2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 11 - Fish and Wildlife › Title 9 - Hunting › 11-0907 - Deer and Bear; Open Hunting Seasons; Bag Limits.

§ 11-0907. Deer and bear; open hunting seasons; bag limits.
1.  a. Wild deer without antlers or having antlers measuring less than
three inches in length shall not be taken unless it is taken (1) by long
bow in a special long bow season established in subdivision  3  of  this
section,  or  (2)  by  muzzle-loading  firearm  or crossbow in a special
muzzle-loading firearm season  established  in  subdivision  8  of  this
section,  or  (3)  by  long bow in Westchester and Suffolk Counties in a
year in which a regular season for deer of either sex is established for
such counties, or (4) in a special open season for deer  of  either  sex
fixed by regulation pursuant to subdivision 5 or 7 of section 11-0903 of
this  title,  or  (5) pursuant to a special antlerless deer license in a
special open season for antlerless deer in a tract within  a  Wilderness
Hunting  Area  fixed  by regulation pursuant to subdivision 6 of section
11-0903 of this title, or (6) pursuant to a deer management permit by  a
person  eligible  to  take  such  deer  pursuant  thereto as provided in
section 11-0913 of this title, or (7) pursuant to a permit issued to  an
eligible  non-ambulatory  person,  pursuant  to subdivision 2 of section
11-0931 of this title, while in possession of a valid license issued  by
the  department which authorizes the holder to hunt big game. Nothing in
this  subparagraph  shall  be  construed  to  limit  the  power  of  the
department  to  designate  by  regulation  an area or areas of the state
consisting of a county or part of a county where such season shall apply
and whether the number of such special permits shall be limited.
b. Except in the Northern Zone as defined in subdivision 15 of section
11-0103, bear which the taker knows or should know to be less  than  one
year old shall not be taken.
* c.  The limit for wild deer is one deer per person in a license year
except that (1) a person  entitled  to  exercise  the  privileges  of  a
special  antlerless  deer  license  may  take  an  antlerless deer while
hunting pursuant to such license in addition to the limit of one deer in
a license year otherwise applicable, (2) a person who is a member  of  a
hunting  group  holding  a  deer  management  permit  or  permits issued
pursuant to section 11-0913 of this article  may  take  additional  deer
while  hunting  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  of  the permit or
permits, (3) the holder of a bowhunting privilege  or  a  muzzle-loading
privilege  may  take  up to two additional deer, pursuant to regulations
promulgated by  the  department,  and  (4)  an  eligible  non-ambulatory
person, pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 11-0931 of this article may
take  a  deer  of  either sex in any wildlife management unit area where
deer management permits have been issued by  the  department,  while  in
possession of a valid hunting license. Nothing contained in this section
shall  be construed to limit the power of the department to designate by
regulation an area or areas of the state consisting of a county or  part
of a county where such season shall apply and whether the number of such
special permits shall be limited.
* NB Effective until December 31, 2024
* c.  The  limit  for  wild deer and bear is one deer and one bear per
person in a license year except that (1) a person entitled  to  exercise
the  privileges  of  a  special  antlerless  deer  license  may  take an
antlerless deer while hunting pursuant to such license  in  addition  to
the  limit  of  one  deer  in a license year otherwise applicable, (2) a
person who is a member of a hunting  group  holding  a  deer  management
permit or permits issued pursuant to section 11-0913 of this article may
take  additional deer while hunting in accordance with the conditions of
the permit or permits, (3) the holder of a  bowhunting  privilege  or  a
muzzle-loading privilege may take up to two additional deer, pursuant to
regulations   promulgated   by  the  department,  and  (4)  an  eligible
non-ambulatory person, pursuant to subdivision 2 of section  11-0931  of

