BILL NUMBER: S9316
SPONSOR: MANNION
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
extending the authority of the department of environmental conservation
to adopt regulations for hunting in the northern zone
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill amends ECL § 11-0907(8Xc) to extend, until Decem-
ber 31, 2027, DEC's authority to establish a special deer hunting season
in the Northern Zone for muzzle-loading firearms.
Section 2 of this bill provides that the bill shall take effect imme-
diately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Authority to set regulations provides a timely administrative process
which optimizes the effectiveness of harvest management techniques.
This legislation would extend DEC's authority to set by regulation the
length and timing of the early and late Northern Zone muzzle-loading
seasons, and to specify the taking of deer of either sex, antlerless
deer only, legal bucks only, or any combination thereof. This flexibili-
ty allows DEC to set muzzle-loading seasons to promote recreational
hunting and herd control most effectively.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This authority was last extended by Chapter 205 of the Laws of 2021.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Section 2 of this bill provides that the bill shall take effect imme-
diately.

Statutes affected:
S9316: 11-0907 environmental conservation law, 11-0907(8) environmental conservation law