Pilot Program for 12- and 13-Year-Olds to Hunt Deer with a Firearm or Crossbow
In 2021, New York State enacted legislation that created a new section of the Environmental Conservation Law (11-0935) authorizing a license holder who is 12 or 13 years-of-age to hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloading firearm under the supervision of an experienced adult mentor in eligible counties. The legislation established this opportunity as a pilot program and required counties to adopt a local law authorizing participation and to notify DEC of such participation. Legislation enacted in 2023 extended this pilot program through 2025.
To participate in the pilot program, 12- and 13-year-old youth hunters must:
- Only hunt in counties that have passed a local law to allow the pilot program (refer to the map above for counties participating in 2024).
- Only hunt in areas where and during the hunting seasons in which firearms and crossbows may be used.
- Be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult mentor who is 21 years old or older. The supervising adult must have at least 3 years of experience hunting deer with a firearm or crossbow, a license to hunt big game in the same seasons, and must maintain physical control over the 12- or 13-year-old hunter at all times.
- Wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink visible from all directions: shirt, jacket, or vest with at least 250 square inches of solid or patterned orange or pink (the pattern must be at least 50% orange or pink) OR a hat with at least 50% orange or pink. Supervising adults must also wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing of the same specifications while accompanying the 12- or 13-year-old hunter.
- Remain at ground level while hunting. Tree stands or elevated blinds cannot be used.
- Only harvest deer. Black bear hunting is not authorized under the pilot program.
Summary reports highlighting the success of the first three years of the pilot program are available below.
Youth Bowhunting
12 –15-year-old youth hunters can hunt deer and bear with a bow during the bowhunting and regular seasons. Youth bowhunters and their supervising adults do not need to wear blaze orange or pink and do not need to remain on the ground while hunting. Tree stands or elevated blinds may be used.
To participate, youth bowhunters must:
- Complete a course in both Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education
- Purchase a hunting license and bowhunting privilege
- Be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult mentor who is 21 years old or older if the youth bowhunter is 12-13 years old. The supervising adult must have at least 3 years of experience hunting deer or bear with a bow, a license to hunt big game in the same seasons, and must maintain physical control over the youth bowhunter at all times.
- Be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult mentor who is 18 years old or older if the youth bowhunter is 14-15 years old. The supervising adult must have at least 1 year of experience hunting deer or bear with a bow, a license to hunt big game in the same seasons, and must maintain physical control over the youth bowhunter at all times.
Youth Firearms Hunting
14- and 15-year-old youth hunters can hunt deer and bear with a firearm.
To participate, youth hunters must:
- Complete a course in Hunter Education.
- Purchase a hunting license.
- Be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult mentor who is 21 years old or older. The supervising adult must have at least 3 years of experience hunting deer or bear with a firearm, a license to hunt big game in the same seasons, and must maintain physical control over the youth firearms hunter at all times.
- Remain on the ground while hunting. Tree stands or elevated blinds may not be used.
- Wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink visible from all directions: shirt, jacket, or vest with at least 250 square inches of solid or patterned orange or pink (the pattern must be at least 50% orange or pink) OR a hat with at least 50% orange or pink. Supervising adults must also wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing of the same specifications while accompanying the youth firearms hunter.
Youth Firearms Big Game Hunt Over Columbus Day Weekend
Resident and non-resident Hunting license holders aged 12 to 15 may participate in the youth firearms big game hunt over Columbus Day weekend. Youth hunters aged 12-13 may only participate in counties that allow 12–13-year-olds to hunt deer with a firearm (see map above). The youth firearms big game hunt occurs statewide, except in bowhunting only Wildlife Management Units 1C, 3S, 4J, and 8C. During the youth firearms big game hunt supervising adults should focus on mentoring their youth hunter and may not carry a firearm or bow, or bowhunt while supervising a youth hunter. Please refer to the previous sections above for additional requirements that youth and supervising adults must follow in order for youth to hunt deer or bear with a firearm.
During the youth firearms big game hunt, youth hunters may:
- Harvest 1 deer and 1 bear if the youth hunter is 14- or 15-years-old.
- Harvest 1 deer if the youth hunter is 12- or 13-years-old.
- Use a Deer Management Permit (antlerless-only), Deer Management Assistance Program tag (antlerless-only), or a regular season tag. During the youth firearms big game hunt, youth hunters may use the regular season tag for a deer of either-sex.
16- and 17-Year-Old First Time Big Game Hunters
Resident and non-resident hunting license holders aged 16 or 17 who have not previously hunted deer or bear must be accompanied for the entire season by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult mentor who is 18 years old or older. The supervising adult must have at least 1 year of experience hunting deer or bear and a license to hunt big game in the same seasons, but does not need to maintain physical control over the 16 or 17 year old hunter at all times.
Additional Rules for Youth Hunters and Supervising Adults
- Other youth and adults who do not have their hunting licenses may accompany a youth hunter and their supervising adult during a hunt, but may not hunt or assist in the hunt (such as by driving deer).
- In areas where mandatory antler point restrictions are in place, hunters aged 12-16 are exempt from the restrictions.
- Youth hunters must purchase a muzzleloading privilege to hunt during the muzzleloader season or with a crossbow during the muzzleloader season or crossbow portion of the early bow season. Please refer to the previous sections above for additional requirements that youth and supervising adults must follow in order for youth to hunt deer or bear with a firearm or crossbow.
- Nonresidents aged 12-15 can purchase a Nonresident Junior Hunting license for a reduced fee.
- If the youth hunter turns 14 during the hunting season and they possess a hunting license, after they turn 14 they can return to any license issuing agent to obtain their bear carcass tag at no additional fee. They can also request the tag through DEC’s Automated Licensing System (DECALS) or by calling 1-866-933-2257 Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Youth hunters who turn 12 on or before October 1, may apply for a Deer Management Permit (DMP). If they turn 12 after October 1, the DMP application period is closed. They will be able to apply for a DMP if there are any leftover beginning November 1.
