The Albany Pine Bush is in Albany County on the western edge of Albany. It is managed in cooperation with the DEC by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission. Deer may be hunted here by bowhunters only. And because other bowhunters do use it, sportsmen are asked to obey special rules including hunting only in designated areas. Bowhunters are even being asked to stay off trails while wearing face camouflage.

For a complete text of regulations pertaining to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, contact the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission. Call (518) 456-0655 or check their Web site at www.AlbanyPineBush.org. You can also phone the DEC's Region 4 office at (518) 357-2067, or check on the Web at www.DEC.state.NY.us.

BLACK CREEK MARSH WMA
Black Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area is also worth scouting for deer during December. Primarily a waterfowl-hunting area, it has some hardwood forest along the edges. The area covers a relatively meager 359 acres, so some deer hunters may overlook it. It lies in Albany County north of state Route 156.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY
"Westchester County is bowhunting-only through the end of December," Hurst pointed out. "Of course access is not good, but there are plenty of deer down there."

Deer-management permits are liberal because difficult access for hunters also makes deer control difficult in the southeast corner of the state.

"For bowhunters who live and hunt in Westchester County, the opportunities are practically unlimited," Hurst said.

The late archery season can offer some of the most relaxing deer hunting of the year. At no other time can hunters find so much room to themselves -- a particularly rare experience in this heavily populated region.

Because there is no archery season open in the North Zone at this time, the Catskills offer the only opportunity for a wilderness bowhunting adventure. Of course, there will generally be better deer hunting, based on numbers, at lower elevations, but hunting quality is based on personal values.

The Catskills' deer numbers are below target levels, so probably better opportunities for harvesting deer in Region 3 are on some of the public lands outside Catskill Park.

LONG ISLAND
Many who are unfamiliar with Long Island would be surprised that Suffolk County has a healthy deer population, enough to pose several problems. Here the archery season for deer runs continuously from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, and this is followed by a special firearms season.

One significant factor that enters into bowhunting on Long Island is that deer here react differently to humans. They are never too far out of contact with people, so they do not turn tail and run every time they see, hear or smell a human. These whitetails have adapted to using thinner cover and holding tight. They pattern their behavior and movements to human patterns.

In order to hunt on state lands in Suffolk County, hunters will need a special permit available through the NYS DEC's sporting license office, SUNY Building 40, Stony Brook, NY 11790-2356; phone (631) 444-0273.

There is also good deer hunting available in some Suffolk County parks. For information, contact the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation at (631) 854-4949.

A hunter-education course is required of all new hunters applying for a license. To hunt big game with bow and arrow, a special bowhunting course is required in addition to the basic hunter-education course.

Check with regional DEC offices for schedules. Most courses are held to meet demands before the May and October hunting seasons begin.

Other information about bowhunting in the Empire State is available from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Offices of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4750. Call (518) 402-8924; or e-mail your questions to fwwildlf@gw.DEC.state.NY.us

For New York travel information, visit www.ILoveNY.state.NY.us. To speak with a travel counselor, call the travel information center at 1-800-CALL-NYS during regular business hours (from the U.S., its territories and possessions and from Canada). From all other areas, you can call (518) 474-4116.

Find more about New York fishing and hunting at: NewYorkGameandFish.com