§ 11-0907 — Deer and bear; open hunting seasons; bag limits

§ 11-0907. Deer and bear; open hunting seasons; bag limits.\n 1. a. Wild deer without antlers or having antlers measuring less than\nthree inches in length shall not be taken unless it is taken (1) by long\nbow in a special long bow season established in subdivision three of\nthis section, or (2) by muzzle-loading firearm in a special\nmuzzle-loading firearm season established in subdivision eight of this\nsection, or (3) by long bow in Westchester and Suffolk Counties in a\nyear in which a regular season for deer of either sex is established for\nsuch counties, or (4) in a special open season for deer of either sex\nfixed by regulation pursuant to subdivision five or seven of section\n11-0903 of this title, or (5) pursuant to a special antlerless deer\nlicense in a special open season for antlerless deer in a tract within a\nWilderness Hunting Area fixed by regulation pursuant to subdivision six\nof section 11-0903 of this title, or (6) pursuant to a deer management\npermit by a person eligible to take such deer pursuant thereto as\nprovided in section 11-0913 of this title, or (7) pursuant to a permit\nissued to an eligible non-ambulatory person, pursuant to subdivision two\nof section 11-0931 of this title, while in possession of a valid license\nissued by the department which authorizes the holder to hunt big game.\nNothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to limit the power of\nthe department to designate by regulation an area or areas of the state\nconsisting of a county or part of a county where such season shall apply\nand whether the number of such special permits shall be limited.\n b. Except in the Northern Zone as defined in subdivision 15 of section\n11-0103, bear which the taker knows or should know to be less than one\nyear old shall not be taken.\n * c. The limit for wild deer is one deer per person in a license year\nexcept that (1) a person entitled to exercise the privileges of a\nspecial antlerless deer license may take an antlerless deer while\nhunting pursuant to such license in addition to the limit of one deer in\na license year otherwise applicable, (2) a person who is a member of a\nhunting group holding a deer management permit or permits issued\npursuant to section 11-0913 of this article may take additional deer\nwhile hunting in accordance with the conditions of the permit or\npermits, (3) the holder of a bowhunting privilege or a muzzle-loading\nprivilege may take up to two additional deer, pursuant to regulations\npromulgated by the department, and (4) an eligible non-ambulatory\nperson, pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 11-0931 of this article may\ntake a deer of either sex in any wildlife management unit area where\ndeer management permits have been issued by the department, while in\npossession of a valid hunting license. Nothing contained in this section\nshall be construed to limit the power of the department to designate by\nregulation an area or areas of the state consisting of a county or part\nof a county where such season shall apply and whether the number of such\nspecial permits shall be limited.\n * NB Effective until December 31, 2027\n * c. The limit for wild deer and bear is one deer and one bear per\nperson in a license year except that (1) a person entitled to exercise\nthe privileges of a special antlerless deer license may take an\nantlerless deer while hunting pursuant to such license in addition to\nthe limit of one deer in a license year otherwise applicable, (2) a\nperson who is a member of a hunting group holding a deer management\npermit or permits issued pursuant to section 11-0913 of this article may\ntake additional deer while hunting in accordance with the conditions of\nthe permit or permits, (3) the holder of a bowhunting privilege or a\nmuzzle-loading privilege may take up to two additional deer, pursuant to\nregulations promulgated by the department, and (4) an eligible\nnon-ambulatory person, pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 11-0931 of\nthis article may take a deer of either sex in any wildlife management\nunit area where deer management permits have been issued by the\ndepartment, while in possession of a valid hunting license. Nothing\ncontained in this section shall be construed to limit the power of the\ndepartment to designate by regulation an area or areas of the state\nconsisting of a county or part of a county where such season shall apply\nand whether the number of such special permits shall be limited.