this  article  may  take a deer of either sex in any wildlife management
unit area  where  deer  management  permits  have  been  issued  by  the
department,  while  in  possession  of  a valid hunting license. Nothing
contained  in  this section shall be construed to limit the power of the
department to designate by regulation an area  or  areas  of  the  state
consisting of a county or part of a county where such season shall apply
and whether the number of such special permits shall be limited.
* NB Effective December 31, 2024
d.  (1)  A  person  who  holds licenses and privileges authorizing the
holder to hunt deer during a special archery season and the regular open
season and who has taken a deer by longbow in a special  archery  season
and  who  has not taken a deer in a regular open season may, in addition
to the limit of one deer in a license year  otherwise  applicable,  take
during  the same license year additional deer as specified by department
regulation in a special  archery  season  following  the  close  of  the
regular open deer season.
(2)  A person who holds licenses and privileges authorizing the holder
to hunt deer during a special archery season and the regular open season
and who has taken a deer by longbow in the regular open season for  deer
in  Westchester or Suffolk counties may, in addition to the limit of one
deer in a license  year  otherwise  applicable,  take  during  the  same
license  year  additional  deer  as  specified  by department regulation
during such Westchester or Suffolk county regular open deer season.
e. A person who holds licenses and privileges authorizing  the  holder
to hunt deer during a special muzzle-loading season and the regular open
season  and  who  has  taken  a  deer  by  muzzle-loading  firearm  in a
muzzle-loading season and who has not taken a deer  in  a  regular  open
season  may,  in  addition  to  the  limit of one deer in a license year
otherwise applicable, take during  the  same  year  additional  deer  as
specified  by  department  regulation in a special muzzle-loading season
following the close of the regular deer season.
2. Regular seasons. * a. Regular open hunting  seasons  for  deer  are
established  separately  for  the  named regions or parts of regions, or
named counties listed in column one of  the  table  set  forth  in  this
subdivision,  and  are specified as seasons for taking by pistol, rifle,
shotgun or long bow, or for taking by  shotgun,  crossbow  or  long  bow
only,  or  for  taking  by  long  bow only, as indicated in column three
entitled "Manner of Taking". Where taking of  big  game  by  shotgun  is
permitted  by  this chapter such shotgun may contain rifling in all or a
portion of the barrel, provided, however, if the  barrel  or  a  portion
thereof  does  contain  rifling  only  shells having non-metallic cases,
except for the base, may be used. In the areas identified in column  one
except  in  the  "closed  areas"  specified  in subdivision five of this
section the game specified in column two may be taken in the open season
stated in column two immediately  following  the  specification  of  the
game, in the manner specified in column three.
TABLE
Column One                Column Two               Column Three
Area              Game and Open Season        Manner of Taking
 
(a) Northern Zone         Deer, next to last       Pistol, rifle,
Saturday in October      shotgun, crossbow
through first Sunday      or long bow
in December
 
(b) Catskill region       Deer, first Monday       Pistol, rifle,
except Delaware,        after November 15        shotgun, crossbow
Greene, Sullivan,       through first Tuesday    or long bow
Ulster counties         after December 7
and those counties
or portions thereof
listed in item (i)
of this paragraph
 
(c) Counties of           Deer, first Monday       Pistol, rifle,
Delaware, Greene,       after November 15        shotgun, crossbow
Sullivan and Ulster     through first Tuesday    or long bow
after December 7
 
** (d) Eastern region,    Deer, first Monday       Pistol, shotgun,
except Albany,          after November 15        crossbow,
Columbia, Fulton,       through first Tuesday    muzzle loading
Orange, Rensselaer,     after December 7         firearm or
Saratoga, Schenectady,                           long bow only
Washington Counties
and those counties
or portions thereof
listed in item (i)
of this paragraph
** NB Effective until October 1, 2024
 
** (d) Eastern region,    Deer, first Monday       Pistol, shotgun,
except Columbia,        after November 15        crossbow,
Fulton, Orange,         through first Tuesday    muzzle loading
Rensselaer, Saratoga,   after December 7         firearm or
Schenectady,                                     long bow only
Washington Counties
and those counties
or portions thereof
listed in item (i)
of this paragraph
** NB Effective October 1, 2024
 
(e) Fulton, Saratoga,     Deer, first Monday       Pistol, rifle,
Schenectady,            after November 15        shotgun, crossbow
Washington (parts       through first Tuesday    or long bow
in the Southern         after December 7
zone), Columbia,
Orange, and
Rensselaer
counties
 
** (f) Southern tier,     Deer, first              Pistol, shotgun,
central and Western     Monday after November    crossbow,
region, except those    15 through first         muzzle loading
counties or portions    Tuesday after            firearm or
thereof listed in       December 7               long bow only
item (i), (j), (k),
(l), (m), (n), (o)
or (p) of this
paragraph
** NB Effective until October 1, 2024
 
