The 2013 New York State regular deer and bear hunting seasons open at sunrise, 6:46 a.m. Sat., Nov. 16, in New York's Southern Zone, which includes Greene and Columbia counties. The seasons close at sunset, Sun., Dec. 8. The Southern Zone regular season is New York’s most popular hunting season, with participation from approximately 85 percent of the state’s 550,000 licensed hunters. Late bowhunting and muzzleloading seasons open at sunrise, Dec. 9, and close at sunset Dec. 17. Read the DEC's hunting season press release at NY [dot] gov.