BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Saturday is a day that most hunters in the region circled on their calendar. It's the first day of regular hunting season.
November 16 marks day one of regular hunting season for all of Western New York, a part of the DEC's southern zone.
"Traditionally that's when a big percentage of deer are actually harvested because of the number of people that are in the field," Bill Hilts, an outdoors writer and also the Outdoor Promotions Director for Destination Niagara USA, said.
Hilts reminds all hunters to always identify the target and to look at what's beyond it before even taking the safety off your gun. He also said it's important to wear hunter orange or fluorescent pink, which is mandatory for kids who are hunting.
Early bowhunting began on October 1 while crossbow season began November 2. Both of those seasons end Friday.
Regular hunting season ends on December 8. Late bowhunting season goes from December 9 to 17.