\n * NB Effective December 31, 2027\n d. (1) A person who holds licenses and privileges authorizing the\nholder to hunt deer during a special archery season and the regular open\nseason and who has taken a deer by longbow in a special archery season\nand who has not taken a deer in a regular open season may, in addition\nto the limit of one deer in a license year otherwise applicable, take\nduring the same license year additional deer as specified by department\nregulation in a special archery season following the close of the\nregular open deer season.\n (2) A person who holds licenses and privileges authorizing the holder\nto hunt deer during a special archery season and the regular open season\nand who has taken a deer by longbow in the regular open season for deer\nin Westchester or Suffolk counties may, in addition to the limit of one\ndeer in a license year otherwise applicable, take during the same\nlicense year additional deer as specified by department regulation\nduring such Westchester or Suffolk county regular open deer season.\n e. A person who holds licenses and privileges authorizing the holder\nto hunt deer during a special muzzle-loading season and the regular open\nseason and who has taken a deer by muzzle-loading firearm in a\nmuzzle-loading season and who has not taken a deer in a regular open\nseason may, in addition to the limit of one deer in a license year\notherwise applicable, take during the same year additional deer as\nspecified by department regulation in a special muzzle-loading season\nfollowing the close of the regular deer season.\n 2. Regular seasons. * a. Regular open hunting seasons for deer are\nestablished separately for the named regions or parts of regions, or\nnamed counties listed in column one of the table set forth in this\nsubdivision, and are specified as seasons for taking by pistol, rifle,\nshotgun or long bow, or for taking by shotgun, crossbow or long bow\nonly, or for taking by long bow only, as indicated in column three\nentitled "Manner of Taking". Where taking of big game by shotgun is\npermitted by this chapter such shotgun may contain rifling in all or a\nportion of the barrel, provided, however, if the barrel or a portion\nthereof does contain rifling only shells having non-metallic cases,\nexcept for the base, may be used. In the areas identified in column one\nexcept in the "closed areas" specified in subdivision five of this\nsection the game specified in column two may be taken in the open season\nstated in column two immediately following the specification of the\ngame, in the manner specified in column three.\n TABLE\n Column One Column Two Column Three\n Area Game and Open Season Manner of Taking\n(a) Northern Zone Deer, next to last Pistol, rifle,\n Saturday in October shotgun, crossbow\n through first Sunday or long bow\n in December\n(b) Catskill region Deer, first Monday Pistol, rifle,\n except Delaware, after November 15 shotgun, crossbow\n Greene, Sullivan, through first Tuesday or long bow\n Ulster counties after December 7\n and those counties\n or portions thereof\n listed in item (i)\n of this paragraph\n(c) Counties of Deer, first Monday Pistol, rifle,\n Delaware, Greene, after November 15 shotgun, crossbow\n Sullivan and Ulster through first Tuesday or long bow\n after December 7\n** (d) Eastern region, Deer, first Monday Pistol, shotgun,\n except Albany, after November 15 crossbow,\n Columbia, Fulton, through first Tuesday muzzle loading\n Orange, Rensselaer, after December 7 firearm or\n Saratoga, Schenectady, long bow only\n Washington Counties\n and those counties\n or portions thereof\n listed in item (i)\n of this paragraph\n** NB Effective until October 1, 2026\n** (d) Eastern region, Deer, first Monday Pistol, shotgun,\n except Columbia, after November 15 crossbow,\n Fulton, Orange, through first Tuesday muzzle loading\n Rensselaer, Saratoga, after December 7 firearm or\n Schenectady, long bow only\n Washington Counties\n and those counties\n or portions thereof\n listed in item (i)\n of this paragraph\n** NB Effective October 1, 2026\n(e) Fulton, Saratoga, Deer, first Monday Pistol, rifle,\n Schenectady, after November 15 shotgun, crossbow\n Washington (parts through first Tuesday or long bow\n in the Southern after December 7\n zone), Columbia,\n Orange, and\n Rensselaer\n counties\n** (f) Southern tier, Deer, first Pistol, shotgun,\n central and Western Monday after November crossbow,\n region, except