** (f) Southern tier,     Deer, first              Pistol, shotgun,
central and Western     Monday after November    crossbow,
region, except those    15 through first         muzzle loading
counties or portions    Tuesday after            firearm or
thereof listed in       December 7               long bow only
item (i), (j), (k),
(l), (m) or (n),
or (p) of this
paragraph
** NB Effective October 1, 2024 until October 1, 2025
 
** (f) Southern tier,     Deer, first              Pistol, shotgun,
central and Western     Monday after November    crossbow,
region, except those    15 through first         muzzle loading
counties or portions    Tuesday after            firearm or
thereof listed in       December 7               long bow only
item (i), (j), (k)
or (l), or (n) of
this paragraph
** NB Effective October 1, 2025
 
(g) Westchester           Deer of either sex,      long bow only
County                  November 1 through
December 31
 
(h) Suffolk County        Deer of either sex       long bow only
Second Monday in
November through
March thirty-first
 
(i) The counties of       Deer, the first Monday   Pistol, shotgun,
Allegany, Cattaraugus,  after November 15        crossbow,
Cayuga, Chautauqua      through first Tuesday    muzzle loading
except that portion     after December 7         firearm, rifle or
of the county north                              long bow only
of route 20, Chemung,
Chenango, Herkimer,
Madison,
Montgomery, Oneida,
Oswego, Otsego,
Schoharie, Schuyler,
Steuben, Tioga,
Wyoming, Seneca
and Yates
and that portion of
the county of
Broome east of the
Susquehanna river
 
(j) The county of         Deer, the first Saturday Pistol, shotgun,
Genesee                 after November 15        crossbow, muzzle
through first Sunday     loading firearm,
after December 7         rifle or long bow
 
(k) The county of         Deer, the first          Pistol, shotgun,
Ontario                Saturday after November  crossbow,
15 through first Sunday  muzzle loading
after December 7         firearm, rifle or
long bow only
 
(l) The county of         Deer, the first          Pistol, shotgun,
Wayne                  Saturday after November  crossbow,
15 through first Sunday  muzzle loading
after December 7         firearm, rifle
or long bow only
 
** (m) The county of      Deer, the first          Pistol, shotgun,
Albany                 Saturday after November  crossbow, muzzle
15 through first Sunday  loading firearm,
after December 7         rifle or long bow
only
** NB There are 2 item (m)'s
** NB Repealed October 1, 2024
 
** (m) The county of      Deer, the first Saturday Pistol, shotgun,
Livingston             after November 15        crossbow, muzzle
through first Sunday     loading firearm,
after December 7         rifle or long bow
** NB There are 2 item (m)'s
 
** (n) The county of      Deer, the first          Pistol, shotgun,
 Broome west of the       Saturday after November  crossbow, muzzle
 Susquehanna river        15 through first Sunday  loading firearm,
 except within the        after December 7         rifle or long bow
 city of Binghamton
** NB There are 2 item (n)'s
 
** (n) The county of      Deer, the first Saturday Pistol, shotgun,
 Orleans                  after November 15        crossbow, muzzle
through first Sunday     loading firearm,
after December 7         rifle or long bow
** NB There are 2 item (n)'s
 
** (o) The county of      Deer, the first          Pistol, shotgun,
Tompkins              Saturday after November  crossbow, muzzle
15 through first Sunday  loading firearm,
after December 7         rifle or long bow
** Repealed October 1, 2024
 
** (p) The county of      Deer, the first          Pistol, shotgun,
Onondaga                Saturday after November  crossbow, muzzle
15 through first Sunday  loading firearm,
after December 7         rifle or long bow
** Repealed October 1, 2025
 
* NB Effective until December 31, 2024
* a.  Regular  open  hunting  seasons  for  big  game  are established
separately for the named regions or parts of regions, or named  counties
listed in column one of the table set forth in this subdivision, and are
specified  as  seasons for taking by pistol, rifle, shotgun or long bow,
or for taking by shotgun or long bow only, or for  taking  by  long  bow
only,  as  indicated  in column three entitled "Manner of Taking". Where
taking of big game by shotgun is permitted by this chapter such  shotgun
may  contain  rifling  in  all  or  a  portion  of the barrel, provided,
however, if the barrel or a portion thereof does  contain  rifling  only
shells  having  non-metallic cases, except for the base, may be used. In

the areas  identified  in  column  one  except  in  the  "closed  areas"
specified in subdivision 5 the game specified in column two may be taken
in  the  open  season  stated  in  column  two immediately following the
specification of the game, in the manner specified in column three.
TABLE
Column One                Column Two               Column Three
Area              Game and Open Season        Manner of Taking
 
