Attention youth hunters! New York will hold a special youth firearms big game hunt this weekend. Both resident and non-resident youth hunters aged 12 to 15 may participate in the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday hunt. However, hunters aged 12 to 13 may only participate in counties that have passed a local law allowing 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a firearm. Refer to the map of participating counties. The youth firearms big game hunt occurs in all other areas of New York, except in Wildlife Management Units where only bowhunting is allowed (WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J, and 8C) or where big game hunting is prohibited (WMUs 1A, 2A, and 9C).
The youth firearms big game hunt over this weekend provides additional opportunities for youth hunters to become familiar with big game hunting under the supervision of a knowledgeable and experienced adult mentor.
In order to participate, youth hunters must:
- complete a course in hunter education;
- purchase a New York State hunting license; and
- be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult mentor who is 21 years old or older.
- The supervising adult mentor must have at least 3 years of experience hunting big game with a firearm, a New York State hunting license, and be able to maintain physical control over the youth hunter at all times while hunting.
- A Mentored Youth Hunter Permission Form (PDF) needs to be completed and carried in the field whenever a youth hunter is mentored by an adult hunter who is not their parent.
Youth hunters and adult mentors must also wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink visible from all directions and, in accordance with state law, must remain at ground level while hunting big game with a firearm. Treestands or elevated blinds may not be used.
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, or 1 deer if the youth hunter is 12- or 13-years old. For deer, a Deer Management Permit (antlerless deer only), Deer Management Assistance Program tag (antlerless deer only), or regular season deer tag can be used. During the youth firearms big game hunt, youth hunters may use the regular season tag for a deer of either sex. Additionally, in WMUs with mandatory antler point restrictions, youth hunters are exempt from the restrictions.
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