New deer hunting rules, including longer bow seasons, will take effect in St. Lawrence County and around the state this fall.

The adopted changes in the Northern Zone include:

· establishing a late bowhunting season concurrent with the late muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone. These changes will increase opportunities by several weeks for most New York bowhunters.

· Adjusting the Northern Zone season dates by opening the Northern Zone regular season for 44 days, beginning on the second Saturday after Columbus Day. This is a slight change from the original proposal to begin the regular season on the fourth Saturday in October. Some hunters were concerned that the original proposal would extend the season too late into December. The adopted season structure results in fewer years when the regular season will extend later than it has in the past.

· Allowing Deer Management Permits (DMPs, “doe tags”) to be used in all hunting seasons in the Northern Zone. This change will simplify regulations and increase hunter opportunity and choice. No management impact is expected since DEC determines the total number of DMPs issued in each area of the state based on current deer population conditions and hunting activity.

· Adjusting bear hunting seasons to remain concurrent with deer seasons. DEC believes retaining a consistent season structure for big game hunting is currently preferable, though future bear management may necessitate deviation from this approach.

“With these changes, DEC has started implementing several strategies of the recently adopted Management Plan for White-tailed Deer,” DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said.

“Though the management plan addresses much more than deer hunting, these changes emphasize the value of hunting as a tradition for New Yorkers and as the primary tool for deer management.”

The full text of the adopted regulations is available at www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/81317.html.

The 2012 deer hunting season schedule can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html.