New York State Regions

The state map shown depicts the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation “Regions” by their location, and shown on Show All Guides page for your guiding reference.

Details of NYSOGA members guided opportunities are described and can be found in the Search Guides, and are also noted by their location.

All guides are licensed by the State of New York as professional guides who have passed the Department of Environmental Conservation proficiency exam for skill and ability in the woods and on the water. Feel free to e-mail us for your nearest guide.

Click here to see a list of Executive Officers, Regional Directors and Directors at Large
A description of the types of guiding in each region are listed below.

Region 1: Long Island
Mainly waterfowl, small game hunting. Primarily saltwater fishing with some excellent freshwater bass, trout fishing. Mostly rolling hills and wet-lands, with many wading streams, shoreline ponds.

Region 2: New York City
Mostly saltwater fishing with major rivers and Atlantic Ocean surrounding Manhattan island. Heavy population concentration with many wildlife sanctuaries for ecology study.

Region 3: Hudson Valley/Westchester
Excellent deer, turkey, rabbit hunting, also black bear, waterfowl. Also known for shad, brown, brook, rainbow trout, bass walleye, striped bass, pickerel. Shawangunk Mtns. for rock climbing. Western Cat skills has low mountains with many streams, ponds. Central Hudson River area known for fishing. Eastern Hudson River area has low rolling hills, open field, with many streams, ponds.

Region 4: Catskills/Albany
Outstanding rabbit, small game hunting, superior turkey hunting in the Hudson Valley eastern section. Great deer, black bear hunting in the western section. Shad, rainbow, brown, brook trout, bass, striped bass, walleye fishing. High mountains, moderately dense forest, heavily streamed in Catskill area, rolling hills and streams in Hudson Valley area. Great goose and duck hunting.

Region 5: Adirondacks/Saratoga
Excellent deer, black bear, varying hare, coyote hunting. Landlocked salmon, brown, lake, brook trout, bass, pickerel fishing. High mountain area with dense forests in western section, rolling hills and light forest in eastern section. St. Lawrence River provides muskellunge, northern pike, bass, walleye, chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, brown trout. Eastern region has high dense mountains while western region has flat, open fields, lightly forested, all with many lakes, ponds and streams. Hudson River and Sacandaga whitewater rafting. Lake Champlain and Lake George, along with over 2500 lakes and ponds, and over 9000 miles of rivers and streams yield excellent fishing.

Region 6: Central New York/1000 islands
Black bear, deer waterfowl, turkey, varying hare, small game hunting. St. Lawrence River provides muskellunge, northern pike, bass, walleye, chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, brown trout. Eastern region has high dense mountains while western region has flat, open fields, lightly forested, all with many lakes, ponds and streams.

Region 7: Chautauqua/Allegheny
Outstanding waterfowl, deer, turkey hunting. Lake Ontario, one of largest in U.S., provides superior bass, coho and chinook salmon, brown, rainbow, steelhead fishing. Finger Lakes provide excellent salmon, trout, bass, walleye fishery. Mostly flat land, rolling hills, open fields. Area is lightly forested, with many lakes, ponds, streams. Diverse topography, from rugged hills and valleys in southern tier to trolling hills of northern Finger Lakes plus flatlands and open fields of the Great Lakes plains to the north.

Region 8: Finger Lakes
Lake Erie provide excellent bass, trout, salmon, walleye fishing. Many inland lakes offer outstanding fishing for bass, trout, salmon, walleye fishing. Lake Ontario provides superior bass, coho and chinook salmon, brown, rainbow, steelhead fishing. Excellent small game, turkey, waterfowl, deer hunting. Flatlands, rolling hills, open fields predominant.

Region 9: Greater Niagara
Excellent waterfowl, small game, rabbit, turkey, deer hunting. Many inland lakes offer outstanding fishing for bass, trout, salmon, walleye fishing. Allegheny Mountains provide dense forest. Chautauqua Lake ranks third in angler use among inland waters in New York State, and is nationally renowned for muskie and walleye. Area is lightly forested, with many lakes, ponds, streams.