State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said many deer hunting opportunities are still available in New York and encouraged new and experienced hunters to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLate-season deer hunting provides a great opportunity to enjoy time afield with family and friends,\u201d Seggos said. \u201cThe Holiday Deer Hunt continues again this year for hunters across the Southern Zone, allowing families to hunt together when students are on break from school and many adults have time off from work. I hope all hunters continue to have a safe and successful big-game hunting season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The regular firearms season in the Southern Zone includes a late bow and muzzleloader season from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Holiday Deer Hunt is an extension of the late bow and muzzleloader season, running from Dec. 26, 2022, to Jan. 1, 2023. Hunters must possess a bowhunting or muzzleloading privilege to participate in the late bow or muzzleloader season, and they may use all deer carcass tags valid during those seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional late season opportunities<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These late seasons are also a great time to get venison for consumption or to donate venison<\/a> to others. Every late-season deer hunter has at least one tag for antlerless deer, with either-sex and antlerless-only bow\/muzz tags, and unfilled regular season tags which can also be used for antlerless deer during the late seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, it is now a requirement to wear blaze orange or pink when pursuing deer with a firearm<\/a>. This requirement helps you identify other hunters that may be downrange and alerts hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts that they are sharing the woods with you. In addition, always follow the basics of hunter safety<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n DEC also encourages all hunters to follow the “ABCs” of tree stand safety:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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