They already allow rifles in the southern zone. At least in the Catskills they do.

As for the Saturday opener, I'm not a fan. We used to go to our camp in the Catskills early Saturday, and spend the weekend getting ready. The anticipation was amazing. Now, everybody has to get out of work on Friday, run upstate (2 1/2 hour drive), try to get some stuff prepared, and then jump in bed so we won't be totally exhausted for the morning. Definitely not a fan of that change.