State Proposes to Lower Minimum Firearm and Crossbow Deer Hunting Age

The final version of the New York State budget, which could be approved this week, includes a provision to lower the minimum age for deer hunting with a firearm or crossbow from 14 to 12.

The legislation includes a two-year pilot program that begins June 1 and ends Dec. 31, 2023. The change will not impact Long Island, New York City and Westchester County.

Young hunters can develop a lifelong love of hunting when they learn and master skills early in life.

The regulation change, which affects junior hunters ages 12 to 15 using a shotgun, rifle, crossbow or muzzleloader, includes the following provisions:

The junior hunter is required to have passed a hunter safety course and hold a hunting license, and must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or a person over the age of 21 designated in writing by the hunter’s parent or legal guardian.
The adult mentor must also have a hunting license and at least three years of deer hunting experience and be near the minor while hunting. Specifically, that means the adult mentor must be close enough to “issue verbal directions and instructions, maintain constant visual contact and other otherwise provide guidance and supervision to the minor.”
Both the junior hunter and the adult mentor are required to stay on the ground. Treestand hunting is prohibited.
Both the adult mentor and the junior hunter will be required to wear a minimum of 250 square inches of solid or patterned fluorescent orange or pink “consisting of no less than 50% fluorescent orange or pink material worn above the waist and visible from all directions or a hat or cap with no less than 50% of the exterior consisting (of the same colors) and visible from all directions.”
Counties where this change would take effect have to each pass a local law authorizing the new regulation and notify the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) about their participation in the pilot program.

The pilot program requires the state DEC to prepare a report by Feb. 1 of each year that documents the number of violations, hunting-related accidents and revocations, the number of counties participating, number of minors participating and the harvest number.

New York already allows junior hunters ages 12–15 to b owhunt big game when accompanied by an adult mentor. Currently, 46 U.S. states allow those ages 12 or younger to hunt big game with a firearm.

You can read the original article here.