Wildlife and Parks commissioners have made some changes in state deer seasons.

State agency biologists looked at deer population indices and deer-related vehicle accidents in each management unit. In those units where ongoing efforts to reduce deer populations have been effective, adjustments were recommended.

Thus the commission approved allocating only two white-tailed antlerless-only game tags in Units 1, 2, 5, 10, 11, 14, 17 and 18. Four game tags will be valid in all other units. Also, units 1, 2, 17 and 18 will not be open to deer hunting during the Jan. 1-12, 2003, antlerless season.

Other deer seasons ap-proved include:

l Early muzzleloader season  Sept. 14-27.

l Youth and persons with disabilities season  Sept. 28-29.

l Archery season  Oct. 1-Dec. 3 and Dec. 16-31.

l Firearms season  Dec. 4-15.

The regulation on legal equipment was amended so that weapons used during the early muzzleloader season may have open or peep sights.

The old regulation specified iron or peep sights, which made the fiber-optic bead that comes on many new muzzleloader models illegal. Fiber-optic sights are now legal during the early muzzleloader season.

The Commission also approved an amendment that allows persons with a handicapped permit to use a draw-locking device on a conventional bow during the archery deer season.

Hunters with these same qualifying disabilities already are allowed to hunt with a crossbow.

Another amendment allows the use of dogs to hunt turkeys during the fall season. The old regulation prohibited the use of dogs for any big game hunting.