FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/27/2026
Jim Levulis / 518-776-3135 / [email protected]
Public Information Meeting on Hunting Proposal in Saratoga Spa State Park
Plan Would Permit Archery White-Tailed Deer Hunting in Undeveloped Area
(Saratoga Springs, NY) – The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is holding a public information meeting on a proposal to allow archery hunting in Saratoga Spa State Park. The meeting will be Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 6pm to 7:30pm at the park’s Roosevelt II Bathhouse. Parking is available along Roosevelt Extension or in the Victoria Pool parking lot at 65 Roosevelt Dr. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
The proposal would allow permitted bow and crossbow white-tailed deer hunting within a roughly 650-acre section of the park south of East-West Road within the city of Saratoga Springs and the town of Malta. Hunters would be required to receive a park-specific hunting permit, in addition to their NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)-issued hunting license, to hunt at the park. The park-specific hunting permits will be administered by the park office. Under the proposal, Saratoga Spa State Park would issue 15 permits for the initial hunting season from October 13, 2026 through January 1, 2027.
All other rules pertaining to hunting season dates and allowed take would follow DEC deer hunting regulations for this area of the state. As per DEC deer hunting regulations, hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The park is within DEC Wildlife Management Unit 5R, within DEC’s Southern Zone.
The hunting area would be posted with signage, and hunting would not be permitted within 250 feet of any building, road, or parking lot. Portable tree stands and ground blinds would be permitted during the hunting season, provided hunters do not damage trees or other vegetation. Building or using permanent tree stands or blinds is prohibited. No overnight camping is permitted within the park. All other OPRHP rules and regulations apply.
OPRHP is considering this proposal to address the negative impacts of deer overabundance in Saratoga Spa State Park and to provide additional outdoor recreational opportunities. The goal is to manage white-tailed deer populations within the park at a level appropriate to support forest regeneration and resilient natural communities; enhance habitat for forest-dependent wildlife; and provide for safe and enjoyable recreational and educational opportunities. Over 80 NY State Parks and Historic Sites maintain hunting programs, of which 65 offer deer hunting, including several in OPRHP’s Saratoga-Capital District Region.
Please RSVP to the meeting by emailing [email protected]. Questions are also being accepted via email prior to the meeting.
Public comments on the proposal will be accepted through May 29, 2026. Public comments can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Saratoga Spa State Park, Attn: Andy Damon, 19 Roosevelt Dr. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 86 million visits annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.
Jim Levulis
Public Affairs & Community Engagement Coordinator
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Saratoga-Capital Region | 19 Roosevelt Dr. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
O: (518) 776-3135 | [email protected]
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