Riverhead Town’’s 2025 shotgun-hunting lottery will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Riverhead Town Hall, the town announced yesterday.
The lottery is open to Town of Riverhead residents and real property owners only. All participants must show proper identification and a New York State hunting license at the lottery. Hunters must be in attendance in order to secure a hunting date and location.
The special firearms deer season on Long Island, authorized by the State Department of Environmental Conservation, begins on Sunday, Jan. 5 and continues through Jan. 31.
The Town Board is expected to authorize both the lottery and shotgun hunting for deer on certain town-owned property at the Town Board meeting this afternoon.
Town property where shotgun hunting will be allowed, by lottery, comprises certain designated lands within the Calverton Enterprise Park and at 1751 Sound Avenue in Calverton. The lands, dates and time slots for hunters will be determined by the Dec. 10 lottery.
Hunters must have in their possession while hunting a valid state hunting license, a big game tag and the landowner endorsement from the town demonstrating authorization to hunt on town property.
EPCAL, including the recreation path, will be closed to the public for the month of January. The property at 1751 Sound Avenue will also be closed to the public.
There are other opportunities for deer hunting on Long Island during the January special firearms season, pursuant to state regulations. Shotgun hunting for deer during the special firearms season is allowed on privately owned land consisting of 10 or more acres, with the landowner’s endorsement. The same requirements for a state hunting license and big game tag apply. The towns of Southampton, Smithtown, Islip, Huntington and Babylon also require town hunting licenses. There is no town hunting license requirement in Riverhead.
Shotgun hunting on certain DEC-managed lands and certain Suffolk County-owned land. For more information, visit the DEC website and the Suffolk County Parks Department website.
The archery season for deer on Long Island continues through Jan. 31. However, bow-hunting for deer is prohibited at the EPCAL site and at 1751 Sound Avenue after Jan. 3.
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