ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Hunting season for big game starts across much of New York state this weekend.

The regular deer and bear season in the state's Southern Zone begins at sunrise Saturday and runs through Dec. 10. The Southern Zone stretches across upstate New York, excluding the Adirondacks and northern reaches of the state.

New York officials say the Southern Zone regular season is New York's most popular hunting season, with about 85 percent of New York's 575,000 licensed hunters taking part.

Northern Zone hunting season opened Oct. 21 and will close Dec. 3.