those 15 through first muzzle loading\n counties or portions Tuesday after firearm or\n thereof listed in December 7 long bow only\n item (i), (j), (k),\n (l), (m), (n), (o),\n (p) or (q) of this\n paragraph\n** NB Effective until October 1, 2026\n** (f) Southern tier, Deer, first Pistol, shotgun,\n central and Western Monday after November crossbow,\n region, except those 15 through first muzzle loading\n counties or portions Tuesday after firearm or\n thereof listed in December 7 long bow only\n item (i), (j), (k),\n (l), (m) or (n),\n or (p) of this\n paragraph\n** NB Effective October 1, 2026 until October 1, 2027\n** (f) Southern tier, Deer, first Pistol, shotgun,\n central and Western Monday after November crossbow,\n region, except those 15 through first muzzle loading\n counties or portions Tuesday after firearm or\n thereof listed in December 7 long bow only\n item (i), (j), (k)\n or (l), or (n) of\n this paragraph\n** NB Effective October 1, 2027\n(g) Westchester Deer of either sex, long bow only\n County November 1 through\n December 31\n(h) Suffolk County Deer of either sex long bow only\n Second Monday in\n November through\n March thirty-first\n(i) The counties of Deer, the first Monday Pistol, shotgun,\n Allegany, Cattaraugus, after November 15 crossbow,\n Cayuga, Chautauqua through first Tuesday muzzle loading\n except that portion after December 7 firearm, rifle or\n of the county north long bow only\n of route 20, Chemung,\n Chenango, Herkimer,\n Madison,\n Montgomery, Oneida,\n Oswego, Otsego,\n Schoharie, Schuyler,\n Steuben, Tioga,\n Wyoming, Seneca\n and Yates\n and that portion of\n the county of\n Broome east of the\n Susquehanna river\n(j) The county of Deer, the first Saturday Pistol, shotgun,\n Genesee after November 15 crossbow, muzzle\n through first Sunday loading firearm,\n after December 7 rifle or long bow\n(k) The county of Deer, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Ontario Saturday after November crossbow,\n 15 through first Sunday muzzle loading\n after December 7 firearm, rifle or\n long bow only\n(l) The county of Deer, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Wayne Saturday after November crossbow,\n 15 through first Sunday muzzle loading\n after December 7 firearm, rifle\n or long bow only\n** (m) The county of Deer, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Albany Saturday after November crossbow, muzzle\n 15 through first Sunday loading firearm,\n after December 7 rifle or long bow\n only\n** NB There are 2 item (m)'s\n** NB Repealed October 1, 2026\n** (m) The county of Deer, the first Saturday Pistol, shotgun,\n Livingston after November 15 crossbow, muzzle\n through first Sunday loading firearm,\n after December 7 rifle or long bow\n** NB There are 2 item (m)'s\n** (n) The county of Deer, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Broome west of the Saturday after November crossbow, muzzle\n Susquehanna river 15 through first Sunday loading firearm,\n except within the after December 7 rifle or long bow\n city of Binghamton\n** NB There are 2 item (n)'s\n** (n) The county of Deer, the first Saturday Pistol, shotgun,\n Orleans after November 15 crossbow, muzzle\n through first Sunday loading firearm,\n after December 7 rifle or long bow\n** NB There are 2 item (n)'s\n** (o) The county of Deer, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Tompkins Saturday after November crossbow, muzzle\n 15 through first Sunday loading firearm,\n after December 7 rifle or long bow\n** Repealed October 1, 2026\n** (p) The county of Deer, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Onondaga Saturday after November crossbow, muzzle\n 15 through first Sunday loading firearm,\n after December 7 rifle or long bow\n** Repealed October 1, 2027\n** (q) The county of Deer, the first Saturday Pistol, shotgun,\nNiagara except after November 15 crossbow, muzzle\nwithin the city of through first Sunday loading firearm,\nNiagara Falls, the after December 7 rifle or long bow\ncity of Lockport\nand the city of\nNorth Tonawanda\n ** NB Repealed October 1, 2026\n * NB Effective until December 31, 2027\n * a. Regular open hunting seasons for big game are established\nseparately for the named regions or parts of regions, or named counties\nlisted in column one of the table set forth in this subdivision, and are\nspecified as seasons for taking by pistol, rifle, shotgun or long bow,\nor for taking by shotgun or long bow only, or for taking by long bow\nonly, as indicated in column three entitled "Manner of Taking". Where\ntaking of big game by shotgun is permitted by this chapter such shotgun\nmay contain rifling in all or a portion of the barrel, provided,\nhowever, if the barrel or a portion thereof does contain rifling only\nshells having non-metallic cases, except for the base, may be used. In\nthe areas identified in column one except in the "closed areas"\nspecified in subdivision 5 the game specified in column two may be taken\nin the open season stated in column two immediately following the\nspecification of the game, in the manner specified in column three.