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Bill Hilts, Jr.: Opening day memories from New York’s Southern Zone on opening day

Blake Dodge, 14, of Lewiston, N.Y., tagged his first deer on Sunday morning shooting his .308 rifle. (Photo courtesy of Bill Hilts, Jr.)

New York’s Southern Zone big game season opened on Nov. 16 this year and I found myself just a few miles from where I spent more than 50 years of opening days in the southern hills of Steuben County. An invitation from friend, Mike Fox, of Lewiston, was all the motivation I needed to pack up my gear and head down on Friday, the day before the opener.

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