The first step to hunting or trapping in New York is to receive your hunter, bowhunter, or trapper education certification. To learn more about certification requirements and to register for courses, visit the Hunter Education Program Courses And Certifications webpage.
One of the greatest hurdles to newly certified hunters going afield is the lack of experienced hunters to learn from. Mentored hunts and sponsored pheasant hunts provide an opportunity for novice hunters to gain hands-on, in the field experience under the supervision and assistance of more experienced individuals.
DEC’s Learn to Hunt Opportunities
Sponsored pheasant hunts are free, non-competitive events coordinated by a group, club, individual, or organization to benefit youth, women, new hunters, veterans, people of color and people with disabilities. DEC’s Reynold’s Game Farm provides up to 6,000 pheasants annually to stock these introductory hunting experiences in New York State.