\n TABLE\n Column One Column Two Column Three\n Area Game and Open Season Manner of Taking\n(a) Northern Zone Deer and bear, next Pistol, rifle,\n to last Saturday in shotgun,\n October through first crossbow\n Sunday in December or long bow\n(b) Catskill region Deer and bear, first Pistol, rifle,\n except Delaware, Monday after shotgun,\n Greene, Sullivan, November 15 through crossbow\n Ulster counties first Tuesday after or long bow\n and those counties December 7\n or portions thereof\n listed in item (i)\n of this paragraph\n(c) Counties of Deer, first Monday Pistol, rifle,\n Delaware, Greene, after November 15 shotgun,\n Sullivan and Ulster through first Tuesday crossbow\n after December 7; or long bow\n Bear, first Monday\n after November 15\n through second\n Tuesday after\n December 7\n(d) Eastern region, Deer and bear, Pistol, shotgun,\n except Columbia, first Monday after crossbow, muzzle\n Fulton, Orange, November 15 through loading firearm\n Rensselaer, Saratoga, first Tuesday after or long bow only\n Schenectady, December 7\n Washington Counties\n and those counties\n or portions thereof\n listed in item (i)\n of this paragraph\n(e) Fulton, Saratoga, Deer and bear, first Pistol, rifle,\n Schenectady, Monday after November shotgun,\n Washington (parts 15 through first crossbow\n in the Southern Tuesday after or long bow\n zone), Columbia, December 7\n Orange, and\n Rensselaer\n counties\n(f) Southern tier, Deer and bear, first Pistol, shotgun,\n central and Western Monday after November crossbow, muzzle\n region, except those 15 through first loading firearm\n counties or portions Tuesday after or long bow only\n thereof listed in December 7\n item (i), (j), (j),\n (k), (l) **, (m),**\n **(n)** or (o) of this\n paragraph\n** NB "(m)" expires October 1, 2026\n** NB "(n)" expires October 1, 2027\n** NB "(o)" expires October 1, 2026\n(g) Westchester Deer of either sex, Long bow only\n County November 1 through\n December 31\n(h) Suffolk County Deer of either sex long bow only\n Second Monday in\n November through\n March thirty-first\n(i) The counties of Deer and bear, the Pistol, shotgun,\n Allegany, Cattaraugus, first Monday after crossbow,\n Chautauqua except November 15 through muzzle loading\n that portion of the first Tuesday after firearm, rifle or\n county north of route December 7 long bow only\n 20, Chenango,\n Herkimer, Montgomery,\n Oneida, Oswego,\n Otsego, Schoharie,\n Tioga and Wyoming\n and that portion\n of the county\n of Broome east of the\n Susquehanna river\n** (j) The county of Deer and bear, the Pistol, shotgun,\n Ontario first Saturday after crossbow,\n November 15 through muzzle loading\n first Sunday after firearm, rifle or\n December 7 long bow only\n** NB There are 2 item (j)'s\n** (j) The county of Deer and bear, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Wayne Saturday after November crossbow, muzzle\n 15 through first Sunday loading firearm,\n after December 7 rifle or long bow\n only\n** NB There are 2 item (j)'s\n(k) The county of Deer and bear, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Livingston Saturday after November crossbow, muzzle\n 15 through first Sunday loading firearm,\n after December 7 rifle or long bow\n** (l) The county of Deer and bear, the Pistol, shotgun,\n Broome west of the first Saturday after crossbow, muzzle\n Susquehanna river November 15 through loading firearm,\n except within the first Sunday after rifle or long\n city of Binghamton December 7 bow only\n** NB There are 4 item (l)'s\n** (l) The county of Deer and bear, the Pistol, shotgun,\n Genesee first Saturday after crossbow, muzzle\n November 15 through loading firearm,\n first Sunday after rifle or long\n December 7 bow only\n** NB There are 4 item (l)'s\n** (l) The county of Deer and bear, the first Pistol, shotgun,\n Seneca Saturday after November crossbow, muzzle\n 15 through first loading firearm,\n