Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities

Junior Big Game Hunting

12- and 13-year-old can hunt deer with a gun or crossbow in counties that opt in

A law adopted in 2021 reduced the age for hunting deer with firearms and crossbows:

• Counties must pass a local law allowing the activity. See DEC website (dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/deer-bear/junior-big-game) for a list of counties that have opted in.
• 12- and 13-year-olds can hunt deer with a rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloader during the youth deer hunt or regular season, and hunt deer with a muzzleloader during the early or late muzzleloading season.
• 12- and 13-year-olds can hunt deer with a crossbow during the crossbow portion of the early bow season, the regular season, and late muzzleloading season.
• The new law does not authorize bear hunting.

12- and 13-year-old hunters must meet the same requirements as 14- and 15-year-olds hunting deer with a firearm.

12- and 13-year-old junior bowhunters can hunt deer and bear with a bow if they meet the following requirements:

• They have completed a course in both Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education.
• They have purchased a Junior Bowhunting License.
• They are 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 accompanying adult needs to have at least 3 years of experience in hunting deer or bear by longbow and have a license to hunt big game in the same seasons.
• The parent, guardian, or youth mentor must maintain physical control over the minor at all times while hunting.

14- and 15-year-old junior hunting license holders can hunt deer and bear with a gun if they meet the following requirements:

• They have completed a course in Hunter Education.
• They have purchased a Junior Hunting License.
• They are accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a youth mentor who is 21 years or older designated in writing (use the form below).
• The accompanying adult needs to have at least 3 years of big game hunting experience and have a license to hunt big game in the same seasons.
• The parent, guardian, or youth mentor must maintain physical control over the minor at all times while hunting.
• The Junior Hunter must stay on the ground and cannot use an elevated (tree) stand.
• Both junior hunter and accompanying adult must wear fluorescent orange or pink: a shirt or jacket with 250 sq inches of solid/patterned fluorescent orange or pink (the pattern must be no less than 50% fluorescent orange or pink) or a hat with no less than 50% of the exterior consisting of solid fluorescent orange or pink and visible from all directions.

14- and 15-year-old junior bowhunters and first-time 16- and 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 accompanying adult needs to have at least 1 year of hunting experience and have a license to hunt big game in the same seasons.

Junior Trapping

Trappers under 12 years of age:

• May accompany and assist a licensed trapper in all aspects of trapping without possessing a trapping license themselves.
• The licensed trapper must have at least 3 years of trapping experience and may be a parent, legal guardian, or someone 18 years or older designated in writing (use the form below).

Junior Trappers 12 years or older:

• Must complete NYS's Trapper Education Program whether they will be trapping alone or with an adult licensed trapper.