(a) Northern Zone         Deer and bear, next       Pistol, rifle,
to last Saturday in       shotgun,
October through first     crossbow
Sunday in December        or long bow
 
(b) Catskill region       Deer and bear, first      Pistol, rifle,
except Delaware,        Monday after              shotgun,
Greene, Sullivan,       November 15 through       crossbow
Ulster counties         first Tuesday after       or long bow
and those counties      December 7
or portions thereof
listed in item (i)
of this paragraph
 
(c) Counties of           Deer, first Monday        Pistol, rifle,
Delaware, Greene,       after November 15         shotgun,
Sullivan and Ulster     through first Tuesday     crossbow
after December 7;         or long bow
Bear, first Monday
after November 15
through second
Tuesday after
December 7
 
(d) Eastern region,       Deer and bear,            Pistol, shotgun,
except Columbia,        first Monday after        crossbow, muzzle
Fulton, Orange,         November 15 through       loading firearm
Rensselaer, Saratoga,   first Tuesday after       or long bow only
Schenectady,            December 7
Washington Counties
and those counties
or portions thereof
listed in item (i)
of this paragraph
 
(e) Fulton, Saratoga,     Deer and bear, first      Pistol, rifle,
Schenectady,            Monday after November     shotgun,
Washington (parts       15 through first          crossbow
in the Southern         Tuesday after             or long bow
zone), Columbia,        December 7
Orange, and
Rensselaer
counties
 
(f) Southern tier,        Deer and bear, first      Pistol, shotgun,
central and Western     Monday after November     crossbow, muzzle
region, except those    15 through first          loading firearm
counties or portions    Tuesday after             or long bow only
thereof listed in       December 7
item (i), (j), (j),
(k), (l) **, (m)**
**or (n)** of this
paragraph
** NB ", (m)" expires October 1, 2024
** NB "or (n)" expires October 1, 2025
 
(g) Westchester           Deer of either sex,       Long bow only
County                  November 1 through
December 31
 
(h) Suffolk County        Deer of either sex        long bow only
Second Monday in
November through
March thirty-first
 
(i) The counties of       Deer and bear, the        Pistol, shotgun,
Allegany, Cattaraugus,  first Monday after        crossbow,
Chautauqua except       November 15 through       muzzle loading
that portion of the     first Tuesday after       firearm, rifle or
county north of route   December 7                long bow only
20, Chenango,
Herkimer, Montgomery,
Oneida, Oswego,
Otsego, Schoharie,
Tioga and Wyoming
and that portion
of the county
of Broome east of the
Susquehanna river
 
** (j) The county of      Deer and bear, the        Pistol, shotgun,
Ontario                first Saturday after      crossbow,
November 15 through       muzzle loading
first Sunday after        firearm, rifle or
December 7                long bow only
** NB There are 2 item (j)'s
 
** (j) The county of      Deer and bear, the first  Pistol, shotgun,
Wayne                  Saturday after November   crossbow, muzzle
15 through first Sunday   loading firearm,
after December 7          rifle or long bow
only
** NB There are 2 item (j)'s
 
(k) The county of         Deer and bear, the first  Pistol, shotgun,
 Livingston               Saturday after November   crossbow, muzzle
15 through first Sunday   loading firearm,
after December 7          rifle or long bow
 
** (l) The county of      Deer and bear, the        Pistol, shotgun,
 Broome west of the       first Saturday after      crossbow, muzzle
 Susquehanna river        November 15 through       loading firearm,
 except within the        first Sunday after        rifle or long
 city of Binghamton       December 7                bow only
** NB There are 4 item (l)'s

** (l) The county of      Deer and bear, the        Pistol, shotgun,
 Genesee                  first Saturday after      crossbow, muzzle
November 15 through       loading firearm,
first Sunday after        rifle or long
December 7                bow only
 
** NB There are 4 item (l)'s
 
** (l) The county of      Deer and bear, the first  Pistol, shotgun,
Seneca                  Saturday after November   crossbow, muzzle
15 through first          loading firearm,
Sunday after              rifle or long
December 7                bow only
** NB There are 4 item (l)'s
 
