I would like to point out that, no matter WHAT the rules are this season, they might be different next season. Game laws are fairly easy to change, and they have changed quite a bit over time in some places.
USUALLY they get more restrictive, sometimes, they actually loosen up.
I notice a couple of posts from NY, and note some changes between today and what was the law 45+ years ago when I hunted in NY. Back then, the rules were simpler, it seems. Some of them were,
Northern Zone
Deer & Black Bear: centerfire rifle, or handgun, .24 caliber or larger. Shotgun, 20ga or larger, 12 ga being the upper limit (10ga was prohibited), slugs only for deer, slug or buckshot for black bear.
Southern Zone
Shotgun only, 20-12ga slug only for deer, slug or buckshot for bear.
The slug only for deer was one of the most ..discussed..part of the law, buckshot for deer having been outlawed only a few years before I began hunting, and most folks simply couldn't see any sense in it.
Crossbows were not allowed, because the law prohibited hunting with a bow that used a "mechanical release".
By contrast, when I moved to Washington state, the law for rifles was .240" or larger bullet, 85gr or heavier, with a ft/lb rating as well. As I recall, factory .25-35Winchester just barely made energy spec, and only with one load.
With handguns, it was more restrictive, and only certain rounds, listed by name, were legal for deer, and only from guns with 6" or longer barrels. My Ruger Blackhawk .41Magnum fired a listed legal cartridge, but because my pistol only had a 4 5/8" barrel, wasn't legal for deer hunting! My 7/5" Blackhawk .45 Colt wasn't legal either (.45 Colt was not on the list).
A decade or so later, they changed the laws somewhat and the approved caliber list, and barrel length requirement went away, replaced with an energy at 100yds requirement. And, the last time I looked at the regs (admittedly a long time ago) they specifically stated that 9mm and .45ACP did NOT meet the legal requirements for deer hunting.
I don't know exactly what the rules are today all I can say is that everyone should check their laws carefully for the current or upcoming season! They MIGHT not be the same as last season, in small or large details.