Sunday after rifle or long\n December 7 bow only\n** NB There are 4 item (l)'s\n** (l) The county of Deer and bear, the Pistol, shotgun,\n Orleans first Saturday after crossbow, muzzle\n November 15 through loading firearm,\n first Sunday after rifle or long\n December 7 bow only\n** NB There are 4 item (l)'s\n** (m) The county of Deer and bear, the Pistol, shotgun,\n Tompkins first Saturday after crossbow, muzzle\n November 15 through loading firearm,\n first Sunday after rifle or long\n December 7 bow only\n** NB Repealed October 1, 2026\n** (n) The county of Deer and bear, the Pistol, shotgun,\n Onondaga first Saturday after crossbow, muzzle\n November 15 through loading firearm,\n first Sunday after rifle or long\n December 7 bow only\n** Repealed October 1, 2027\n** (o) The county Deer and bear, the Pistol, shotgun,\nof Niagara first Saturday after crossbow, muzzle\nexcept the city November 15 through loading firearm,\nof Niagara Falls, first Sunday after rifle or long\nthe city of Lockport December 7 bow only\nand the city of North\nTonawanda\n** NB Repealed October 1, 2026\n* NB Effective December 31, 2027\n * b. Regular open hunting seasons for bear are fixed by regulation\npursuant to subdivision 8 of section 11-0903. The implements allowed for\nbear hunting will be the same as those allowed for deer hunting as\nlisted in column three of the table set forth in paragraph a of this\nsubdivision.\n * NB Expires December 31, 2027\n 3. Special archery seasons.\n * a. In every area identified in column one of the table set forth in\nsubdivision 2 of this section, except Westchester and Suffolk Counties\nin which a regular open season for taking deer by firearms is\nestablished and effective, a special open season is established for\ntaking deer of either sex, by the use of a long bow only by holders of a\nhunting license with a valid bowhunting privilege.\n * NB Effective until December 31, 2027\n * a. In every area identified in column one of the table set forth in\nsubdivision 2 of this section, except Westchester and Suffolk Counties\nin which a regular open season for taking deer by firearms is\nestablished and effective, a special open season is established for\ntaking deer of either sex, and bear, by the use of a long bow only by\nholders of a hunting license with a valid bowhunting privilege.\n * NB Effective December 31, 2027\n * b. Such special open deer hunting season for each area shall be from\nOctober 15 through the day immediately preceding the regular open season\nfor deer stated in column two of the table set forth in subdivision 2,\nexcept that in the Northern Zone each special season shall be from\nSeptember 27 through the Friday immediately preceding the next to last\nSaturday in October, and in the Southern Zone such special season shall\nalso include the five days following the closing of the regular open\nseason.\n * NB Effective until December 31, 2027\n * b. Such special open season for each area shall be from October 15\nthrough the day immediately preceding the regular open season for deer\nstated in column two of the table set forth in subdivision 2, except\nthat in the Northern Zone each special season shall be from September 27\nthrough the Friday immediately preceding the next to last Saturday in\nOctober, and in the Southern Zone such special season shall also include\nthe five days following the closing of the regular open season.\n * NB Effective December 31, 2027\n * c. A similar special open bear hunting season may be fixed by\nregulation pursuant to subdivision 8 of section 11-0903.\n * NB Expires December 31, 2027\n 4. a. "Northern Zone" and "Southern Zone" are defined in section\n11-0103.\n b. "Catskill region" means that part of the Southern Zone consisting\nof the counties of Greene, Sullivan, Ulster; those parts of Broome and\nChenango counties easterly of the Susquehanna River from its junction\nwith the Unadilla River at the Chenango-Otsego County boundary line to a\npoint where it intersects the New York-Pennsylvania line; that part of\nOtsego County south of the main line tracks of the Delaware and Hudson\nRailroad Company; and those parts of Delaware and Schoharie counties\nlying south and west of a line beginning at the intersection of the main\nline tracks of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company with the\nOtsego-Schoharie County line to the village of Richmondville, thence\nsouth on Route 10 to its intersection with Route 23 in the village of\nStamford, thence easterly along Route 23 to its intersection with\nSchoharie County Route 342 thence easterly along Schoharie County Route\n342 to its intersection with Schoharie County Route 3; thence easterly\nalong Schoharie County Route 3 to the Albany-Schoharie County line.