** (l) The county of      Deer and bear, the        Pistol, shotgun,
Orleans                 first Saturday after      crossbow, muzzle
November 15 through       loading firearm,
first Sunday after        rifle or long
December 7                bow only
** NB There are 4 item (l)'s
 
** (m) The county of      Deer and bear, the        Pistol, shotgun,
Tompkins              first Saturday after      crossbow, muzzle
November 15 through       loading firearm,
first Sunday after        rifle or long
December 7                bow only
** NB Repealed October 1, 2024
 
** (n) The county of      Deer and bear, the        Pistol, shotgun,
Onondaga                first Saturday after      crossbow, muzzle
November 15 through       loading firearm,
first Sunday after        rifle or long
December 7                bow only
** Repealed October 1, 2025
 
* NB Effective December 31, 2024
* b.  Regular  open  hunting  seasons for bear are fixed by regulation
pursuant to subdivision 8 of section 11-0903. The implements allowed for
bear hunting will be the same as  those  allowed  for  deer  hunting  as
listed  in  column  three  of the table set forth in paragraph a of this
subdivision.
* NB Expires December 31, 2024
3. Special archery seasons.
* a. In every area identified in column one of the table set forth  in
subdivision  2  of this section, except Westchester and Suffolk Counties
in  which  a  regular  open  season  for  taking  deer  by  firearms  is
established  and  effective,  a  special  open season is established for
taking deer of either sex, by the use of a long bow only by holders of a
hunting license with a valid bowhunting privilege.
* NB Effective until December 31, 2024
* a. In every area identified in column one of the table set forth  in
subdivision  2  of this section, except Westchester and Suffolk Counties
in  which  a  regular  open  season  for  taking  deer  by  firearms  is
established  and  effective,  a  special  open season is established for
taking deer of either sex, and bear, by the use of a long  bow  only  by
holders of a hunting license with a valid bowhunting privilege.
* NB Effective December 31, 2024
* b. Such special open deer hunting season for each area shall be from
October 15 through the day immediately preceding the regular open season
for  deer  stated in column two of the table set forth in subdivision 2,
except that in the Northern Zone  each  special  season  shall  be  from
September  27  through the Friday immediately preceding the next to last
Saturday in October, and in the Southern Zone such special season  shall
also  include  the  five  days following the closing of the regular open
season.
* NB Effective until December 31, 2024
* b. Such special open season for each area shall be from  October  15
through  the  day immediately preceding the regular open season for deer
stated in column two of the table set forth  in  subdivision  2,  except
that in the Northern Zone each special season shall be from September 27
through  the  Friday  immediately preceding the next to last Saturday in
October, and in the Southern Zone such special season shall also include
the five days following the closing of the regular open season.
* NB Effective December 31, 2024
* c. A similar special open  bear  hunting  season  may  be  fixed  by
regulation pursuant to subdivision 8 of section 11-0903.
* NB Expires December 31, 2024
4.  a.  "Northern  Zone"  and  "Southern  Zone" are defined in section
11-0103.
b. "Catskill region" means that part of the Southern  Zone  consisting
of  the  counties of Greene, Sullivan, Ulster; those parts of Broome and
Chenango counties easterly of the Susquehanna River  from  its  junction
with the Unadilla River at the Chenango-Otsego County boundary line to a
point  where  it intersects the New York-Pennsylvania line; that part of
Otsego County south of the main line tracks of the Delaware  and  Hudson
Railroad  Company;  and  those  parts of Delaware and Schoharie counties
lying south and west of a line beginning at the intersection of the main
line tracks of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Railroad  Company  with  the
Otsego-Schoharie  County  line  to  the village of Richmondville, thence
south on Route 10 to its intersection with Route 23 in  the  village  of
Stamford,  thence  easterly  along  Route  23  to  its intersection with
Schoharie County Route 342 thence easterly along Schoharie County  Route
342  to  its intersection with Schoharie County Route 3; thence easterly
along Schoharie County Route 3 to the Albany-Schoharie County line.
c. "Eastern region" means that part of the Southern Zone easterly of a
continuous line formed  by  the  Susquehanna  river  commencing  at  its
intersection  with  the  New  York-Pennsylvania  boundary in the town of
Windsor in Broome county to its confluence with the Unadilla  river,  by
the Unadilla river from its confluence with the Susquehanna river to its
intersection   with   the   Herkimer-Otsego   county  boundary,  by  the
Otsego-Herkimer  county  boundary  and  by  the  Oneida-Herkimer  county
boundary  to the Northern Zone, except (1) the "Catskill region" defined
in paragraph b and (2) Westchester county.
d. "Southern tier, central and western region" means that part of  the
Southern  Zone  lying  westerly  of  the  continuous  line  described in
paragraph c.
5. Closed areas. The following areas are closed to the taking of  deer
and bear:
a. In Monroe County, the area bounded and described as follows: On the
west  by  Route  261  (Manitou  Road) beginning at Manitou Beach on Lake
Ontario in the town of Greece and continuing southerly along  such  road
to  its  intersection  with  the Barge Canal, thence easterly along such
canal to East Avenue in the village of Pittsford,  thence  northeasterly
along  East  Avenue  to  Allen  Creek  in  the  town of Brighton, thence
northerly along Allen Creek to Irondequoit Creek, thence northerly along

