NEW YORK -
Hunters are off to an early start for snow geese in New York.
State environmental regulators are expanding the hunting season to help reduce an overpopulation of the birds. The arctic-breeding species has expanded from about 50,000 in the 1960s to more than a million in recent years.
Hunting is in effect until April 15.
Having a special season isn't new, but this early start is. Normally, the special season starts in March, but officials wanted to give hunters a chance to shoot geese in late winter and early spring, when they're most abundant.