\n c. "Eastern region" means that part of the Southern Zone easterly of a\ncontinuous line formed by the Susquehanna river commencing at its\nintersection with the New York-Pennsylvania boundary in the town of\nWindsor in Broome county to its confluence with the Unadilla river, by\nthe Unadilla river from its confluence with the Susquehanna river to its\nintersection with the Herkimer-Otsego county boundary, by the\nOtsego-Herkimer county boundary and by the Oneida-Herkimer county\nboundary to the Northern Zone, except (1) the "Catskill region" defined\nin paragraph b and (2) Westchester county.\n d. "Southern tier, central and western region" means that part of the\nSouthern Zone lying westerly of the continuous line described in\nparagraph c.\n 5. Closed areas. The following areas are closed to the taking of deer\nand bear:\n a. In Monroe County, the area bounded and described as follows: On the\nwest by Route 261 (Manitou Road) beginning at Manitou Beach on Lake\nOntario in the town of Greece and continuing southerly along such road\nto its intersection with the Barge Canal, thence easterly along such\ncanal to East Avenue in the village of Pittsford, thence northeasterly\nalong East Avenue to Allen Creek in the town of Brighton, thence\nnortherly along Allen Creek to Irondequoit Creek, thence northerly along\nIrondequoit Creek to Irondequoit Bay, thence northerly along the\neasterly shore of Irondequoit Bay to Lake Ontario; except that deer of\neither sex may be taken during the regular and special deer hunting\nseasons provided for in this title by the use of a longbow by holders of\nlicenses which authorize the holder to hunt deer during a special\narchery season and provided further that this exception permitting the\ntaking of deer by a longbow shall not apply within an area in the town\nof Greece bounded and described as follows: On the west by Long Pond\nRoad beginning at Latta Road and continuing southerly along such road to\nits intersection with Maiden Lane, thence easterly along Maiden Lane to\nits intersection with Mt. Read Blvd., thence northerly along Mt. Read\nBlvd. to its intersection with Latta Road, thence westerly along Latta\nRoad to its intersection with Long Pond Road at the point of beginning.\n b. In Erie County, the area bounded by a continuous line beginning at\nthe point of confluence of the east branch of the Niagara River and the\nTonawanda Creek, and from said point of beginning easterly along the\nsouth bank of Tonawanda Creek to its intersection with highway 78,\nthence southerly along highway 78 to its intersection with Greiner Road,\nthence easterly along Greiner Road to its junction with highway 268,\nthence southerly along highway 268 to its intersection with highway 5,\nthence westerly along highway 5 to its junction with Ransom Road, thence\nsoutherly along Ransom Road to its intersection with highway 33, thence\nwesterly along highway 33 to its intersection with highway 78, thence\nsoutherly along highway 78 to its intersection with highway 20, thence\nsouthwesterly along highway 20 to its intersection with highway 20-a,\nthence westerly along the extension of highway 20-a to Lake Erie, thence\nnortherly along the shores of Lake Erie and the Niagara River to the\nplace of beginning.\n c. Nassau County.\n d. In Herkimer county, town of Webb, the area bounded by a continuous\nline beginning at the intersection of the Judson Road and the\nHerkimer-Hamilton county boundary line, thence westerly to the Higby\nroad, continuing southwesterly to its intersection with the Big Moose\nroad (Herkimer county highway 1), thence north and westerly along the\nBig Moose road to its intersection with the Martin road and easterly\nalong the Martin road to its end, thence back to the lake shore and back\nalong and around the shore of Big Moose lake (starting westerly) to the\nHerkimer-Hamilton county boundary on the shore and then south along the\nboundary line ending at the Judson road, the point of beginning.\n e. In Herkimer and Hamilton counties, the area bounded by a continuous\nline beginning at the junction of the South Shore Road and Route 28 in\nthe village of Old Forge and extending northeasterly along Route 28 to\nthe hamlet of Inlet and thence southwesterly along the South Shore Road\nto the point of beginning.