Irondequoit  Creek  to  Irondequoit  Bay,  thence  northerly  along  the
easterly  shore  of Irondequoit Bay to Lake Ontario; except that deer of
either sex may be taken during the  regular  and  special  deer  hunting
seasons provided for in this title by the use of a longbow by holders of
licenses  which  authorize  the  holder  to  hunt  deer during a special
archery season and provided further that this exception  permitting  the
taking  of  deer by a longbow shall not apply within an area in the town
of Greece bounded and described as follows: On the  west  by  Long  Pond
Road beginning at Latta Road and continuing southerly along such road to
its  intersection with Maiden Lane, thence easterly along Maiden Lane to
its intersection with Mt. Read Blvd., thence northerly  along  Mt.  Read
Blvd.  to  its intersection with Latta Road, thence westerly along Latta
Road to its intersection with Long Pond Road at the point of beginning.
b. In Erie County, the area bounded by a continuous line beginning  at
the  point of confluence of the east branch of the Niagara River and the
Tonawanda Creek, and from said point of  beginning  easterly  along  the
south  bank  of  Tonawanda  Creek  to  its intersection with highway 78,
thence southerly along highway 78 to its intersection with Greiner Road,
thence easterly along Greiner Road to its  junction  with  highway  268,
thence  southerly  along highway 268 to its intersection with highway 5,
thence westerly along highway 5 to its junction with Ransom Road, thence
southerly along Ransom Road to its intersection with highway 33,  thence
westerly  along  highway  33 to its intersection with highway 78, thence
southerly along highway 78 to its intersection with highway  20,  thence
southwesterly  along  highway  20 to its intersection with highway 20-a,
thence westerly along the extension of highway 20-a to Lake Erie, thence
northerly along the shores of Lake Erie and the  Niagara  River  to  the
place of beginning.
c. Nassau County.
d.  In Herkimer county, town of Webb, the area bounded by a continuous
line  beginning  at  the  intersection  of  the  Judson  Road  and   the
Herkimer-Hamilton  county  boundary  line,  thence westerly to the Higby
road, continuing southwesterly to its intersection with  the  Big  Moose
road  (Herkimer  county  highway 1), thence north and westerly along the
Big Moose road to its intersection with the  Martin  road  and  easterly
along the Martin road to its end, thence back to the lake shore and back
along  and around the shore of Big Moose lake (starting westerly) to the
Herkimer-Hamilton county boundary on the shore and then south along  the
boundary line ending at the Judson road, the point of beginning.
e. In Herkimer and Hamilton counties, the area bounded by a continuous
line  beginning  at the junction of the South Shore Road and Route 28 in
the village of Old Forge and extending northeasterly along Route  28  to
the  hamlet of Inlet and thence southwesterly along the South Shore Road
to the point of beginning.
7. Areas restricted to long bow only.
a. The area described in this subdivision is closed to the  taking  of
deer  and bear by firearms, but shall be open for taking deer by the use
of a longbow only by holders of licenses which authorize the holders  to
hunt deer during a special archery season as follows: during the special
deer  season  stated  in  subdivision  3  of this section and during the
regular season stated in subdivision 2 of this section, deer  of  either
sex may be taken.
b.  This subdivision applies to that area in Albany county east of the
Penn Central West Shore railroad starting at the Schenectady county line
in the town of Guilderland and continuing to  its  confluence  with  the
Penn  Central  Hudson  River connecting railroad, thence along such Penn
Central Hudson River connecting railroad until  it  meets  Route  32  in
Feura  Bush  and  northeast  on Route 32 to its juncture with Feura Bush

