Junior Hunter/Trapper Mentoring Program

New 12–13 Year Old Junior Bowhunters Can Now Hunt Deer And Bear With A Bow, If They Meet The Following Requirements:

• Have completed a course in both Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education.
• Purchase a Junior Bowhunting License.
• Be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a “youth mentor” who is 21 years or older and designated in writing by the junior hunter’s parent or legal guardian (use the form below).
• The adult accompanier needs to have at least 3 years experience in hunting deer or bear by longbow AND have a license to hunt big game in the same seasons.
• The adult accompanier needs to be close enough to talk to each other without the aid of a phone or radio, and needs to be able to see each other at all times.

14 And 15 Year Old Junior Hunting License Holders Can Hunt Deer And Bear With A Gun, If They Meet The Following Requirements:

• Have completed a course in Hunter Education.
• Purchase a Junior Hunting License.
• Be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a “youth mentor” who is 21 years or older designated in writing (use the form below).
• The adult accompanier needs to have at least 3 years hunting experience AND have a license to hunt big game in the same seasons.
• The adult need to be close enough to talk without the aid of a phone or radio, and need to be able to see each other at all times.
• Junior Hunter must stay on the ground and cannot use an elevated (tree) stand.
• Both junior hunter and adult accompanier must wear hunter orange: Shirt or jacket with 250 sq. inches of solid/patterned orange (the pattern must be at least 50% orange) OR a hat with at least 50% orange visible in all directions.

14–15 Year Old Junior Bowhunters And 16–17 Year Old Big Game Hunters Must:

• Be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or person 18 years or older designated in writing (use form below).
• The adult accompanier needs to have at least 1 year hunting experience AND have a license to hunt big game in the same seasons.

Trapping Mentoring Program

Trappers under 12 years of age:

• May accompany and assist a licensed trapper who has at least 3 years of trapping experience.
• May assist the licensed trapper in all aspects of trapping without possessing a trapping license.
• The licensed trapper may be a parent or legal guardian, or someone 18 years or older designated in writing (use the form below).
• If trapping on your own and you are under 12 years, you will need to successfully complete New York’s Trapper Education Program.
• To continue trapping once you are 12 years, you need to take the class.

Download the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form

• Crossbow Hunting Qualifications and Certificate
  
• Bear Facts
  
• Nonresident Licenses, Privileges And Stamps
  
• Lifetime Sporting Licesnses
  
• Quality Deer Management on Private Land
  
• Hunting & Trapping Participation in New York
  
• Big Game Legal Implements
  
• Future Big Game Season Dates
  
• Wildlife Research Update