Hunters in Cortland, Wyoming and portions of Chautauqua counties will be able to use rifles as well as shotguns when hunting for deer or bear this fall. That's the word from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Cortland County requested this provision due to the increasing number of deer in the county that cause crop damage and automobile accidents.

These areas join the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Chenango, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Oswego, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Yates and a portion of Broome County which allow the taking of deer and bear with rifles.

Deer and bear hunting is legal from the first Monday after November 15th through the first Tuesday after December 7th.

Hunters can use a pistol, crossbow, muzzle loading firearm, shotgun and long bow and rifle.

This year, big game season begins on Monday, November 21st. It runs through December 13th.

Click here for information about license sales and hunting in New York.