New York Hunter Achievement Awards

Entry Requirements 

Game must be taken during their respective open hunting season in New York State in accordance with the New York State Hunting & Trapping Regulations. Game showing signs of improper handling and/or illegal hunting methods will be disqualified. 

Entry Form

Qualifying game must be entered on the official entry form. All applicable portions of the entry form must be completed. Submitting the entry form does not count as the hunter reporting their harvest, where required. Entry forms must be received within 30 days of the season closing. Deer, bear and turkey must be reported before submitting the award entry form. 

Submitting Photographs

1. The photograph must be of the hunter and the harvest. Photographs should be respectful of the game. Implement should be pointed in a safe direction if in the photo.

2. Hunters have the option to allow DEC to use their photograph(s) for promotional purposes or to opt out of future use of the photograph(s). 

Hunter Achievement Award Entry Requirements

1. Harvested game must be one of the 24 eligible species: Male White-tailed Deer, Female White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Turkey, Ring-necked Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Raccoon, Grey Fox, Red Fox, Coyote, Squirrel, Bobcat, Fisher, American  Marten, Beaver, River Otter, Mink, Muskrat, Canada Goose, Mallard, and Wood Duck.  

2. Each hunter will be limited to one sticker per species per season.

The DEC Bureau of Wildlife reserves the right to reject any Hunter Achievement Award application on the basis of incorrect species identification, improper game handling, illegal hunting methods, failure to report harvest, or inability to adequately document any of the circumstances relating to the harvest.