricted in January on properties where big game firearms hunting is permitted. (Resolution 2014-1494).