\n 7. Areas restricted to long bow only.\n a. The area described in this subdivision is closed to the taking of\ndeer and bear by firearms, but shall be open for taking deer by the use\nof a longbow only by holders of licenses which authorize the holders to\nhunt deer during a special archery season as follows: during the special\ndeer season stated in subdivision 3 of this section and during the\nregular season stated in subdivision 2 of this section, deer of either\nsex may be taken.\n b. This subdivision applies to that area in Albany county east of the\nPenn Central West Shore railroad starting at the Schenectady county line\nin the town of Guilderland and continuing to its confluence with the\nPenn Central Hudson River connecting railroad, thence along such Penn\nCentral Hudson River connecting railroad until it meets Route 32 in\nFeura Bush and northeast on Route 32 to its juncture with Feura Bush\nroad, then east along Feura Bush road to its juncture with Route 144 in\nGlenmont, then south along Route 144 to the Vlaman Kill, then east along\nthe Vlaman Kill to the Hudson river.\n 8. Muzzle-loading firearm big game season.\n a. In every area identified in column one of the table set forth in\nsubdivision two of this section, except those areas restricted to\nspecial seasons for taking deer by longbow only, special open seasons\nmay be established by regulation for taking deer and/or bear, by the use\nof muzzle-loading firearms, of not less than .44 caliber shooting a\nsingle projectile by the holders of a hunting license with a valid\nmuzzle-loading privilege.\n b. Such special open season for the Southern Zone shall be for the\nseven day period immediately preceding the regular open season for deer\nstated in column two of the table set forth in subdivision two of this\nsection, except that the department may, by regulation, fix such open\nseason in the Southern Zone or any portion thereof to be either the\nseven days immediately preceding or immediately following the regular\nopen season for deer.\n c. Until December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-seven, such\nspecial season for the Northern Zone or any portion thereof may by\nregulation be for up to a fourteen-day period preceding the regular open\nseason for deer stated in column two of the table set forth in\nsubdivision 2 of this section or may be for up to a fourteen-day period\nfollowing such open season or any combination thereof, provided that a\nmaximum of sixteen days is not exceeded for any open area. Regulations\nestablishing such Northern Zone muzzle-loading firearm big game season\nmay specify the taking of deer of either sex, antlerless deer only,\nlegal bucks only, or any combination thereof, and may require that\npersons participating in the Northern Zone muzzle-loading firearm big\ngame season obtain a special permit from the department. When\nestablishing these regulations, the department must consider the\ncondition of the herd and communities', property owners', hunters' and\nother relevant interests.\n 9. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this chapter, big\ngame may be taken on any day of the week during open season or a special\nseason in those parts of New York state east of a line starting at the\njuncture of the shore of Lake Ontario and West Bay road; then southerly\nalong West Bay road to Route 104A; then easterly along Route 104A to\nRoute 38; then southerly along Route 38 to the New York State Thruway\nInterstate 90 at Port Byron; then southwesterly along Interstate 90 to\nRoute 90 near Montezuma; then southerly along Route 90 to Route 20; then\nwesterly along Route 20 to the east bank of Seneca River; then southerly\nalong the east bank of Seneca River to the east shore of Cayuga Lake;\nthen southerly along the east shore of Cayuga Lake to Cayuga Creek; then\nsoutherly along the east bank of Cayuga Creek to Route 96 in Ithaca;\nthen southerly along Route 96 to Sabin Road in Spencer; then southerly\nand westerly along Sabin Road to Dean Creek Road; then southwesterly\nalong Dean Creek Road to Route 34; then southerly along Route 34 to the\nPennsylvania boundary.\n 10. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, or any prior\nnotwithstanding language in this article, the department may, by\nregulation, authorize the taking of big game by the use of a crossbow by\nany licensed person in any big game season in any area in which a long\nbow is permitted.\n