road, then east along Feura Bush road to its juncture with Route 144  in
Glenmont, then south along Route 144 to the Vlaman Kill, then east along
the Vlaman Kill to the Hudson river.
8. Muzzle-loading firearm big game season.
a.  In  every  area identified in column one of the table set forth in
subdivision two of  this  section,  except  those  areas  restricted  to
special  seasons  for  taking deer by longbow only, special open seasons
may be established by regulation for taking deer and/or bear, by the use
of muzzle-loading firearms, of not less  than  .44  caliber  shooting  a
single  projectile,  or  by  the  use of a crossbow, by the holders of a
hunting license with a valid muzzle-loading privilege.
b. Such special open season for the Southern Zone  shall  be  for  the
seven  day period immediately preceding the regular open season for deer
stated in column two of the table set forth in subdivision two  of  this
section,  except  that  the department may, by regulation, fix such open
season in the Southern Zone or any portion  thereof  to  be  either  the
seven  days  immediately  preceding or immediately following the regular
open season for deer, provided, however, that any taking of deer or bear
by the use of a crossbow in a season or  special  season  in  which  the
muzzle  loader  is  the only firearm permitted shall succeed the regular
open hunting season for deer established pursuant to subdivision two  of
of this section.
c. Until December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-four, such special
season for the Northern Zone or any portion thereof may by regulation be
for  up  to  a fourteen-day period preceding the regular open season for
deer stated in column two of the table set forth  in  subdivision  2  of
this  section  or  may be for up to a fourteen-day period following such
open season or any combination  thereof,  provided  that  a  maximum  of
sixteen days is not exceeded for any open area. Regulations establishing
such  Northern  Zone  muzzle-loading firearm big game season may specify
the taking of deer of either sex,  antlerless  deer  only,  legal  bucks
only,   or  any  combination  thereof,  and  may  require  that  persons
participating in the  Northern  Zone  muzzle-loading  firearm  big  game
season  obtain  a  special permit from the department. When establishing
these regulations, the department must consider  the  condition  of  the
herd  and  communities',  property  owners', hunters' and other relevant
interests.
9. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision  of  this  chapter,  big
game may be taken on any day of the week during open season or a special
season  in  those parts of New York state east of a line starting at the
juncture of the shore of Lake Ontario and West Bay road; then  southerly
along  West  Bay  road  to Route 104A; then easterly along Route 104A to
Route 38; then southerly along Route 38 to the New  York  State  Thruway
Interstate  90  at Port Byron; then southwesterly along Interstate 90 to
Route 90 near Montezuma; then southerly along Route 90 to Route 20; then
westerly along Route 20 to the east bank of Seneca River; then southerly
along the east bank of Seneca River to the east shore  of  Cayuga  Lake;
then southerly along the east shore of Cayuga Lake to Cayuga Creek; then
southerly  along  the  east  bank of Cayuga Creek to Route 96 in Ithaca;
then southerly along Route 96 to Sabin Road in Spencer;  then  southerly
and  westerly  along  Sabin  Road to Dean Creek Road; then southwesterly
along Dean Creek Road to Route 34; then southerly along Route 34 to  the
Pennsylvania boundary.
10.  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of  this  chapter,  or any prior
notwithstanding  language  in  this  article,  the  department  may,  by
regulation, authorize the taking of big game by the use of a crossbow by
any  licensed  person  in  any big game season in any area designated in
items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (i), (k) and (l) of paragraph  a  of

subdivision  two  of this section in which a shotgun or muzzle loader is
permitted provided however, that any crossbow use during an archery-only
season shall only take place during the last fourteen  consecutive  days
of  such  archery-only  season  in  the southern zone provided that such
archery-only season shall consist of not less than forty-five  days  and
only  during the last ten consecutive days of any archery-only season in
the northern zone provided that such archery-only season  shall  consist
of  no  less  than  twenty-three  days.  Any muzzle loading season which
occurs at the same time as a  special  archery  season  may  only  occur
during times when crossbows are authorized to be used.