Hunters, heads up, there are new rules for bear and deer hunting

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Hey New York hunters, heads up, there are some new rules heading into the deer and bear hunting season across the state.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, rule changes include extending hunting hours and dress code requirements.

The changes include:

• A nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September (Sept. 11-19, 2021) using firearms in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 3M, 3R, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8J, 8N, 9A, and 9F, and using bowhunting equipment in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J, and 8C.
• Restore antlerless harvest during the early muzzleloader season in Northern Zone WMUs 6A, 6F, and 6J.
• Extend the hunting hours for deer and bear to include the full period of ambient light from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. All other states allow deer hunting beginning one-half hour before sunrise or earlier, or specify daylight hours.
• Require anyone hunting big game with a firearm, or accompanying someone hunting big game with a firearm, to wear a solid or patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat, vest, or jacket. Most two-party hunting-related shooting incidents in New York involve a hunter victim who was not wearing fluorescent orange or pink clothing. Similar fluorescent orange requirements exist in most states.
• Simplify bear hunting season in the Adirondack region by extending the regular season to cover the entire hunting period.

The full list of adopted regulations can be found here.