​​​​​​​DEC has proposed several rule changes that will affect deer and bear hunting this fall.

[Grouse]

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 

 

DEC has proposed several rule changes that will affect deer and bear hunting this fall. The changes are designed to improve deer management, simplify big game hunting, expand hunting opportunity, and increase hunter safety.

DEC is proposing to:

- Extend legal hunting hours for deer and bear to begin 30-minutes before sunrise and end 30-minutes after sunset;

- Increase hunter safety by requiring all hunters pursuing deer or bear with a firearm to wear a solid or patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat or vest or jacket;

- Increase antlerless deer harvest by establishing a 9-day firearms season in September for antlerless deer in certain WMUs;

- Allow hunters to harvest deer of either sex during the early muzzleloader season in three northern New York WMUs; and,

- Simplify bear hunting in the Adirondack portion of the Northern Zone by extending the regular firearm season to cover the entire hunting period.

Written public comments on these proposed regulations will be accepted through August 8, 2021.To view the proposed regulations and provide comment, visit DEC's Fish and Wildlife Proposed Regulations page: https://on.ny.gov/3gATyOA.

[Cory]

I can get behind these rule changes except for use of firearms before archery season. The one thing missing still is the use of crossbow during the entire archery season.

[G-Man]

All for 30 min before su rise and after sunset. Not a fan of mandatory hi Vis or orange.  Should be choice .  The rest do not matter to me personally.. 

[land 1]

all sound good to me not in the area with early doe season, can see people not liking that but at the same time if in fact population is that high gotta do something, and dont really see it effecting deer movement, much after things calm down in a week after it closes

[suburbanfarmer]

18 hours ago, G-Man said:

All for 30 min before su rise and after sunset. Not a fan of mandatory hi Vis or orange.  Should be choice .  The rest do not matter to me personally.. 

Maybe mandatory on state land?

[G-Man]

2 hours ago, suburbanfarmer said:

Maybe mandatory on state land?

If the implement it it will everywhere and still hunting in snow camo late.seaon will be forced to wear orange.. ( any firearm would be required)

[suburbanfarmer]

2 hours ago, G-Man said:

If the implement it it will everywhere and still hunting in snow camo late.seaon will be forced to wear orange.. ( any firearm would be required)

We can hope but you are correct, it will be a broad stroke.